Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated January 18, 2022, by and between Bank First Corporation and Denmark Bancshares, Inc

Contract Categories: Mergers & Acquisitions - Merger Agreements
EX-2.1 2 tm223209d1_ex2-1.htm EXHIBIT 2.1

Exhibit 2.1

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

by and between

 

BANK FIRST CORPORATION

 

and

 

DENMARK BANCSHARES, INC.

 

Dated as of January 18, 2022

 

 

 

 

 

  TABLE OF CONTENTS      
         
  Article I      
         
  THE MERGER      
         
Section 1.01 The Merger   2  
Section 1.02 Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Officers and Directors   2  
Section 1.03 Bank Merger   2  
Section 1.04 Effective Time; Closing   3  
Section 1.05 Additional Actions   3  
Section 1.06 Reservation of Right to Revise Structure   3  
         
  Article II      
         
  MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES      
         
Section 2.01 Merger Consideration   4  
Section 2.02 Adjustment of Merger Consideration for Tangible Equity Capital   6  
Section 2.03 Election Procedures   7  
Section 2.04 Proration   8  
Section 2.05 DBI Stock-Based Awards   9  
Section 2.06 Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers   9  
Section 2.07 Fractional Shares   10  
Section 2.08 Plan of Reorganization   10  
Section 2.09 Exchange Procedures   10  
Section 2.10 Deposit and Delivery of Merger Consideration   10  
Section 2.11 Rights of Certificate Holders after the Effective Time   11  
Section 2.12 DBI ESPP   12  
Section 2.13 Anti-Dilution Provisions   12  
         
  Article III      
         
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DBI      
         
Section 3.01 Organization and Standing   13  
Section 3.02 Capital Stock   13  
Section 3.03 Subsidiaries   15  
Section 3.04 Corporate Power; Minute Books   15  
Section 3.05 Corporate Authority   16  
Section 3.06 Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults   16  
Section 3.07 Financial Statements; Internal Controls   17  
Section 3.08 Regulatory Reports   18  
Section 3.09 Absence of Certain Changes or Events   18  
Section 3.10 Legal Proceedings   19  
Section 3.11 Compliance with Laws   19  
Section 3.12 DBI Material Contracts; Defaults   20  

 

i

 

 

Section 3.13 Agreements with Regulatory Agencies   21  
Section 3.14 Brokers; Fairness Opinion   21  
Section 3.15 Employee Benefit Plans   22  
Section 3.16 Labor Matters   25  
Section 3.17 Environmental Matters   25  
Section 3.18 Tax Matters   25  
Section 3.19 Investment Securities   28  
Section 3.20 Derivative Transactions   28  
Section 3.21 Regulatory Capitalization   28  
Section 3.22 Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets   28  
Section 3.23 Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses   30  
Section 3.24 Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts   30  
Section 3.25 Investment Management and Related Activities   30  
Section 3.26 Repurchase Agreements   30  
Section 3.27 Deposit Insurance   30  
Section 3.28 Community Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security   31  
Section 3.29 Transactions with Affiliates   31  
Section 3.30 Tangible Properties and Assets   32  
Section 3.31 Intellectual Property   33  
Section 3.32 Insurance   33  
Section 3.33 Antitakeover Provisions   33  
Section 3.34 DBI Information   34  
Section 3.35 Transaction Costs   34  
Section 3.36 Bank Holding Company   34  
Section 3.37 CARES Act and PPP Compliance   34  
         
  Article IV      
         
  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BFC      
         
Section 4.01 Organization and Standing   35  
Section 4.02 Capital Stock   35  
Section 4.03 Corporate Power   35  
Section 4.04 Corporate Authority   36  
Section 4.05 SEC Documents; Financial Statements   36  
Section 4.06 Regulatory Reports   37  
Section 4.07 Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults   38  
Section 4.08 BFC Information   38  
Section 4.09 Absence of Certain Changes or Events   39  
Section 4.10 Compliance with Laws   39  
Section 4.11 BFC Regulatory Matters   39  
Section 4.12 Brokers   40  
Section 4.13 Legal Proceedings   40  
Section 4.14 Tax Matters   40  
Section 4.15 Regulatory Capitalization   41  
Section 4.16 No Financing   41  

 

ii

 

 

  Article V      
         
  COVENANTS      
         
Section 5.01 Covenants of DBI   42  
Section 5.02 Covenants of BFC   46  
Section 5.03 Commercially Reasonable Efforts   47  
Section 5.04 Shareholder Approvals   47  
Section 5.05 Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus; NASDAQ Listing   49  
Section 5.06 Regulatory Filings; Consents   50  
Section 5.07 Publicity   51  
Section 5.08 Access; Current Information   51  
Section 5.09 No Solicitation by DBI; Superior Proposals   52  
Section 5.10 Indemnification   55  
Section 5.11 Employees; Benefit Plans   56  
Section 5.12 Notification of Certain Changes   58  
Section 5.13 Transition; Informational Systems Conversion   58  
Section 5.14 Termination of Contracts   59  
Section 5.15 No Control of Other Party’s Business   59  
Section 5.16 Certain Litigation   59  
Section 5.17 Director Resignations   59  
Section 5.18 Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement   60  
Section 5.19 Claims Letters   60  
Section 5.20 Coordination   60  
Section 5.21 Transactional Expenses   61  
Section 5.22 Confidentiality   61  
Section 5.23 Tax Matters   61  
Section 5.24 FINRA Compliance   62  
Section 5.25 Dissolution of Non-Bank Subsidiaries   62  
         
  Article VI      
         
  CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER      
         
Section 6.01 Conditions to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger   62  
Section 6.02 Conditions to Obligations of DBI   63  
Section 6.03 Conditions to Obligations of BFC   64  
Section 6.04 Frustration of Closing Conditions   65  
         
  Article VII      
         
  TERMINATION      
         
Section 7.01 Termination   65  
Section 7.02 Termination Fee   66  
Section 7.03 Effect of Termination   67  

 

iii

 

 

  Article VIII      
         
  DEFINITIONS      
         
Section 8.01 Definitions   67  
         
  Article IX      
         
  MISCELLANEOUS      
         
Section 9.01 Survival   78  
Section 9.02 Waiver; Amendment   79  
Section 9.03 Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury   79  
Section 9.04 Expenses   79  
Section 9.05 Notices   80  
Section 9.06 Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries   81  
Section 9.07 Severability   81  
Section 9.08 Enforcement of the Agreement   81  
Section 9.09 Interpretation   81  
Section 9.10 Assignment   82  
Section 9.11 Counterparts   83  

 

Exhibit A – Form of DBI Voting Agreement

Exhibit B – Form of BFC Voting Agreement

Exhibit C – Form of Bank Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement

Exhibit D – Form of Director Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement

Exhibit E – Form of Claims Letter

 

iv

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 18, 2022 by and between Bank First Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (“BFC”), and Denmark Bancshares, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (“DBI” and, together with BFC, the “Parties” and each a “Party”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the boards of directors of the Parties have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and their respective shareholders to consummate the business combination transaction provided for in this Agreement in which DBI will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, merge with and into BFC (the “Merger”), with BFC as the surviving company in the Merger (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Entity”);

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of BFC to enter into this Agreement, the directors, executive officers and certain shareholders of DBI have entered into voting agreements (each a “DBI Voting Agreement” and collectively, the “DBI Voting Agreements”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, dated as of the date hereof, with BFC, pursuant to which each such director, executive officer or shareholder has agreed, among other things, to vote the DBI Common Stock owned by such director, executive officer or shareholder in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the terms of the DBI Voting Agreements;

 

WHEREAS, as a condition to the willingness of DBI to enter into this Agreement, the directors, executive officers and certain shareholders of BFC have entered into voting agreements (each a “BFC Voting Agreement” and collectively, the “BFC Voting Agreements”), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, dated as of the date hereof, with DBI, pursuant to which each such director, executive officer or shareholder has agreed, among other things, to vote the BFC Common Stock owned by such director, executive officer or shareholder in favor of the approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the terms of the BFC Voting Agreements;

 

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger; and

 

WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”), and this Agreement is intended to be and is adopted as a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties agree as follows:

 

 1

 

 

Article I

 

THE MERGER

 

Section 1.01     The Merger.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (the “WBCL”), at the Effective Time, DBI shall merge with and into BFC pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. BFC shall be the Surviving Entity in the Merger and shall continue its existence as a corporation under the laws of the State of Wisconsin. As of the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of DBI shall cease.

 

Section 1.02     Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws; Officers and Directors.

 

(a)            At the Effective Time, the articles of incorporation of BFC in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law. The bylaws of BFC in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law and the terms of such bylaws.

 

(b)            The directors of BFC in office immediately prior to the Effective Time shall serve as the directors of the Surviving Entity in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Entity, provided, however that BFC shall consider adding one (1) current member of the DBI board of directors to the BFC board of directors, with such DBI director to be mutually agreed upon by BFC and DBI (the “DBI Director”). The DBI Director will need to comply and be subject to BFC’s corporate governance policies and qualify as an “independent director,” as such term is defined in NASDAQ Marketplace Rule 5605(a)(2). The officers of BFC in office immediately prior to the Effective Time, together with such additional persons as may thereafter be appointed, shall serve as the officers of the Surviving Entity from and after the Effective Time in accordance with the bylaws of the Surviving Entity. Such directors and executive officers shall serve until their resignation, removal or until their successors shall have been elected or appointed and shall have qualified in accordance with the laws and governing documents applicable to the Surviving Entity.

 

Section 1.03     Bank Merger.

 

Except as provided below, immediately following the Effective Time and sequentially but in effect simultaneously on the Closing Date, Denmark State Bank, a Wisconsin state-chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of DBI (“Denmark State Bank”), shall be merged (the “Bank Merger”) with and into Bank First, N.A., a national banking association and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BFC (“Bank First”), in accordance with the provisions of applicable federal and state banking laws and regulations, and Bank First shall be the surviving bank (the “Surviving Bank”). The Bank Merger shall have the effects as set forth under applicable federal and state banking laws and regulations, and the board of directors of the Parties have, on the date hereof, caused the board of directors of Bank First and Denmark State Bank, respectively, to approve a separate merger agreement (the “Bank Plan of Merger”) in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, and cause the Bank Plan of Merger to be executed and delivered as soon as practicable following the date of execution of this Agreement. Each of BFC and DBI shall also approve the Bank Plan of Merger in their capacities as sole shareholders of Bank First and Denmark State Bank, respectively. As provided in the Bank Plan of Merger, the Bank Merger may be abandoned at the election of Bank First at any time, whether before or after filings are made for regulatory approval of the Bank Merger, but if the Bank Merger is abandoned for any reason, Denmark State Bank shall continue to operate under its name; provided that prior to any such election, BFC shall (a) reasonably consult with DBI and its regulatory counsel and (b) reasonably determine in good faith that such election will not, and would not reasonably be expected to, prevent, delay or impair any Party’s ability to consummate the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 2

 

 

Section 1.04     Effective Time; Closing.

 

(a)            Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Parties will make all such filings as may be required to consummate the Merger and the Bank Merger by applicable Laws. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles of merger (the “Articles of Merger”) related to the Merger, which will include the plan of merger (the “Plan of Merger”), that shall be filed with the WDFI-Corporations, as provided in the WBCL, on the Closing Date. The “Effective Time” of the Merger shall be the later of (i) the date and time of filing of the Articles of Merger, or (ii) the date and time when the Merger becomes effective as set forth in the Articles of Merger, which shall be the Friday before the earliest practicable conversion date, or such other date and time as the Parties may mutually agree.

 

(b)            The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place on the Business Day prior to the Effective Time (such date, the “Closing Date”) by electronic means or at the offices of Alston & Bird LLP, One Atlantic Center, 1201 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309, or such other place as the Parties may mutually agree. At the Closing, there shall be delivered to BFC and DBI the Articles of Merger and such other certificates and other documents required to be delivered under Article VI.

 

Section 1.05     Additional Actions.

 

If, at any time after the Effective Time, any Party shall consider or be advised that any further deeds, documents, assignments or assurances in Law or any other acts are necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement (such Party, the “Requesting Party”), the other Party and its Subsidiaries and their respective current and former officers and directors shall be deemed to have granted to the Requesting Party and its Subsidiaries, and each or any of them, an irrevocable power of attorney to execute and deliver, in such official corporate capacities, all such deeds, assignments or assurances in Law or any other acts as are necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, and the officers and directors of the Requesting Party and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, are authorized in the name of the other Party and its Subsidiaries or otherwise to take any and all such action.

 

Section 1.06       Reservation of Right to Revise Structure.

 

BFC may at any time and without the approval of DBI change the method of effecting the business combination contemplated by this Agreement if and to the extent that it reasonably deems such a change to be necessary; provided, however, that no such change shall (i) alter or change the amount of the consideration to be issued to (A) Holders as Merger Consideration or (B) holders of DBI Restricted Shares, (ii) reasonably be expected to materially impede or delay consummation of the Merger, (iii) adversely affect the federal income tax treatment of Holders, holders of DBI Restricted Shares, or DBI in connection with the Merger, or (iv) require submission to or approval of DBI’s shareholders after the plan of merger set forth in this Agreement has been approved by DBI’s shareholders. In the event that BFC elects to make such a change, the Parties agree to cooperate to execute appropriate documents to reflect the change.

 

 3

 

 

Article II

 

MERGER CONSIDERATION; EXCHANGE PROCEDURES

 

Section 2.01     Merger Consideration.

 

Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, automatically by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Parties or any shareholder of DBI:

 

(a)            Each share of BFC Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding following the Effective Time and shall be unchanged by the Merger.

 

(b)            Each share of DBI Common Stock owned directly by BFC, DBI or any of their respective Subsidiaries (other than shares in trust accounts, managed accounts and the like for the benefit of customers or shares held as collateral for outstanding debt previously contracted) immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and retired at the Effective Time without any conversion thereof, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto (the “DBI Cancelled Shares”).

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, all shares of DBI Common Stock that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which are held by a shareholder who did not vote in favor of the Merger (or consent thereto in writing) and who is entitled to demand and properly demands the fair value of such shares pursuant to, and who complies in all respects with, the provisions of Subchapter XIII of the WBCL, shall not be converted into or be exchangeable for the right to receive the Merger Consideration (the “Dissenting Shares”). The holder of such Dissenting Shares (hereinafter called a “Dissenting Shareholder”) instead shall be entitled to payment of the fair value of such shares in accordance with the applicable provisions of the WBCL (and at the Effective Time, such Dissenting Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist and such holder shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the rights provided for pursuant to the applicable provisions of the WBCL and this Section 2.01(c)), unless and until such Dissenting Shareholder shall have failed to perfect such holder’s right to receive, or shall have effectively withdrawn or lost rights to demand or receive, the fair value of such shares of DBI Common Stock under the applicable provisions of the WBCL. If any Dissenting Shareholder shall fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or lose such Holder’s dissenter’s rights under the applicable provisions of the WBCL, each such Dissenting Share shall be deemed to have been converted into and to have become exchangeable for, the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement. DBI shall give BFC (i) prompt notice of any written notices to exercise dissenters’ rights in respect of any shares of DBI Common Stock, attempted withdrawals of such notices and any other instruments served pursuant to the WBCL and received by DBI relating to dissenters’ rights and (ii) the opportunity to participate in negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for fair value under the WBCL. DBI shall not, except with the prior written consent of BFC, voluntarily make any payment with respect to, or settle, or offer or agree to settle, any such demand for payment. Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to this Article II to pay for shares of DBI Common Stock for which dissenters’ rights have been perfected shall be returned to BFC upon demand.

 

 4

 

 

(d)            Subject to Section 2.04 regarding proration and Section 2.07 regarding fractional shares, each share of DBI Common Stock (excluding Dissenting Shares and DBI Cancelled Shares) issued and outstanding at the Effective Time shall cease to be outstanding and shall be converted, in accordance with the terms of this Article II, into and exchanged for the right to receive any of the following forms of consideration (the “Merger Consideration”):

 

(i)            for each share of DBI Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Election (as defined herein) has been validly made and not revoked pursuant to Section 2.03 (collectively, the “Stock Election Shares”), the right to receive from BFC the number of shares of validly issued, fully paid and nonassesable BFC Common Stock as is equal to the Exchange Ratio (collectively, the “Stock Consideration”);

 

(ii)            for each share of DBI Common Stock with respect to which a Cash Election (as defined herein) has been validly made and not revoked pursuant to Section 2.03 (collectively, the “Cash Election Shares”), the right to receive in cash from BFC an amount equal to the Per Share Amount (collectively, the “Cash Consideration”); or

 

(iii)            for each share of DBI Common Stock other than shares as to which a Cash Election or a Stock Election has been validly made and not revoked pursuant to Section 2.03 (collectively, the “Non-Election Shares”), such Non-Election Shares will receive the Stock Consideration.

 

(e)            The following definitions shall apply for purposes of this Agreement:

 

(i)            “Cash Component” means $23,904,656.

 

(ii)            “Exchange Ratio” means 0.5276.

 

(iii)            “Per Share Amount” means $38.10.

 

(f)            If, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of DBI Common Stock or BFC Common Stock shall have been increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities as a result of a reorganization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or similar change in capitalization, appropriate and proportionate adjustments shall be made to the Exchange Ratio.

 

 5

 

 

(g)            Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the aggregate consideration to be paid by BFC in respect of the Merger Consideration to Holders that make an effective Cash Election shall be up to the Cash Component (assuming all Dissenting Shares receive cash equal to the Per Share Amount) and to Holders that make an effective Stock Election shall be up to 1,655,131 shares of BFC Common Stock (assuming 3,137,094 shares of DBI Common Stock are outstanding at the Effective Time and subject to increase or decrease in the event such number is increased or decreased, in each case as provided by this Article II).

 

Section 2.02     Adjustment of Merger Consideration for Tangible Equity Capital.

 

(a)            If the Tangible Equity Capital (as defined and calculated below) as of the Closing Date is less than the Minimum Tangible Equity Capital, then the aggregate Merger Consideration will be reduced by an amount (the “Capital Deficiency Amount”) equal to (A) the Minimum Tangible Equity Capital minus (B) the Tangible Equity Capital on the Closing Date, and the Cash Component and the Exchange Ratio shall be adjusted to produce the aggregate Merger Consideration as reduced by such Capital Deficiency Amount.

 

(b)            For purpose of this Agreement, “Tangible Equity Capital” means consolidated shareholders’ equity of DBI and all of its Subsidiaries determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied for past periods, excluding any change in accumulated other comprehensive income, on a consolidated basis with Denmark State Bank, whether upward or downward, from September 30, 2021; provided, however, that (i) the amount of any costs, fees, expenses and commissions payable to any broker, finder, financial advisor or investment banking firm in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) the amount of all legal and accounting fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) the accrual of any costs, fees, expenses, contract payments, penalties or liquidated damages associated with or incurred in connection with the termination of Terminated Contracts (as defined in Section 5.14), including, but not limited to, the termination of any data processing contract following the Closing Date; (iv) amounts payable upon a change in control event under any DBI Material Contract; (v) the amount of any payments to be made pursuant to any existing employment, change in control, salary continuation, deferred compensation or other similar agreements or arrangements or severance, noncompetition, retention or bonus arrangements between DBI or Denmark State Bank and any other Person, including the termination of such agreements, if the payment under such agreement or arrangement is triggered by the transactions set forth in this Agreement; (vi) the accrual of any future benefit payments due under any salary continuation, deferred compensation or other similar agreements through the date of final payment; and (vii) the amount of any additional accruals or costs (to the extent not already accrued) to fully fund and liquidate any DBI Benefit Plan (as defined herein) and to pay all related expenses and fees to the extent such termination is requested by BFC pursuant to Section 5.11, will not reduce or impact the calculation of Tangible Equity Capital for purposes of this Section; provided further, that adjustments to the calculation of the Tangible Equity Capital with respect to (i)-(vii) shall be mutually determined by DBI and BFC in good faith. All such excluded amounts shall also be determined in accordance with GAAP. For the avoidance of doubt, Tangible Equity Capital shall be reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of any dividend or other distribution by DBI declared or paid on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date.

 

 6

 

 

 

(c)            A calculation of the Tangible Equity Capital as of December 31, 2021, which assumes a Closing Date on or before July 1, 2022, including detailed adjustments as set forth in Section 2.02(b) is set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 2.02(c) (the “Estimated Closing Statement”). Within ten (10) Business Days of the end of each calendar month, DBI shall prepare a sample calculation of the Tangible Equity Capital as of the end of such calendar month (calculated in accordance with Section 2.02(b)) and provide such sample calculation to BFC for the Parties to discuss in good faith. As of a date that is not less than ten (10) Business Days prior to the intended Closing Date (the “Calculation Date”), DBI shall prepare in good faith and deliver to BFC an updated closing statement derived from the latest available financial information of DBI, adjusted for projections through the Closing Date and reflecting the Tangible Common Equity as set forth in Section 2.02(b) (such statement, the “Final Closing Statement”). Such Final Closing Statement shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the Estimated Closing Statement. If BFC does not object in writing to the Final Closing Statement within five (5) Business Days after the date DBI submits such calculation to BFC, the Final Closing Statement shall be deemed to be accepted by BFC and shall constitute the final calculation of the Tangible Equity Capital at the Closing Date, subject only to any further changes mutually agreed upon by both DBI and BFC. If BFC timely objects in writing to the Final Closing Statement and the Parties are unable to resolve any dispute related to the calculations set forth in the Final Closing Statement within five (5) Business Days after the date DBI submits such calculation to BFC, then DBI and BFC shall submit the calculation of Tangible Equity Capital at the Closing Date to an accounting firm independent from both BFC and DBI as shall be mutually agreed in writing by the Parties for review and resolution of any and all matters related to the calculation which remain in dispute. The independent accounting firm shall reach a final resolution of all matters (such determination of Tangible Equity Capital by the independent accounting firm shall be consistent with and in accordance with Section 2.02(b)) and shall furnish such resolution in writing to DBI and BFC as soon as practicable, but in no event more than ten (10) Business Days after such matters have been referred to the independent accounting firm. Such resolution shall be made in accordance with this Agreement and will be conclusive and binding upon DBI and BFC, absent manifest error or fraud. The resolution reached by the Parties or the independent accounting firm in accordance with this Section 2.02(c) will constitute the final calculation of the Tangible Equity Capital at the Closing Date. The costs for the independent accounting firm to reach such resolution shall be shared equally by DBI and BFC.

 

Section 2.03        Election Procedures.

 

(a)            Computershare, Inc. shall serve as exchange agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the payment and exchange of the Merger Consideration.

 

(b)            Holders of record of DBI Common Stock have the right to submit an Election Form (defined below) specifying the number of shares of DBI Common Stock, if any, held by such Holder that such Holder desires to have converted into the right to receive BFC Common Stock (a “Stock Election”) and the number of shares of DBI Common Stock that the Holder desires to have converted into the right to receive the Per Share Amount in cash (a “Cash Election”).

 

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(c)            An election form (“Election Form”), together with a Letter of Transmittal (as defined in Section 2.09), shall be mailed no less than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the Election Deadline (as defined below) or on such earlier date as BFC and DBI shall mutually agree (the “Mailing Date”) to each Holder of record of DBI Common Stock as of five (5) Business Days prior to the Mailing Date. Holders of record of shares of DBI Common Stock who hold such shares as nominees, trustees or in other representative capacities (a “Representative”) may submit multiple Election Forms, provided that each such Election Form covers all the shares of DBI Common Stock held by each Representative for a particular beneficial owner. Any shares owned by a Holder who has not, as of the Election Deadline, made an election by submission to the Exchange Agent of an effective, properly completed Election Form shall be deemed Non-Election Shares. BFC shall make available one or more Election Forms as may reasonably be requested in writing from time to time by all Persons who become holders (or beneficial owners) of DBI Common Stock between the record date for the initial mailing of Election Forms and the close of business on the Business Day prior to the Election Deadline, and DBI shall provide to the Exchange Agent all information reasonably necessary for it to perform as specified herein.

 

(d)            The term “Election Deadline”, as used below, shall mean 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the later of (i) the date of the DBI Meeting and (ii) the date that BFC and DBI shall agree is as near as practicable to five (5) Business Days prior to the expected Closing Date. An election shall have been properly made only if the Exchange Agent shall have actually received a properly completed Election Form by the Election Deadline accompanied by one or more Certificates (or customary affidavits and indemnification regarding the loss or destruction of such certificates or the guaranteed delivery of such certificates) representing all the shares of DBI Common Stock covered by such Election Form. Any Election Form may be revoked or changed by the Person submitting such Election Form to the Exchange Agent by written notice to the Exchange Agent only if such notice of revocation or change is actually received by the Exchange Agent at or prior to the Election Deadline. Shares of DBI Common Stock held by holders who acquired such shares subsequent to the Election Deadline will be designated Non-Election Shares. In addition, if a Holder of DBI Common Stock either (1) does not submit a properly completed Election Form in a timely fashion or (2) revokes its Election Form prior to the Election Deadline and fails to file a new properly completed Election Form before the deadline, such shares shall be designated Non-Election Shares. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and of the Election Form, the Exchange Agent shall have discretion to determine whether any election, revocation or change has been properly or timely made and to disregard immaterial defects in the Election Forms, and any good faith decisions of the Exchange Agent regarding such matters shall be binding and conclusive. Neither BFC nor the Exchange Agent shall be under any obligation to notify any Person of any defect in an Election Form.

 

Section 2.04        Proration.

 

(a)            Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, the total number of shares of DBI Common Stock that may be converted into Cash Consideration pursuant to Section 2.01(d)(ii) (which, for this purpose, shall be deemed to include the Dissenting Shares determined as of the Effective Time) (the “Cash Conversion Number”) shall be up to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Cash Component by (y) the Per Share Amount. All other shares of DBI Common Stock (other than DBI Cancelled Shares and Dissenting Shares) shall be converted into Stock Consideration.

 

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(b)            Within five (5) Business Days after the Effective Time, BFC shall cause the Exchange Agent to effect the allocation among the Holders of the rights to receive the Cash Consideration and/or the Stock Consideration such that if the aggregate number of shares of DBI Common Stock with respect to which Cash Elections shall have been made (which, for this purpose, shall be deemed to include the Dissenting Shares determined as of the Effective Time) (the “Total Cash Election Number”) exceeds the Cash Conversion Number, then (A) all Stock Election Shares and all Non-Election Shares shall be converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration, and (B) Cash Election Shares of each Holder thereof shall be converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration in respect of that number of Cash Election Shares equal to the product obtained by multiplying (x) the number of Cash Election Shares held by such Holder by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Cash Conversion Number and the denominator of which is the Total Cash Election Number (with the Exchange Agent to determine, consistent with Section 2.04(a), whether fractions of Cash Election Shares shall be rounded up or down), with the remaining number of such Holder’s Cash Election Shares being converted into the right to receive the Stock Consideration.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement and for the avoidance of doubt, the Merger shall not be consummated unless the Merger will qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

Section 2.05        DBI Stock-Based Awards.

 

(a)            Immediately prior to the Effective Time, each share of DBI Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is subject to vesting restrictions granted under the DBI Stock Plans (a “DBI Restricted Share”) shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable and shall be converted automatically into and shall thereafter represent the right to receive, at the election of the Holder, the Stock Consideration or the Cash Consideration, less the amount of any required withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.01, and all dividends previously declared and paid, but held by DBI on account for the Holders with respect to such DBI Restricted Shares, shall be paid in cash by DBI to such Holders.

 

(b)            Prior to the Effective Time, the board of directors of DBI (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the DBI Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or take such other actions, including obtaining any necessary consents or amendments to the applicable award agreements and equity plans, as may be required to effectuate the provisions of this Section 2.05.

 

Section 2.06        Rights as Shareholders; Stock Transfers.

 

At the Effective Time, all shares of DBI Common Stock, when converted in accordance with Section 2.01, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each Certificate or Book-Entry Share previously evidencing such shares shall thereafter represent only the right to receive for each such share of DBI Common Stock, the Merger Consideration and any cash in lieu of fractional shares of BFC Common Stock in accordance with this Article II. At the Effective Time, holders of DBI Common Stock shall cease to be, and shall have no rights as, shareholders of DBI, other than the right to receive the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares of BFC Common Stock as provided under this Article II. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of DBI shall be closed, and there shall be no registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of DBI of shares of DBI Common Stock.

 

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Section 2.07        Fractional Shares.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, no fractional shares of BFC Common Stock and no certificates or scrip therefor, or other evidence of ownership thereof, will be issued in the Merger. In lieu thereof, BFC shall pay or cause to be paid to each Holder of a fractional share of BFC Common Stock, rounded to the nearest one hundredth of a share, an amount of cash (without interest and rounded to the nearest whole cent) determined by multiplying the fractional share interest in BFC Common Stock to which such Holder would otherwise be entitled by the BFC Common Stock Price.

 

Section 2.08        Plan of Reorganization.

 

It is intended that the Merger and the Bank Merger shall each qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” as that term is used in Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.

 

Section 2.09        Exchange Procedures.

 

BFC shall cause as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days after the Closing Date, the Exchange Agent to commence mailing and delivery to each Holder who has not previously surrendered such Certificate or Certificates or Book Entry Shares, appropriate and customary transmittal materials, which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent, as well as instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares in exchange for the Merger Consideration (including cash in lieu of fractional shares) as provided for in this Agreement (the “Letter of Transmittal”).

 

Section 2.10        Deposit and Delivery of Merger Consideration.

 

(a)            Prior to the Effective Time, BFC shall (i) deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent stock certificates representing the number of shares of BFC Common Stock and cash sufficient to deliver the Merger Consideration (together with, to the extent then determinable, any cash payable in lieu of fractional shares pursuant to Section 2.07, and if applicable, cash in an aggregate amount sufficient to make the appropriate payment to the Holders of Dissenting Shares) (collectively, the “Exchange Fund”), and (ii) instruct the Exchange Agent to pay such Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares in accordance with this Agreement as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time and conditioned upon receipt of a properly completed Letter of Transmittal. The Exchange Agent and BFC, as the case may be, shall not be obligated to deliver the Merger Consideration to a Holder that such Holder would otherwise be entitled as a result of the Merger until such Holder surrenders the Certificates or Book-Entry Shares representing the shares of DBI Common Stock for exchange as provided in this Article II, or, an appropriate affidavit of loss and indemnity agreement and/or a bond in such amount as may be reasonably required in each case by BFC or the Exchange Agent.

 

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(b)            Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains unclaimed by the shareholders of DBI for one (1) year after the Effective Time (as well as any interest or proceeds from any investment thereof) shall be delivered by the Exchange Agent to BFC. Any shareholders of DBI who have not theretofore complied with this Section 2.10 shall thereafter look only to BFC for the Merger Consideration, any cash in lieu of fractional shares of DBI Common Stock to be issued or paid in consideration therefor, and any dividends or distributions to which such Holder is entitled in respect of each share of DBI Common Stock such shareholder held immediately prior to the Effective Time, as determined pursuant to this Agreement, in each case without any interest thereon. If outstanding Certificates or Book-Entry Shares for shares of DBI Common Stock are not surrendered or the payment for them is not claimed prior to the date on which such shares of BFC Common Stock or cash would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any governmental unit or agency, the unclaimed items shall, to the extent permitted by the law of abandoned property and any other applicable Law, become the property of BFC (and to the extent not in its possession shall be delivered to it), free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled to such property. Neither the Exchange Agent nor any Party shall be liable to any Holder represented by any Certificate or Book-Entry Share for any amounts delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. BFC and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to rely upon the stock transfer books of DBI to establish the identity of those Persons entitled to receive the Merger Consideration specified in this Agreement, which books shall be conclusive with respect thereto. In the event of a dispute with respect to ownership of any shares of DBI Common Stock represented by any Certificate or Book-Entry Share, BFC and the Exchange Agent shall be entitled to tender to the custody of any court of competent jurisdiction any Merger Consideration represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Share and file legal proceedings interpleading all parties to such dispute, and will thereafter be relieved with respect to any claims thereto.

 

(c)            BFC or the Exchange Agent, as applicable, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any Holder such amounts as BFC is required to deduct and withhold under applicable Law. Any amounts so deducted and withheld shall be remitted to the appropriate Governmental Authority and upon such remittance shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Holder in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by BFC or the Exchange Agent, as applicable.

 

Section 2.11        Rights of Certificate Holders after the Effective Time.

 

(a)            All shares of BFC Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger shall be deemed issued and outstanding as of the Effective Time and if ever a dividend or other distribution is declared by BFC in respect of the BFC Common Stock, the record date for which is at or after the Effective Time, that declaration shall include dividends or other distributions in respect of all shares of BFC Common Stock issuable pursuant to this Agreement. No dividends or other distributions in respect of the BFC Common Stock shall be paid to any Holder of any unsurrendered Certificate or Book-Entry Share until such Certificate or Book-Entry Share is surrendered for exchange in accordance with this Article II. Subject to the effect of applicable Laws, following surrender of any such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, there shall be issued and/or paid to the Holder of the certificates representing whole shares of BFC Common Stock issued in exchange therefor, without interest, (i) at the time of such surrender, the dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore payable with respect to such whole shares of BFC Common Stock and not paid and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the dividends or other distributions payable with respect to such whole shares of BFC Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time but with a payment date subsequent to surrender.

 

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(b)            In the event of a transfer of ownership of a Certificate representing DBI Common Stock that is not registered in the stock transfer records of DBI, the proper amount of cash and/or shares of BFC Common Stock shall be paid or issued in exchange therefor to a person other than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered if the Certificate formerly representing such DBI Common Stock shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form for transfer and the person requesting such payment or issuance shall pay any transfer or other similar Taxes required by reason of the payment or issuance to a person other than the registered Holder of the Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of BFC that the Tax has been paid or is not applicable.

 

Section 2.12        DBI ESPP.

 

As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the board of directors of DBI (or, if appropriate, any committee administering the DBI ESPP) shall adopt such resolutions and take such other actions as may be required so that (i) except to the extent necessary to maintain the status of the DBI ESPP as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, participation in the DBI ESPP shall be limited to those employees who are participants on the date of this Agreement, (ii) except to the extent necessary to maintain the status of the DBI ESPP as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder, participants may not increase their payroll deduction elections or rate of contributions from those in effect on the date of this Agreement or make any separate non-payroll contributions to the DBI ESPP on or following the date of this Agreement, (iii) no new Offering Period (as defined in the DBI ESPP) shall be commenced after the date of this Agreement, (iv) the Offering Period in progress as of the Effective Time shall be shortened, the last day of such Offering Period shall be the tenth Business Day immediately preceding the Effective Time, and each then-outstanding option under the DBI ESPP will be exercised automatically on the last day of such Offering Period, and (v) the DBI ESPP shall terminate immediately prior to and effective as of the Effective Time.

 

Section 2.13        Anti-Dilution Provisions.

 

If the number of shares of BFC Common Stock or DBI Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall be increased or decreased, or changed into or exchanged for a different number of kind of shares or securities, in any such case as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization or similar transaction, or there shall be any extraordinary dividend or distribution with respect to such stock, and the record date therefor shall be prior to the Effective Time, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made to the Merger Consideration to give holders of DBI Common Stock the same economic effect as contemplated by this Agreement prior to such event.

 

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Article III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF DBI

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by DBI to BFC prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement with respect to each such Section below (the “DBI Disclosure Schedule”); provided, that (a) the mere inclusion of an item in the DBI Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by DBI that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on DBI and (b) any disclosures made with respect to a section of Article III shall be deemed to qualify (1) any other section of Article III specifically referenced or cross-referenced and (2) other sections of Article III to the extent it is reasonably apparent on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies to such other sections, DBI hereby represents and warrants to BFC as follows:

 

Section 3.01        Organization and Standing.

 

Each of DBI and its Subsidiaries is (a) an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation and (b) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not had, and is not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to DBI. A complete and accurate list of all such jurisdictions described in (a) and (b) is set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.01.

 

Section 3.02        Capital Stock.

 

(a)            The authorized capital stock of DBI consists of 10,000,000 shares of Class A DBI Common Stock and 1,000,000 shares of Class B DBI Common Stock. DBI has no preferred stock. As of the date hereof, there are 3,011,868 shares of Class A and 89,285 shares of Class B DBI Common Stock issued and outstanding, 45,196 shares of Class A Common Stock of which were issued as restricted stock pursuant to the DBI Stock Plans (of which 21,808 are currently vested, and all of which will vest on the Closing Date); 21,256 shares of Class A DBI Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the DBI ESPP; and an additional 532,700 and 28,365 shares of Class A and Class B DBI Common Stock, respectively, held as treasury stock. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding options or warrants to purchase DBI Common Stock. There are no shares of DBI Common Stock held by any of DBI’s Subsidiaries. DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.02(a) sets forth, as of the date hereof, the name and address, as reflected on the books and records of DBI, of each Holder, and the number of shares of DBI Common Stock held by each such Holder. The issued and outstanding shares of DBI Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and have not been issued in violation of nor are they subject to preemptive rights of any DBI shareholder. All shares of DBI’s capital stock issued and outstanding have been issued in compliance with and not in violation of any applicable federal or state securities Laws.

 

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(b)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.02(b) sets forth, as of the date hereof, for each grant or award of DBI Restricted Shares or other outstanding Rights of DBI the (i) name of the grantee, (ii) date of the grant, (iii) expiration date, (iv) vesting schedule, (v) number of shares of DBI Common Stock, or any other security of DBI, subject to such award, (vi) number of shares subject to such award that are exercisable or have vested as of the date of this Agreement, and (vii) name of the DBI Stock Plan under which such award was granted, if applicable. All DBI Restricted Shares and all other outstanding DBI Rights comply with or are exempt from Section 409A of the Code and qualify for the tax treatment afforded thereto in DBI’s Tax Returns. Each grant of DBI Restricted Shares or other outstanding DBI Rights was appropriately authorized by the board of directors of DBI or the compensation committee thereof, was made in accordance with the terms of the DBI Stock Plans and any applicable Law and regulatory rules or requirements and has a grant date identical to (or later than) the date on which it was actually granted or awarded by the board of directors of DBI or the compensation committee thereof. There are no outstanding shares of capital stock of any class, or any options, warrants or other similar rights, convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom stock” rights, stock appreciation rights, stock based performance units, agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, whether or not in writing, of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries or obligating DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries to issue (whether upon conversion, exchange or otherwise) or sell any share of capital stock of, or other equity interests in or other securities of, DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries other than those listed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.02(b). There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of DBI Common Stock or capital stock of any of DBI’s Subsidiaries or any other securities of DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries or to provide funds to or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in any such Subsidiary or any other entity. Except for the DBI Voting Agreements, there are no agreements, arrangements or other understandings with respect to the voting of DBI’s capital stock and there are no agreements or arrangements under which DBI is obligated to register the sale of any of its securities under the Securities Act.

 

(c)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.02(c) sets forth a list of all repurchases by DBI of DBI Common Stock since January 1, 2018, including the date of such repurchase, the number, class, and series of the shares repurchased, and the price at which DBI executed such repurchase. All such repurchases were conducted by DBI in material compliance with applicable Laws. To the knowledge of DBI, all Affiliates of DBI have, since January 1, 2018, conducted purchases and sales of DBI Common Stock in material compliance with applicable Laws.

 

(d)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.02(d) sets forth a listing of all agreements to which DBI is a party that provide holders of DBI Common Stock with rights as holders of DBI Common Stock that are in addition to those provided by DBI’s articles of incorporation, DBI’s bylaws, or by applicable Law (each, a “DBI Investor Agreement”). Each DBI Investor Agreement is valid and binding on DBI and is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms (assuming the due execution by each other party thereto, provided that DBI hereby represents and warrants that, to its Knowledge, each DBI Investor Agreement is duly executed by all such parties), subject to the Enforceability Exception. DBI is not in default under any DBI Investor Agreement and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a default.

 

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Section 3.03        Subsidiaries.

 

(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.03(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Subsidiaries of DBI, including the jurisdiction of organization and all jurisdictions in which any such entity is qualified to do business and the number of shares or other equity interests in such Subsidiary held by DBI. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.03(a), (i) DBI owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding equity securities of each DBI Subsidiary, (ii) no equity securities of any of DBI’s Subsidiaries are or may become required to be issued (other than to DBI) by reason of any contractual right or otherwise, (iii) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which any of such Subsidiaries is or may be bound to sell or otherwise transfer any of its equity securities (other than to DBI or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of DBI), (iv) there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements relating to DBI’s rights to vote or to dispose of such securities, (v) all of the equity securities of each such Subsidiary held by DBI, directly or indirectly, are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and are not subject to preemptive or similar rights, and (vi) all of the equity securities of each Subsidiary that is owned, directly or indirectly, by DBI or any Subsidiary thereof, are free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer under applicable securities or banking Laws. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has any trust preferred securities or other similar securities outstanding.

 

(b)            Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.03(b), neither DBI nor any of DBI’s Subsidiaries owns any stock or equity interest in any depository institution (as defined in 12 U.S.C. Section 1813(c)(1)) other than Denmark State Bank. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.03(b), neither DBI nor any of DBI’s Subsidiaries beneficially owns, directly or indirectly (other than in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted), any equity securities or similar interests of any Person, or any interest in a partnership or joint venture of any kind.

 

Section 3.04        Corporate Power; Minute Books.

 

(a)            DBI and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate or similar power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all of its properties and assets; and DBI has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals of Governmental Authorities, the Regulatory Approvals and the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval.

 

(b)            DBI has made available to BFC a complete and correct copy of the articles of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries, the minute books of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries, and the stock ledgers and stock transfer books of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the terms of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents. The minute books of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries contain records of all meetings held by, and all other corporate or similar actions of, their respective shareholders and boards of directors (including committees of their respective boards of directors) or other governing bodies, which records are complete and accurate in all material respects. The stock ledgers and the stock transfer books of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries contain complete and accurate records of the ownership of the equity securities of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 3.05        Corporate Authority.

 

Subject only to the receipt of the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval at the DBI Meeting, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of DBI and the board of directors of DBI on or prior to the date hereof. The board of directors of DBI has directed that this Agreement be submitted to DBI’s shareholders for approval at a meeting of the shareholders and, except for the receipt of the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval in accordance with the WBCL and DBI’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, no other vote or action of the shareholders of DBI is required by Law, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of DBI or otherwise to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. DBI has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by BFC, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of DBI, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except to the extent that validity and enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by general principles of equity or by principles of public policy (the “Enforceability Exception’’).

 

Section 3.06        Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.

 

(a)            No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are required to be made or obtained by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by DBI of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except as may be required for (i) filings of applications and notices with, and receipt of consents, authorizations, approvals, exemptions or non-objections from the SEC, NASDAQ, state securities authorities, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., applicable securities, commodities and futures exchanges, and other industry self-regulatory organizations (each, an “SRO”), (ii) filings of applications or notices with, and consents, approvals or waivers by the FRB, the FDIC, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), and applicable state banking agencies, the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and other banking, regulatory, self-regulatory or enforcement authorities or any courts, administrative agencies or commissions or other Governmental Authorities and approval of or non-objection to such applications, filings and notices (taken together with the items listed in clause (i), the “Regulatory Approvals”), (iii) the filing with the SEC of the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration Statement and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iv) the filing of the Articles of Merger contemplated by Section 1.04(a) and the filing of documents with the FDIC, the OCC, the WDFI-Banking or other applicable Governmental Authorities to cause the Bank Merger to become effective and (v) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of BFC Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement (the “BFC Common Stock Issuance”) and approval of listing of such BFC Common Stock on the Trading Market. Subject to the receipt of the approvals referred to in the preceding sentence, the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval and as set forth on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.06(a), the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by DBI do not and will not (1) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of incorporation, bylaws or similar governing documents of DBI or any of its respective Subsidiaries, (2) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, (3) conflict with, result in a breach or violation of any provision of, or the loss of any benefit under, or a default (or an event which, with or without notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien under, result in a right of termination or the acceleration of any right or obligation (which, in each case, would have a material impact on DBI or could reasonably be expected to result in a financial obligation or penalty in excess of $50,000) under any permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, contract, franchise, agreement or other instrument or obligation of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or their respective properties or assets is subject or bound, or (4) require the consent or approval of any third party or Governmental Authority under any such Law, rule or regulation or any judgment, decree, order, permit, license, credit agreement, indenture, loan, note, bond, mortgage, reciprocal easement agreement, lease, instrument, concession, contract, franchise, agreement or other instrument or obligation that would have a material impact on DBI or result in a material financial penalty.

 

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(b)            As of the date hereof, DBI has no Knowledge of any reason (i) why the Regulatory Approvals referred to in Section 6.01(b) will not be received in customary time frames from the applicable Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) why any Burdensome Condition would be imposed.

 

Section 3.07        Financial Statements; Internal Controls.

 

(a)            DBI has previously delivered or made available to BFC copies of DBI’s (i) audited consolidated financial statements (including the related notes and schedules thereto) for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018, accompanied by the unqualified audit reports of Plante & Moran, PLLC, independent registered accountants (collectively, the “Audited Annual Financial Statements”) and (ii) unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 (the “Unaudited Interim Financial Statements” and collectively with the Audited Annual Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”). The Financial Statements (including any related notes and schedules thereto) are accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly present in all material respects the financial condition and the results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows of DBI and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, all in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, subject, in the case of the Unaudited Interim Financial Statements, to normal, recurring year-end adjustments (the effect of which has not had, and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to DBI) and the absence of notes and schedules (that, if presented, would not differ materially from those included in the Audited Annual Financial Statements). No financial statements of any entity or enterprise other than DBI’s Subsidiaries are required by GAAP to be included in the consolidated financial statements of DBI. The audits of DBI have been conducted in accordance with GAAP. Since December 31, 2020, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of a nature that would be required by GAAP to be set forth on its consolidated balance sheet or in the notes thereto except for liabilities reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements and current liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since December 31, 2020. True, correct and complete copies of the Financial Statements are set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.07(a).

 

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(b)            The records, systems, controls, data and information of DBI and its Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of DBI or its Subsidiaries or accountants (including all means of access thereto and therefrom). DBI and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP. DBI has disclosed based on its most recent evaluations, to its outside auditors and the audit committee of the board of directors of DBI (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect DBI’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in DBI’s internal control over financial reporting. DBI has made available to BFC a summary of any such disclosure made by management to the auditor and/or audit committee of BFC or any Subsidiary.

 

(c)            Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.07(c), since January 1, 2018, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to DBI’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has received, or otherwise had or obtained Knowledge of, any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.

 

(d)            The most recent Financial Statements as of the date hereof reflect an adequate reserve, in accordance with GAAP, for all Taxes payable by DBI and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods through the date of such Financial Statements. Since December 31, 2020, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any liability for Taxes arising from extraordinary gains or losses, as that term is used in GAAP, outside the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

Section 3.08        Regulatory Reports.

 

Since January 1, 2018, DBI and its Subsidiaries have timely filed with the SEC, FRB, the FDIC, any SRO and any other applicable Governmental Authority, in correct form, the material reports, registration statements and other documents required to be filed under applicable Laws and regulations and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, and such reports and other documents were complete and accurate and in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations. Other than normal examinations conducted by a Governmental Authority in the Ordinary Course of Business, no Governmental Authority has notified DBI or any of its Subsidiaries that it has initiated any proceeding or, to the Knowledge of DBI, threatened an investigation into the business or operations of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2018. There is no material and unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Governmental Authority with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations or inspections of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.09        Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

 

Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.09, the Financial Statements or as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, since December 31, 2020, (a) DBI and its Subsidiaries have carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the Ordinary Course of Business, (b) there have been no events, changes or circumstances which have had, or are reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to DBI, and (c) neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action or failed to take any action prior to the date of this Agreement which action or failure, if taken after the date of this Agreement, would constitute a material breach or violation of any of the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b), Section 5.01(c), Section 5.01(e), Section 5.01(g), Section 5.01(h), Section 5.01(j), Section 5.01(k), Section 5.01(u) or Section 5.01(z).

 

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Section 3.10        Legal Proceedings.

 

(a)            There are no material civil, criminal, administrative or regulatory actions, suits, demand letters, demands for indemnification, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause, market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature pending or, to the Knowledge of DBI, threatened against DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their current or former directors or executive officers in their capacities as such, or to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their current or former director or executive officer is a party, including without limitation, any such actions, suits, demand letters, demands for indemnification, claims, hearings, notices of violation, arbitrations, investigations, orders to show cause, market conduct examinations, notices of non-compliance or other proceedings of any nature that would challenge the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)            There is no material injunction, order, judgment or decree or regulatory restriction imposed upon DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or the assets of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Merger or the Bank Merger would apply to the Surviving Entity or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates), and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of the threat of any such action, other than any such injunction, order, judgement or decree that is generally applicable to all Persons in businesses similar to that of DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.11        Compliance with Laws.

 

(a)            DBI and each of its Subsidiaries is, and has been since January 1, 2018, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses, including, without limitation, Laws related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the regulations implementing such statutes, all other applicable anti-money laundering Laws, fair lending Laws and other Laws relating to discriminatory lending, financing, leasing or business practices and all agency requirements relating to the origination, sale and servicing of mortgage loans. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of any supervisory concerns regarding their compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act or related state or federal anti-money laundering laws, regulations and guidelines, including without limitation those provisions of federal regulations requiring (i) the filing of reports, such as Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports, (ii) the maintenance of records and (iii) the exercise of due diligence in identifying customers.

 

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(b)            DBI and each of its Subsidiaries have all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and each has made all filings, applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted. All such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to DBI’s Knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened.

 

(c)            Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since January 1, 2018, written or, to DBI’s Knowledge, oral notification from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is materially in non-compliance with any of the Laws which such Governmental Authority enforces or (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization.

 

Section 3.12        DBI Material Contracts; Defaults.

 

(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.12(a) lists all agreements, contracts, arrangements, commitments or understandings (whether written or oral) (i) which would entitle any present or former director, officer, employee, consultant or agent of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to indemnification from DBI or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) which grants any right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right with respect to any assets or properties of DBI or its respective Subsidiaries; (iii) related to the borrowing by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries of money other than those entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and any guaranty of any obligation for the borrowing of money, excluding endorsements made for collection, repurchase or resell agreements, letters of credit and guaranties made in the Ordinary Course of Business; (iv) which provides for payments to be made by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries upon a change in control thereof; (v) relating to the lease of personal property having a value in excess of $25,000 individually or $50,000 in the aggregate; (vi) relating to any joint venture, partnership, limited liability company agreement or other similar agreement or arrangement; (vii) which relates to capital expenditures and involves future payments in excess of $50,000 individually or $125,000 in the aggregate; (viii) which relates to the disposition or acquisition of assets or any interest in any business enterprise outside the Ordinary Course of Business; (ix) which is not terminable on sixty (60) days or less notice and involving the payment of more than $30,000 per annum; (x) which contains a non-compete or client or customer non-solicit requirement or any other provision that restricts the conduct of any line of business by DBI or any of its Affiliates or upon consummation of the Merger will restrict the ability of the Surviving Entity or any of its Affiliates to engage in any line of business (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any exclusivity provision granted in favor of any third party) or which grants any right of first refusal, right of first offer or similar right or that limits or purports to limit the ability of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries (or, following consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, BFC or any of its Subsidiaries) to own, operate, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of any assets or business; or (xi) pursuant to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries may become obligated to invest in or contribute capital to any entity (each such contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding, a “DBI Material Contract”). DBI has previously made available to BFC true, complete and correct copies of each such DBI Material Contract, including any and all amendments and modifications thereto.

 

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(b)            Each DBI Material Contract is valid and binding on DBI and any of its Subsidiaries to the extent such Subsidiary is a party thereto, as applicable, and is in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with its terms (assuming the due execution by each other party thereto, provided that DBI hereby represents and warrants that, to its Knowledge, each DBI Material Contract is duly executed by all such parties), subject to the Enforceability Exception and except where the failure to be valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to DBI; and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default under any DBI Material Contract or other “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC), to which it is a party, and there has not occurred any event that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such a material default. No power of attorney or similar authorization given directly or indirectly by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is currently outstanding.

 

(c)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.12(c) sets forth a true and complete list of all DBI Material Contracts pursuant to which consents, waivers or notices are or may be required to be given thereunder, in each case, prior to the performance by DBI of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger, the Bank Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

Section 3.13        Agreements with Regulatory Agencies.

 

Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and-desist or other order issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of any Governmental Authority (each a “DBI Regulatory Agreement”) that restricts, or by its terms will in the future restrict, the conduct of DBI’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ business or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy, credit or risk management policies, dividend policies, management, business or operations, nor has DBI or any of its Subsidiaries been advised by any Governmental Authority that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, requesting, recommending, or otherwise proceeding with (or is considering the appropriateness of any of the aforementioned actions) any DBI Regulatory Agreement. To DBI’s Knowledge, there are no investigations relating to any regulatory matters pending before any Governmental Authority with respect to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.14        Brokers; Fairness Opinion.

 

Neither DBI nor any of its officers, directors or any of its Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred, nor will it incur, any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that DBI has engaged, and will pay a fee or commission to Piper Sandler & Co. (“DBI Financial Advisor”), in accordance with the terms of a letter agreement between DBI Financial Advisor and DBI, a true, complete and correct copy of which has been previously delivered by DBI to BFC. DBI has received the opinion of the DBI Financial Advisor (and, when it is delivered in writing, a copy of such opinion will be promptly provided to BFC) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of DBI Common Stock, and, as of the date of this Agreement, such opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified.

 

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Section 3.15        Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(a) sets forth a true and complete list of each DBI Benefit Plan. For purposes of this Agreement, “DBI Benefit Plans” means all benefit and compensation plans, contracts, policies or arrangements (i) covering current or former employees or independent contractors of DBI, any of its Subsidiaries or any of DBI’s related organizations described in Code Sections 414(b), (c) or (m), or any entity which is considered one employer with DBI, any of its Subsidiaries or Controlled Group Members under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (“ERISA Affiliates”) (such current employees collectively, the “DBI Employees”), (ii) covering current or former directors of DBI, any of its Subsidiaries, or ERISA Affiliates, or (iii) with respect to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have any liability or contingent liability (including liability arising from ERISA Affiliates) including, but not limited to, “employee benefit plans” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, health/welfare, employment, severance, change-of-control, fringe benefit, deferred compensation, defined benefit plan, defined contribution plan, stock option, stock purchase, stock appreciation rights, stock based, incentive, bonus plans, retirement plans and other policies, plans or arrangements whether or not subject to ERISA.

 

(b)            With respect to each DBI Benefit Plan, DBI has provided to BFC true and complete copies of such DBI Benefit Plan, any trust instruments and insurance contracts or other funding arrangements forming a part of any DBI Benefit Plans and all amendments thereto, summary plan descriptions and summary of material modifications, IRS Form 5500 (for the three (3) most recently completed plan years), the most recent IRS determination, opinion, notification and advisory letters, with respect thereto and any correspondence from any regulatory agency. In addition, with respect to the DBI Benefit Plans for the three (3) most recently completed plan years, any plan financial statements and accompanying accounting reports, service contracts, fidelity bonds and employee and participant annual QDIA notice, safe harbor notice, or fee disclosures notices under 29 CFR 2550.404a-5, and nondiscrimination testing data and results under Code Sections 105(h), 125, 129, 401(k), and 401(m), as applicable, have been provided to BFC.

 

(c)            All DBI Benefit Plans are in compliance in all material respects in form and operation with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code. Each DBI Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code (“DBI 401(a) Plan”) has received a favorable opinion, determination or advisory letter from the IRS, and to DBI’s Knowledge there is not any circumstance that could reasonably be expected to result in revocation of any such favorable determination, opinion or advisory letter or the loss of the qualification of such DBI 401(a) Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code, and nothing has occurred that would be expected to result in the DBI 401(a) Plan ceasing to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code. All DBI Benefit Plans have been administered in all material respects in accordance with their terms. There is no pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge, threatened litigation or regulatory action relating to the DBI Benefit Plans. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction with respect to any DBI Benefit Plan that could subject DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to a tax or penalty under any Law including, but not limited to, Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA. No DBI 401(a) Plan has been submitted under or been the subject of an IRS voluntary compliance program submission that is still outstanding or that has not been fully corrected in accordance with a compliance statement issued by the IRS with respect to any applicable failures. There are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge, threatened by the IRS or the Department of Labor with respect to any DBI Benefit Plan. There are no current, pending, or threatened investigations by the IRS or the Department of Labor with respect to any DBI Benefit Plan.

 

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(d)            Neither DBI nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained a plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. None of DBI or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed to (or been obligated to contribute to) a “multiemployer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of ERISA Sections 4063 or 4064 or Code Section 413(c) at any time. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates have incurred, and there are no circumstances under which they could reasonably be expected to incur, liability under Title IV of ERISA (regardless of whether based on contributions of an ERISA Affiliate). Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever sponsored, maintained or participated in a multiple employer welfare arrangement as defined in ERISA Section 3(40) or a multiple employer plan, meaning a plan sponsored by two or more unrelated employers as described in Code Section 413(c). No notice of a “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA has been required to be filed for any DBI Benefit Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate or will be required to be filed, in either case, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)            All contributions required to be made with respect to all DBI Benefit Plans have been timely made.

 

(f)            Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(f), no DBI Benefit Plan provides life insurance, medical, surgical, hospitalization or other employee welfare benefits to any DBI Employee, or any of their affiliates, upon or following his or her retirement or termination of employment for any reason, except as may be required by Law.

 

(g)            All DBI Benefit Plans that are group health plans have been operated in all material respects in compliance with the group health plan continuation requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and all other applicable sections of ERISA and the Code, and no material liabilities arising under Code Section 4980H have occurred. DBI may amend or terminate any such DBI Benefit Plan at any time without incurring any liability thereunder for future benefits coverage at any time after such termination.

 

(h)            Except as otherwise provided for in this Agreement or as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(h), neither the execution of this Agreement, shareholder approval of this Agreement or consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (individually or in conjunction with any other event) will (i) entitle any current or former DBI Employee to retention or other bonuses, parachute payments, non-competition payments, or any other payment, (ii) entitle any current or former DBI Employee to unemployment compensation, severance pay or any increase in severance pay upon any termination of employment, (iii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting (except as required by Law) or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other obligation pursuant to, any of the DBI Benefit Plans, (iv) result in any breach or violation of, or a default under, any of the DBI Benefit Plans, (v) result in any payment of any amount that would, individually or in combination with any other such payment (excluding the application of any payments made under any contract or agreement entered into by and between BFC or Bank First and any current or former DBI Employee other than the Employment Agreement Termination Agreement to be entered into by and between Bank First and Scot G. Thompson following the date of this Agreement), be an excess “parachute payment” to a “disqualified individual” as those terms are defined in Section 280G of the Code, or (vi) limit or restrict the right of DBI or, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, BFC or any of its Subsidiaries, to merge, amend or terminate any of the DBI Benefit Plans.

 

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(i)             Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(i), (i) each DBI Benefit Plan that is a non-qualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, and any underlying award, is in compliance in all respects with Section 409A of the Code and (ii) no payment or award that has been made to any participant under a DBI Benefit Plan is subject to the interest and penalties specified in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries (x) has any obligation to reimburse or indemnify any participant in a DBI Benefit Plan for any of the interest or penalties specified in Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code that may be currently due or triggered in the future, or (y) except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(i), has been required to report to any Government Authority any correction or taxes due as a result of a failure to comply with Section 409A of the Code.

 

(j)             No DBI Benefit Plan provides for the gross-up or reimbursement of any Taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or otherwise, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has any obligation to reimburse or indemnify any party for such Taxes.

 

(k)            DBI has made available to BFC copies of any Code Section 280G calculations (whether or not final) with respect to any disqualified individual, if applicable, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(l)             DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(l) contains a schedule showing the monetary amounts payable or potentially payable, whether individually or in the aggregate (including good faith estimates of all amounts not subject to precise quantification as of the date of this Agreement) under any employment, change-in-control, severance or similar contract, plan or arrangement with or which covers any present or former director, officer, employee or consultant of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries who may be entitled to any such amount and identifying the types and estimated amounts of the in-kind benefits due under any DBI Benefit Plans (other than a plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code) for each such Person, specifying the assumptions in such schedule and providing estimates of other required contributions to any trusts for any related fees or expenses.

 

(m)            DBI and its Subsidiaries have correctly classified all individuals who directly or indirectly perform services for DBI or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of each DBI Benefit Plan, ERISA and the Code.

 

(n)            The DBI ESPP is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” within the meaning of Section 423 of the Code and has been operated accordingly.

 

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Section 3.16        Labor Matters.

 

Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other agreement or understanding with a labor union or labor organization, nor is there any proceeding pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge threatened, asserting that DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice (within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act) or seeking to compel DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to bargain with any labor organization as to wages or conditions of employment, nor is there any strike or other labor dispute against DBI pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge, threatened, nor to DBI’s Knowledge is there any activity involving DBI Employees seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or engaging in other organizational activity. To its Knowledge, DBI and its Subsidiaries have correctly classified all individuals who directly or indirectly perform services for DBI or any of its Subsidiaries for purposes of federal and state unemployment compensation Laws, workers’ compensation Laws and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor. To DBI’s Knowledge, no officer of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is in material violation of any employment contract, confidentiality, non-competition agreement or any other restrictive covenant. Since January 1, 2020, DBI has not implemented, in response to COVID-19, any material workforce reductions, terminations, furloughs, reductions in or changes to compensation, benefits or working schedules, or changes to any DBI Benefit Plans.

 

Section 3.17        Environmental Matters.

 

To its Knowledge, DBI and its Subsidiaries have been and are in material compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining and complying with all permits required under Environmental Laws for the operation of their respective businesses, (b) there is no action or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority relating to or arising under any Environmental Laws that is pending or, to the Knowledge of DBI, threatened against DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or any real property or facility presently owned, operated or leased by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor (including in a fiduciary or agency capacity), (c) neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of or is subject to any liability, order, settlement, judgment, injunction or decree involving uncompleted, outstanding or unresolved requirements relating to or arising under Environmental Laws, (d) to the Knowledge of DBI, there have been no releases of Hazardous Substances at, on, under or affecting any of the real properties or facilities presently owned, operated or leased by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or any predecessor (including in a fiduciary or agency capacity) in amount or condition that has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in liability to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries relating to or arising under any Environmental Laws, and (e) to the Knowledge of DBI, there are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any property currently owned, operated or leased by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.18        Tax Matters.

 

(a)            Each of DBI and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (taking into account all applicable extensions properly obtained) all Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Laws, other than Tax Returns that are not yet due. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable Laws. All income and other material Taxes due and owing by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been fully and timely paid. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever received written notice of any claim by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where DBI or such Subsidiary does not file Tax Returns or pay Taxes that it is or may be subject to Taxes or Tax Return filing requirements in that jurisdiction. There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) upon any of the assets of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(b)            DBI and each of its Subsidiaries have collected or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority all Taxes required to have been collected or withheld and paid over by it, and has complied in all material respects with all information reporting and backup withholding requirements under all applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Person, including without limitation Taxes required to have been collected or withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee or independent contractor, creditor, shareholder or other third party, and Taxes required to be collected or withheld and paid pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442 and 3406 of the Code or similar provisions under state, local or foreign Law.

 

(c)            No foreign, federal, state or local Tax audits or administrative or judicial Tax proceedings are currently being conducted or pending or have been threatened in writing. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received from any foreign, federal, state or local Taxing Authority (including jurisdictions where DBI or any of its Subsidiaries have not filed Tax Returns) any written (i) notice indicating an intent to open an audit, action, suit, proceeding, claim, investigation, examination, or other Litigation regarding any Tax or other review with respect to Taxes or (ii) notice of deficiency or proposed adjustment for any amount of Tax proposed, asserted or assessed by any Taxing Authority against DBI or any of its Subsidiaries which, in either case (i) or (ii), has not been fully paid or settled. There are no agreements, waivers or other arrangements providing for an extension of time with respect to the assessment of any Tax or deficiency against DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived or extended the applicable statute of limitations for the assessment or collection of any Tax or agreed to a Tax assessment or deficiency. No private letter rulings, technical advice memorandums or similar rulings have been entered into with, or received from, any taxing authority by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(d)            DBI has delivered or made available to BFC true and complete copies of (i) the foreign, federal, state and local Tax Returns filed with respect to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, and (ii) all examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by DBI, for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2017.

 

(e)            Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the five-year period preceding the Closing Date. Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is otherwise bound by any Tax allocation or sharing agreement or similar agreement pursuant to which it has any obligation to any Person with respect to Taxes (other than such an agreement (i) exclusively between or among DBI and its Subsidiaries, (ii) with customers, vendors, lessors or similar third parties entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business and not primarily related to Taxes or (iii) that will terminate as of the Closing Date without any further payments being required to be made). Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was DBI), or (ii) has any liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than DBI and its Subsidiaries) under Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of foreign, state or local Law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

 

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(f)             Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Effective Time as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting pursuant to Section 481 of the Code or any comparable provision under foreign, state or local Law for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) “closing agreement” as described in Code Section 7121 (or any corresponding or similar provision of foreign, state or local Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) intercompany transactions or any excess loss account described in Regulations under Code Section 1502 (or any corresponding or similar provision of foreign, state or local Law); (iv) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vi) election under Section 965 of the Code.

 

(g)            Since January 1, 2018, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person nor had its stock distributed by another Person in a transaction that was intended to be nontaxable and governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(h)            Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any “reportable transaction,” as defined in Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Section 1.6011-4(b) of the Regulations in any tax year.

 

(i)             Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is a “controlled foreign corporation” as defined in Section 957 of the Code, (ii) is a “passive foreign investment company” within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, or (iii) has a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized.

 

(j)             Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action, or is aware of any fact or circumstance, that would be reasonably likely to prevent the Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(k)            DBI and each of its Subsidiaries is in material compliance with all federal, state and foreign Laws applicable to abandoned or unclaimed property or escheat and has timely paid, remitted or delivered to each jurisdiction all material unclaimed or abandoned property required by any applicable Laws to be paid, remitted or delivered to that jurisdiction.

 

(l)             Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries have (i) applied for or received loans or payments under the CARES Act (or any comparable, analogous or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law or conforming U.S. Law), including pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, (ii) claimed any “Employee Retention Tax Credits,” as established by Section 2301 of the CARES Act, to either offset Tax deposits or receive an advance Tax refund or otherwise claimed any tax credits under the CARES Act or the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Pub. L. 116-127 (or any comparable, analogous or similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law or conforming U.S. Law) (the “FFCRA), including for providing any paid sick leave under the FFCRA, or (iii) any Deferred Payroll Taxes.

 

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Section 3.19         Investment Securities.

 

DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.19 sets forth as of September 30, 2021, the DBI Investment Securities, as well as any purchases or sales of DBI Investment Securities between September 30, 2021 to and including November 30, 2021, reflecting with respect to all such securities, whenever purchased or sold, descriptions thereof, CUSIP numbers, designations as securities “available for sale” or securities “held to maturity” (as those terms are used in ASC 320), book values, fair values and coupon rates, and any gain or loss with respect to any DBI Investment Securities sold during such time period between September 30, 2021 and November 30, 2021. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.19, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any of the outstanding equity of any savings bank, savings and loan association, savings and loan holding company, credit union, bank or bank holding company, insurance company, mortgage or loan broker or any other financial institution other than Denmark State Bank.

 

Section 3.20         Derivative Transactions.

 

(a)           All Derivative Transactions entered into by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or for the account of any of its customers were entered into in accordance in all material respects with applicable Laws and regulatory policies of any Governmental Authority, and in accordance in all material respects with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, and were entered into with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with its advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions. DBI and each of its Subsidiaries have duly performed, in all material respects, all of their obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued, and there are no material breaches, violations or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder.

 

(b)            Each Derivative Transaction is listed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.20(b), and the financial position of DBI or its Subsidiaries under or with respect to each has been reflected in the books and records of DBI or its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, and no material open exposure of DBI or its Subsidiaries with respect to any such instrument (or with respect to multiple instruments with respect to any single counterparty) exists, except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.20(b).

 

(c)            No Derivative Transaction, were it to be a Loan held by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, would be classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List,” as such terms are defined by the FDIC’s uniform loan classification standards, or words of similar import.

 

Section 3.21         Regulatory Capitalization.

 

DBI and Denmark State Bank are “well-capitalized,” as such term is defined in the applicable state and federal rules and regulations.

 

Section 3.22         Loans; Nonperforming and Classified Assets.

 

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(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(a) sets forth all (i) loans, loan agreements, notes or borrowing arrangements and other extensions of credit (including, without limitation, leases, credit enhancements, commitments, guarantees and interest-bearing assets) (collectively, “Loans”) in which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is a creditor which, as of November 30, 2021, was over sixty (60) days or more delinquent in payment of principal or interest, and (ii) Loans with any director, executive officer or 5% or greater shareholder of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or to the Knowledge of DBI, any affiliate of any of the foregoing. Set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(a) is a true, correct and complete list of (A) all of the Loans of DBI and its Subsidiaries that, as of November 30, 2021, were classified as “Special Mention,” “Substandard,” “Doubtful,” “Loss,” “Classified,” “Criticized,” “Credit Risk Assets,” “Concerned Loans,” “Watch List” or words of similar import by Denmark State Bank, DBI or any bank examiner, together with the principal amount of and accrued and unpaid interest on each such Loan and the identity of the borrower thereunder, together with the aggregate principal amount of such Loans by category of Loan (e.g., commercial, consumer, etc.), and (B) each Loan classified by Denmark State Bank as a Troubled Debt Restructuring as defined by GAAP.

 

(b)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(b) identifies each asset of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries that as of November 30, 2021 was classified as other real estate owned (“OREO”) and the book value thereof as of November 30, 2021 as well as any assets classified as OREO between December 31, 2020 and November 30, 2021 and any sales of OREO between December 31, 2020 and November 30, 2021, reflecting any gain or loss with respect to any OREO sold.

 

(c)            Each Loan held in DBI’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ loan portfolio (each a “DBI Loan”) (i) is evidenced by notes, agreements or other evidences of indebtedness that are true, genuine and what they purport to be, (ii) to the extent secured, is and has been secured by valid Liens which have been perfected and (iii)  is a legal, valid and binding obligation of DBI and the obligor named therein, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by such obligor or obligors, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception.

 

(d)            All currently outstanding DBI Loans were solicited, originated and currently exist in material compliance with all applicable requirements of Law and the notes or other credit or security documents with respect to each such outstanding DBI Loan are complete and correct in all material respects. There are no oral modifications or amendments or additional agreements related to the DBI Loans that are not reflected in the written records of DBI or its Subsidiary, as applicable. All such DBI Loans are owned by DBI or its Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens other than a blanket lien on qualifying loans provided to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. No claims of defense as to the enforcement of any DBI Loan have been asserted in writing against DBI or any of its Subsidiaries for which there is a reasonable possibility of a material adverse determination, and DBI has no Knowledge of any acts or omissions which would give rise to any claim or right of rescission, set-off, counterclaim or defense for which there is a reasonable possibility of a material adverse determination to its Subsidiaries. Other than participation loans purchased by DBI from third parties that are described on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(d), no DBI Loans are presently serviced by third parties and there is no obligation which could result in any DBI Loan becoming subject to any third party servicing.

 

(e)            Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement or arrangement with (or otherwise obligated to) any Person which obligates DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase from any such Person any Loan or other asset of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, unless there is a material breach of a representation or covenant by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, and none of the agreements pursuant to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has sold Loans or pools of Loans or participations in Loans or pools of Loans contains any obligation to repurchase such Loans or interests therein solely on account of a payment default by the obligor on any such Loan.

 

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(f)             Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is now nor has it ever been since January 1, 2018, subject to any fine, suspension, settlement or other contract or other administrative agreement or sanction by, or any reduction in any loan purchase commitment from, any Governmental Authority relating to the origination, sale or servicing of mortgage or consumer Loans.

 

Section 3.23         Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses.

 

DBI’s allowance for loan and lease losses as reflected in the latest balance sheet included in the Financial Statements was, in the opinion of management, as of the date thereof, in compliance in all material respects with DBI’s existing methodology for determining the adequacy of its allowance for loan and lease losses as well as the standards established by applicable Governmental Authority, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and GAAP.

 

Section 3.24         Trust Business; Administration of Fiduciary Accounts.

 

Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has offered or engaged in providing any individual or corporate trust services or administers any accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary, including, but not limited to, any accounts in which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor.

 

Section 3.25         Investment Management and Related Activities.

 

Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.25, none of DBI, any DBI Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees is required to be registered, licensed or authorized under the Laws of any Governmental Authority as an investment adviser, a broker or dealer, an insurance agency, a commodity trading adviser, a commodity pool operator, a futures commission merchant, an introducing broker, a registered representative or associated person, investment adviser, representative or solicitor, a counseling officer, an insurance agent, a sales person or in any similar capacity with a Governmental Authority.

 

Section 3.26         Repurchase Agreements.

 

With respect to all agreements pursuant to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries has purchased securities subject to an agreement to resell, if any, DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, has a valid, perfected first lien or security interest in the government securities or other collateral securing the repurchase agreement, and the value of such collateral equals or exceeds the amount of the debt secured thereby.

 

Section 3.27         Deposit Insurance.

 

The deposits of Denmark State Bank are insured by the FDIC in accordance with the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (“FDIA”) to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and Denmark State Bank has paid all premiums and assessments and filed all reports required by the FDIA. No proceedings for the revocation or termination of such deposit insurance are pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge, threatened.

 

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Section 3.28         Community Reinvestment Act, Anti-money Laundering and Customer Information Security.

 

Neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any agreement with any individual or group regarding Community Reinvestment Act matters and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that any facts or circumstances exist which would cause DBI or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, or to be assigned a rating for Community Reinvestment Act purposes by federal or state bank regulators of lower than “satisfactory”; or (ii) to be deemed to be operating in violation of the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103), the USA PATRIOT Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (iii) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any federal and state privacy Laws and regulations, including, without limitation, in Title V of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 and regulations promulgated thereunder. Furthermore, the boards of directors of DBI and its Subsidiaries have implemented anti-money laundering programs that contain adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures that have not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meet the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

Section 3.29         Transactions with Affiliates.

 

Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.29, there are no outstanding amounts payable to or receivable from, or advances by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is otherwise a creditor or debtor to (a) any director, executive officer, five percent (5%) or greater shareholder of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or to any of their respective Affiliates or Associates, other than as part of the normal and customary terms of such person’s employment or service as a director with DBI or any of its Subsidiaries and other than deposits held by Denmark State Bank in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (b) any other Affiliate of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.29, neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any transaction or agreement with any of its respective directors, executive officers or other Affiliates. All agreements between Denmark State Bank and any of its Affiliates (or any company treated as an affiliate for purposes of such Law) comply, to the extent applicable, with Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act and Regulation W of the FRB.

 

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Section 3.30         Tangible Properties and Assets.

 

(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.30(a) sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all real property owned by DBI and each of its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.30(a), DBI or its Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, valid leasehold interests in or otherwise legally enforceable rights to use all of the real property, personal property and other assets (tangible or intangible), used, occupied and operated or held for use by it in connection with its business as presently conducted in each case, free and clear of any Lien, except for (i) statutory Liens for amounts not yet delinquent, and (ii) easements, rights of way, and other similar Liens that do not materially affect the value or use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair business operations at such properties. There is no pending or, to DBI’s Knowledge, threatened legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceeding, claim, action or governmental or regulatory investigation of any nature with respect to the real property that DBI or any of its Subsidiaries owns, uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, including without limitation a pending or threatened taking of any of such real property by eminent domain. True and complete copies of all deeds or other documentation evidencing ownership of the real properties set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.30(a), and complete copies of the title insurance policies and surveys for each property, together with any mortgages, deeds of trust and security agreements to which such property is subject have been furnished or made available to BFC.

 

(b)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.30(b) sets forth a true, correct and complete schedule of all leases, subleases, licenses and other agreements under which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries uses or occupies or has the right to use or occupy, now or in the future, real property (the “Leases”). Each of the Leases is valid, binding and in full force and effect and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received a written notice of, and otherwise has no Knowledge of any, default or termination with respect to any Lease. To DBI’s Knowledge, there has not occurred any event and no condition exists that would constitute a termination event or a breach by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries of, or default by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries in, the performance of any covenant, agreement or condition contained in any Lease. To DBI’s Knowledge, no lessor under a Lease is in material breach or default in the performance of any material covenant, agreement or condition contained in such Lease. DBI and each of its Subsidiaries has paid all rents and other charges to the extent due under the Leases. True and complete copies of all Leases for, or other documentation evidencing ownership of or a leasehold interest in, the properties listed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.30(b), have been furnished or made available to BFC.

 

(c)            All buildings, structures, fixtures, building systems and equipment, and all components thereof, including the roof, foundation, load-bearing walls and other structural elements thereof, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, mechanical, electrical, plumbing and other building systems, environmental control, remediation and abatement systems, sewer, storm and waste water systems, irrigation and other water distribution systems, parking facilities, fire protection, security and surveillance systems, and telecommunications, computer, wiring and cable installations, included in the owned real property or the subject of the Leases are in good condition and repair (normal wear and tear excepted) and sufficient for the operation of the business of DBI and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 3.31         Intellectual Property.

 

DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.31 sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all DBI Intellectual Property. DBI or its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid license to use all DBI Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens, royalty or other payment obligations (except for royalties or payments with respect to off-the-shelf Software at standard commercial rates). The DBI Intellectual Property constitutes all of the Intellectual Property necessary to carry on the business of DBI and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted. The DBI Intellectual Property is valid and enforceable and has not been cancelled, forfeited, expired or abandoned, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice challenging the validity or enforceability of DBI Intellectual Property. None of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is, nor will any of them be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the performance by DBI of its obligations hereunder, in violation of any licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third-party patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade secrets or computer software, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice challenging DBI’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ license or legally enforceable right to use any such third-party intellectual property rights. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in the material loss or impairment of the right of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to own or use any of DBI Intellectual Property.

 

Section 3.32         Insurance.

 

(a)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.32(a) identifies all of the insurance policies, binders or bonds currently maintained by DBI and its Subsidiaries (the “Insurance Policies”), including the insurer, policy numbers, amount of coverage, effective and termination dates and any pending claims thereunder involving more than $10,000. DBI and each of its Subsidiaries is insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as the management of DBI reasonably has determined to be prudent in accordance with industry practices. All of the Insurance Policies are in full force and effect, neither DBI nor any Subsidiary has received notice of cancellation of any of the Insurance Policies or is otherwise aware that any insurer under any of the Insurance Policies has expressed an intent to cancel any such Insurance Policies, and neither DBI nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default thereunder, and all claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion in all material respects.

 

(b)            DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.32(b) sets forth a true, correct and complete description of all bank owned life insurance (“BOLI”) owned by DBI or its Subsidiaries, including the value of its BOLI as of the end of the month prior to the date hereof. The value of such BOLI is and has been fairly and accurately reflected in the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. All BOLI is owned solely by Denmark State Bank, no other Person has any ownership claims with respect to such BOLI or proceeds of insurance derived therefrom and there is no split dollar or similar benefit under DBI’s BOLI. Neither DBI nor any of DBI’s Subsidiaries has any outstanding borrowings secured in whole or part by its BOLI.

 

Section 3.33         Antitakeover Provisions.

 

No “control share acquisition,” “business combination moratorium,” “fair price” or other form of antitakeover statute or regulation is applicable to this Agreement, the Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

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Section 3.34         DBI Information.

 

The information relating to DBI and its Subsidiaries that is provided by or on behalf of DBI for inclusion in the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration Statement will not (with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus, as of the date the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus is first mailed to DBI’s shareholders and as of the date of the DBI Meeting, and with respect to the Registration Statement, as of the time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto is declared effective under the Securities Act) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that any information contained in any DBI Report as of a later date shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. The portions of the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus relating to DBI and DBI’s Subsidiaries and other portions thereof within the reasonable control of DBI and its Subsidiaries will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Section 3.35         Transaction Costs.

 

DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.35 sets forth attorneys’ fees, investment banking fees, accounting fees and other costs or fees of DBI and its Subsidiaries that, based upon reasonable inquiry, are expected to be paid or accrued through the Closing Date in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 3.36         Bank Holding Company.

 

DBI is regulated as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

 

Section 3.37         CARES Act and PPP Compliance.

 

(a)            DBI is, in all material respects, in compliance with any quarantine, "shelter in place", "stay at home", workforce reduction, social distancing, shut down, closure, sequester or any other law, order, directive, guidelines or recommendations by any Governmental Authority in connection with or in response to COVID-19, including, but not limited to, the CARES Act enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have used commercially reasonable efforts to implement health and safety protocols at all worksites under the control of DBI, consistent with guidance issued by applicable federal, state and local health authorities (such laws, orders, directives, guidelines, recommendations and health and safety protocols, collectively, “COVID-19 Measures”).

 

(b)            To the extent that DBI has originated or otherwise participated in any program or benefit created or modified by the CARES Act, including but not limited to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), it has done such in good faith and in compliance in all material respects with all Laws governing such program, including but not limited to all regulations and guidance issued by the SBA with the respect to loans originated pursuant to or in association with the PPP.  DBI has not originated any loan under the PPP to any Insider, as the term is defined under Regulation O (12 C.F.R. Part 215).

 

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Article IV

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BFC

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by BFC to DBI prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement with respect to each such Section below (the “BFC Disclosure Schedule”); provided, that (a)  the mere inclusion of an item in the BFC Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by BFC that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect on BFC, and (b) any disclosures made with respect to a section of Article IV shall be deemed to qualify (1) any other section of Article IV specifically referenced or cross-referenced and (2) other sections of Article IV to the extent it is reasonably apparent on its face (notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross reference) from a reading of the disclosure that such disclosure applies to such other sections, BFC hereby represents and warrants to DBI as follows:

 

Section 4.01         Organization and Standing.

 

Each of BFC and its Subsidiaries is (a) an entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation and (b) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified has not had, and is not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC.

 

Section 4.02         Capital Stock.

 

The authorized capital stock of BFC consists of 20,000,000 shares of BFC Common Stock, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of the date hereof, 7,616,540 shares of BFC Common Stock were issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. The outstanding shares of BFC Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and have not been issued in violation of nor are they subject to preemptive rights of any BFC shareholder. The shares of BFC Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to preemptive rights. All shares of BFC’s capital stock issued and outstanding have been issued in compliance with and not in violation of any applicable federal or state securities Laws.

 

Section 4.03         Corporate Power.

 

(a)            BFC and each of its Subsidiaries has the corporate or similar power and authority to carry on its business as it is now being conducted and to own all of its properties and assets; and BFC has the corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals of Governmental Authorities, the Regulatory Approvals and the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval.

 

(b)            BFC has made available to DBI a complete and correct copy of its articles of incorporation and bylaws or equivalent organizational documents, each as amended to date, of BFC and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the terms of its articles of incorporation, bylaws or equivalent organizational documents.

 

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Section 4.04         Corporate Authority.

 

Subject only to the receipt of the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval at the BFC Meeting, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby have been authorized by all necessary corporate action of BFC on or prior to the date hereof. The board of directors of BFC has directed that this Agreement be submitted to BFC’s shareholders for approval at a meeting of the shareholders and, except for the receipt of the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval in accordance with the WBCL and BFC’s articles of incorporation and bylaws, no other vote or action of the shareholders of BFC is required by Law, the articles of incorporation or bylaws of BFC or otherwise to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. BFC has duly executed and delivered this Agreement and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by DBI, this Agreement is a valid and legally binding obligation of BFC, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exception.

 

Section 4.05         SEC Documents; Financial Statements.

 

(a)            BFC has filed all required reports, forms, schedules, registration statements and other documents with the SEC that it has been required to file since October 23, 2018 (the “BFC Reports”), and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. As of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such subsequent filing), the BFC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such BFC Reports, and none of the BFC Reports when filed with the SEC, or if amended prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such amendment, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, no executive officer of BFC has failed in any respect to make the certifications required of him or her under Section 302 or 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding comments from or unresolved issues raised by the SEC with respect to any of the BFC Reports.

 

(b)            The consolidated financial statements of BFC (or incorporated by reference) included (or incorporated by reference) in the BFC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing prior to the date hereof, as of the date of such subsequent filing), in all material respects, with all applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto (except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules of the SEC), have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be disclosed therein), and fairly present, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of BFC and its Subsidiaries and the consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows of such companies as of the dates and for the periods shown. The books and records of BFC and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements, reflect only actual transactions and there are no material misstatements, omissions, inaccuracies or discrepancies contained or reflected therein.

 

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(c)            BFC (x) has established and maintained disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (as such terms are defined in paragraphs (e) and (f), respectively, of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) as required by Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, and (y) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation, to its outside auditors and the audit committee of BFC’s board of directors (A) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) which are reasonably likely to adversely affect BFC’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in BFC’s internal control over financial reporting. These disclosures were made in writing by management to BFC’s auditors and audit committee. There is no reason to believe that BFC’s outside auditors and its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer will not be able to give the certifications and attestations required pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, without qualification, when next due.

 

(d)            Since January 1, 2021, neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to BFC’s Knowledge, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries has received, or otherwise had or obtained Knowledge of, any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that BFC or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.

 

Section 4.06         Regulatory Reports.

 

Since January 1, 2018, BFC and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed with the SEC, FRB, OCC, any SRO and any other applicable Governmental Authority, in correct form, all reports, registration statements and other documents required to be filed under applicable Laws and regulations and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, and such reports were complete and accurate and in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of applicable Laws and regulations, except where the failure to file such report or statement or to pay such fees and assessments, either individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Governmental Authority in the regular course of the business of BFC and its Subsidiaries, no Governmental Authority has notified BFC that it has initiated or has pending any proceeding or, to the Knowledge of BFC threatened an investigation into the business or operations of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2018, except where such proceedings or investigation would not reasonably be likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC. There is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Governmental Authority with respect to any report filed by, or relating to any examinations or inspections by any such Governmental Authority of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries which would reasonably be likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC.

 

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Section 4.07         Regulatory Approvals; No Defaults.

 

No consents or approvals of, or waivers by, or filings or registrations with, any Governmental Authority are required to be made or obtained by BFC or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by BFC of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Bank Merger, except for (i) the Regulatory Approvals, (ii) the filing with the SEC and the filing and declaration of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, (iii) the filing of the Articles of Merger contemplated by Section 1.04(a) and the filing of documents with the FDIC, OCC, the WDFI-Banking or other applicable state banking agencies to cause the Bank Merger to become effective, (iv) such other filings and reports as required pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or applicable stock exchange requirements, (v) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the rules and regulations of any applicable SRO and the rules of the NASDAQ and (vi) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states in connection with the BFC Common Stock Issuance and approval of listing of such BFC Common Stock on the Trading Market. Subject to the receipt of the approvals referred to in the preceding sentence and the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by BFC do not and will not, (1) constitute a breach or violation of, or a default under, the articles of incorporation and bylaws of BFC, (2) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or injunction applicable to BFC or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their respective properties or assets, (3) violate, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which BFC or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which they or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound. As of the date hereof, BFC has no Knowledge of any reason (i) why the Regulatory Approvals and other necessary consents and approvals will not be received in order to permit consummation of the Merger and Bank Merger on a timely basis and (ii) why a Burdensome Condition would be imposed.

 

Section 4.08         BFC Information.

 

The information relating to BFC and its Subsidiaries that is supplied by or on behalf of BFC for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus and the Registration Statement will not (with respect to the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus, as of the date the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus is first mailed to BFC’s shareholders and as of the date of the BFC Meeting, and with respect to the Registration Statement, as of the time the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto is declared effective under the Securities Act) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading; provided, however, that any information contained in any BFC Report as of a later date shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. The portions of the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus relating to BFC and BFC’s Subsidiaries and other portions thereof within the reasonable control of BFC and its Subsidiaries will comply as to form in all material respects with the provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

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Section 4.09         Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

 

Except as reflected or disclosed in BFC’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 or in the BFC Reports since December 31, 2020, as filed with the SEC, there has been no change or development with respect to BFC and its assets and business or combination of such changes or developments which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC.

 

Section 4.10         Compliance with Laws.

 

(a)            BFC and each of its Subsidiaries is, and has been since January 1, 2018, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign Laws, rules, judgments, orders or decrees applicable thereto or to the employees conducting such businesses, including, without limitation, Laws related to data protection or privacy, the USA PATRIOT Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the regulations implementing such statutes, all other applicable anti-money laundering Laws, fair lending Laws and other Laws relating to discriminatory lending, financing, leasing or business practices and all agency requirements relating to the origination, sale and servicing of mortgage loans. Since January 1, 2018, neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has been advised of any supervisory concerns regarding their compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act or related state or federal anti-money laundering laws, regulations and guidelines, including without limitation those provisions of federal regulations requiring (i) the filing of reports, such as Currency Transaction Reports and Suspicious Activity Reports, (ii) the maintenance of records and (iii) the exercise of due diligence in identifying customers.

 

(b)            BFC and each of its Subsidiaries have all material permits, licenses, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and each has made all filings and applications and registrations with, all Governmental Authorities that are required in order to permit it to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted. All such permits, licenses, certificates of authority, orders and approvals are in full force and effect and, to BFC’s Knowledge, no suspension or cancellation of any of them is threatened.

 

(c)            Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has received, since January 1, 2018, written or, to BFC’s Knowledge, oral notification from any Governmental Authority (i) asserting that it is not in compliance with any of the Laws which such Governmental Authority enforces or (ii) threatening to revoke any license, franchise, permit or governmental authorization, except where such noncompliance of threatened revocation is not reasonably likely to have, a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC.

 

Section 4.11         BFC Regulatory Matters.

 

(a)            BFC is regulated as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended.

 

(b)            The deposits of Bank First are insured by the FDIC in accordance with the FDIA to the fullest extent permitted by Law, and Bank First has paid all premiums and assessments and filed all reports required by the FDIA. No proceedings for the revocation or termination of such deposit insurance are pending or, to BFC’s Knowledge, threatened. Bank First received a rating of "satisfactory" in its most recent examination under the Community Reinvestment Act.

 

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(c)            Since January 1, 2018, neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to, or the subject of, any cease-and-desist order, consent order, written agreement, order for civil money penalty, refund, restitution, prompt corrective action directive, memorandum of understanding, supervisory letter, individual minimum capital requirement, operating agreement, or any other formal or informal enforcement action issued or required by, or entered into with, any Governmental Authority. Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has made, adopted, or implemented any commitment, board resolution, policy, or procedure at the request or recommendation of any Governmental Authority that limits in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its payment of dividends or distribution of capital, its credit or risk management, its compliance program, its management, its growth, or its business. Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that any Governmental Authority is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, requesting, recommending, or otherwise proceeding with any of the items referenced in this paragraph.

 

Section 4.12         Brokers.

 

Neither BFC nor any of its officers, directors or any of its Subsidiaries has employed any broker or finder or incurred, nor will it incur, any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that BFC has engaged, and will pay a fee or commission to Hovde Group, LLC.

 

Section 4.13         Legal Proceedings.

 

(a)            Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to BFC’s Knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against BFC or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their current or former directors or executive officers in their capacities as such that is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on BFC, or challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)            There is no material injunction, order, judgment, decree or regulatory restriction (other than regulatory restrictions of general application to banks and bank holding companies) imposed upon BFC, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries (or that, upon consummation of the Merger or the Bank Merger would apply to the Surviving Entity or any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates).

 

Section 4.14         Tax Matters.

 

(a)            Each of BFC and its Subsidiaries has filed all material Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Laws, other than Tax Returns that are not yet due or for which a request for extension was timely filed consistent with requirements of applicable Law. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects and have been prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable Laws. All material Taxes due and owing by BFC or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been paid. There are no material Liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP) upon any of the assets of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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(b)            Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to any “listed transaction,” as defined in Section 6707A(c)(2) of the Code and Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) of the Regulations in any tax year.

 

(c)            Since January 1, 2018, neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed stock of another Person nor had its stock distributed by another Person in a transaction that was intended to be nontaxable and governed in whole or in part by Section 355 or Section 361 of the Code.

 

(d)            Neither BFC nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action, or is aware of any fact or circumstance, that would be reasonably likely to prevent the Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

Section 4.15         Regulatory Capitalization.

 

BFC and its Subsidiaries are “well-capitalized,” as such term is defined in the applicable state and federal rules and regulations.

 

Section 4.16         No Financing.

 

BFC has and will have as of the Effective Time, without having to resort to external sources, sufficient capital to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

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Article V

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 5.01         Covenants of DBI.

 

During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the Effective Time or the earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement (including as set forth in the DBI Disclosure Schedule), required by Law or with the prior written consent of BFC (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), DBI shall carry on its business, including the business of each of its Subsidiaries, in the Ordinary Course of Business in all material respects and consistent with prudent banking practice (including COVID-19 Measures). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, DBI will use commercially reasonable efforts to (i) preserve its business organizations and assets intact, (ii) keep available to itself and BFC the present services of the current officers and employees of DBI and its Subsidiaries, (iii) preserve for itself and BFC the goodwill of its customers, employees, lessors and others with whom business relationships exist, and (iv) continue diligent collection efforts with respect to any delinquent loans and, to the extent within its control, not allow any material increase in delinquent loans. Without limiting the generality of and in furtherance of the foregoing, from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, except (x) as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01, (y) as otherwise expressly required by this Agreement, or (z) consented to in writing by BFC (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, and BFC shall, when considering the reasonableness of any such request, take into account the preservation of the franchise value of DBI and Denmark State Bank as independent enterprises on a going-forward basis and the prevention of substantial deterioration of the properties of DBI and its Subsidiaries), DBI shall not and shall not permit its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a)            Stock. (i) Issue, sell, grant, pledge, dispose of, encumber or otherwise permit to become outstanding, or authorize the creation of, any additional shares of its stock, any Rights, any new award or grant under the DBI Stock Plans or otherwise, or any other securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company), or enter into any agreement with respect to the foregoing, (ii) except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, accelerate the vesting of any existing Rights, or (iii) except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, directly or indirectly change (or establish a record date for changing), adjust, split, combine, redeem, reclassify, exchange, purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock, or any other securities (including units of beneficial ownership interest in any partnership or limited liability company) convertible into or exchangeable for any additional shares of stock, any Rights issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time.

 

(b)            Dividends; Other Distributions. Make, declare, pay or set aside for payment of dividends payable in cash, stock or property on or in respect of, or declare or make any distribution on, any shares of its capital stock, except for dividends declared and paid in the Ordinary Course of Business and consistent with past practices, and dividends from wholly owned Subsidiaries to DBI.

 

(c)            Compensation; Employment Agreements, Etc. Enter into or amend or renew any employment, consulting, compensatory, severance, retention or similar agreements or arrangements with any director, officer or employee of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or grant any salary, wage or fee increase or increase any employee benefit or pay any incentive or bonus payments, except, in each case, (i) normal increases in base salary to employees in the Ordinary Course of Business and pursuant to policies currently in effect, provided that, such increases shall not result in an annual adjustment in base compensation (which includes base salary and any other compensation other than bonus payments) of more than 5% for any individual or 3.5% in the aggregate for all employees of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries other than annual increases in base compensation and year-end bonuses disclosed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c), (ii) as specifically provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, as contemplated by Section 5.11 of this Agreement), (iii) as may be required by Law, (iv) to satisfy the contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof set forth on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(l), or (iv) as otherwise set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(c).

 

(d)            Hiring. Hire any person as an employee or officer of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, except for at-will employment at an annual rate of base salary not to exceed $125,000 to fill vacancies that may arise from time to time in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

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(e)            Benefit Plans. Enter into, establish, adopt, amend, modify or terminate (except (i) as may be required by or to make consistent with applicable Law, subject to the provision of prior written notice to and consultation with respect thereto with BFC, (ii) to satisfy contractual obligations existing as of the date hereof and set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(e), (iii) as previously disclosed to BFC and set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(e), or (iv) as may be required pursuant to the terms of this Agreement) any DBI Benefit Plan or other pension, retirement, stock option, stock purchase, savings, profit sharing, deferred compensation, consulting, bonus, group insurance or other employee benefit, incentive or welfare contract, plan or arrangement, or any trust agreement (or similar arrangement) related thereto, in respect of any current or former director, officer or employee of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(f)             Transactions with Affiliates. Except pursuant to agreements or arrangements in effect on the date hereof and set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(f), pay, loan or advance any amount to (other than renewals of existing loans in accordance with Section 5.01(s) below), or sell, transfer or lease any properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or enter into any agreement or arrangement with, any of its officers or directors or any of their immediate family members or any Affiliates or Associates of any of its officers or directors other than compensation or business expense advancements or reimbursements in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(g)            Dispositions. Except in the Ordinary Course of Business, sell, license, lease, transfer, mortgage, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of or discontinue any of its rights, assets, deposits, business or properties or cancel or release any indebtedness owed to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(h)            Acquisitions. Acquire or agree to acquire (other than by way of foreclosures or acquisitions of control in a bona fide fiduciary capacity or in satisfaction of debts previously contracted in good faith, in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business) all or any portion of the assets, debt, business, deposits or properties of any other entity or Person, except for purchases specifically approved by BFC pursuant to any other applicable paragraph of this Section 5.01.

 

(i)             Capital Expenditures. Make any capital expenditures in amounts exceeding $50,000 individually, or $250,000 in the aggregate, provided that BFC shall grant or deny its consent to emergency repairs or replacements necessary to prevent substantial deterioration of the condition of a property within two (2) Business Days of its receipt of a written request from DBI.

 

(j)             Governing Documents. Amend DBI’s articles of incorporation or bylaws or any equivalent documents of DBI’s Subsidiaries.

 

(k)            Accounting Methods. Implement or adopt any change in its accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by applicable Laws or GAAP or applicable accounting requirements of any Governmental Authority, in each case, including changes in the interpretation or enforcement thereof.

 

(l)             Contracts. Except as set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(l), enter into, amend, modify, terminate, extend, or waive any material provision of, any DBI Material Contract, Lease or Insurance Policy, or make any change in any instrument or agreement governing the terms of any of its securities, or material lease, license or contract, other than normal renewals of contracts, licenses and leases without material adverse changes of terms with respect to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, or enter into any contract that would constitute a DBI Material Contract if it were in effect on the date of this Agreement, except for any amendments, modifications or terminations reasonably requested by BFC.

 

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(m)           Claims. Other than settlement of foreclosure actions in the Ordinary Course of Business, (i) enter into any settlement or similar agreement with respect to any action, suit, proceeding, order or investigation to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is or becomes a party after the date of this Agreement, which settlement or agreement involves payment by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries of an amount which exceeds $75,000 individually or $150,000 in the aggregate and/or would impose any material restriction on the business of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) waive or release any material rights or claims, or agree or consent to the issuance of any injunction, decree, order or judgment restricting or otherwise affecting its business or operations.

 

(n)            Banking Operations. (i) Enter into any material new line of business, introduce any material new products or services, any material marketing campaigns or any material new sales compensation or incentive programs or arrangements; (ii) change in any material respect its lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other banking and operating policies, except as required by applicable Law, regulation or policies imposed by any Governmental Authority; (iii) make any material changes in its policies and practices with respect to underwriting, pricing, originating, acquiring, selling, servicing, or buying or selling rights to service Loans, its hedging practices and policies; and (iv) incur any material liability or obligation relating to retail banking and branch merchandising, marketing and advertising activities and initiatives except in the Ordinary Course of Business.

 

(o)            Derivative Transactions. Enter into any Derivative Transaction.

 

(p)            Indebtedness. Incur any indebtedness for borrowed money other than in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practice with a term not in excess of twelve (12) months (other than creation of deposit liabilities or sales of certificates of deposit in the Ordinary Course of Business), or incur, assume or become subject to, whether directly or by way of any guarantee or otherwise, any obligations or liabilities (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any other Person, other than the issuance of letters of credit in the Ordinary Course of Business and in accordance with the restrictions set forth in Section 5.01(s).

 

(q)            Investment Securities. Unless mutually agreed upon by the Parties, (i) acquire, sell or otherwise dispose of any debt security or equity investment (other than obligations of the government of the United States or agencies of the United States or state or local governments having maturities of not more than five (5) years and which municipal obligations have been assigned a rating of A2 or better by Moody’s Investors Service or A or better by Standard and Poor’s), or any certificates of deposits issued by other banks, nor (ii) change the classification method for any of the DBI Investment Securities from “held to maturity” to “available for sale” or from “available for sale” to “held to maturity,” as those terms are used in ASC 320.

 

(r)             Deposits. Other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, make any changes to deposit pricing.

 

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(s)            Loans. Except for loans or extensions of credit approved and/or committed as of the date hereof that are listed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.01(s), (i) make, renew, renegotiate, increase, extend or modify any (A) unsecured loan, if the amount of such unsecured loan, together with any other outstanding unsecured loans made by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to such borrower or its Affiliates, would be in excess of $100,000, in the aggregate, (B) loan secured by other than a first lien in excess of $500,000, (C) loan in excess of FFIEC regulatory guidelines relating to loan-to-value ratios, (D) loan secured by a first lien residential mortgage and with no loan policy exceptions in excess of $1,000,000, (E) secured loan over $2,000,000, (F) any loan that is not made in conformity with DBI’s ordinary course lending policies and guidelines in effect as of the date hereof, or (G) loan, whether secured or unsecured, if the amount of such loan, together with any other outstanding loans (without regard to whether such other loans have been advanced or remain to be advanced), would result in the aggregate outstanding loans to any borrower of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries (without regard to whether such other loans have been advanced or remain to be advanced) to exceed $3,000,000, (ii) sell any loan or loan pools in excess of $1,000,000 in principal amount or sale price (other than residential mortgage loan pools sold in the Ordinary Couse of Business), or (iii) acquire any servicing rights, or sell or otherwise transfer any loan where DBI or any of its Subsidiaries retains any servicing rights. Any loan in excess of the limits set forth in this Section 5.01(s) shall require the prior written approval of the Chief Credit Officer or Senior Lender of Bank First, which approval or rejection shall be given in writing within one (1) Business Day after the loan package is delivered to such individual.

 

(t)             Investments or Developments in Real Estate. Make any investment or commitment to invest in real estate or in any real estate development project other than by way of foreclosure or deed in lieu thereof or make any investment or commitment to develop, or otherwise take any actions to develop any real estate owned by DBI or its Subsidiaries.

 

(u)            Taxes. Except as required by applicable Law, make or change any Tax election, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement with respect to Taxes, settle or compromise any liability with respect to Taxes, agree to any adjustment of any Tax attribute, file or surrender any claim for a refund of Taxes, consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment, or fail to timely pay any Taxes (including estimated Taxes) or fail to file any Tax Returns that become due.

 

(v)            Tax Treatment of Each of the Merger and the Bank Merger. Take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in either the Merger or the Bank Merger failing to qualify as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

(w)           Compliance with Agreements. Commit any act or omission which constitutes a material breach or default by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries under any agreement with any Governmental Authority or under any DBI Material Contract, Lease or other material agreement or material license to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or their respective properties are bound or under which any of them or their respective assets, business, or operations receives benefits.

 

(x)             Environmental Assessments. Foreclose on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties without first conducting an ASTM International (“ASTM”) E1527-13 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (or any applicable successor standard) of the property that satisfies the requirements of 40 C.F.R. Part 312 (“Phase I”), or foreclose on or take a deed or title to any real estate other than single-family residential properties if such environmental assessment indicates the presence or likely presence of any Hazardous Substances under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release of any Hazardous Substances into structures on the property or into the ground, ground water, or surface water of the property.

 

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(y)            Adverse Actions. Other than as expressly permitted by Section 5.09 below, take any action or knowingly fail to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement that is intended or is reasonably likely to (i) prevent, delay or impair DBI’s ability to consummate the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.01.

 

(z)            Capital Stock Purchase. Directly or indirectly repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock.

 

(aa)          Facilities. Except as required by Law, file any application or make any contract or commitment for the opening, relocation or closing of any, or open, relocate or close any, branch office, loan production or servicing facility or automated banking facility, except for any change that may be requested by BFC.

 

(bb)         Restructure. Merge or consolidate itself or any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person, or restructure, reorganize or completely or partially liquidate or dissolve it or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(cc)          Commitments. (i) Enter into any contract with respect to, or otherwise agree or commit to do, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors or similar governing body in support of, any of the foregoing or (ii) take any action that is intended or expected to result in any of its representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement being or becoming untrue in any material respect at any time prior to the Effective Time, or in any of the conditions to the Merger not being satisfied in any material respect or in a violation of any provision of this Agreement, except, in every case, as may be required by applicable Law.

 

(dd)          Tangible Equity Capital. Take any action or fail to take any action that will cause the DBI’s Tangible Equity Capital at the Effective Time to be less than the Minimum Tangible Equity Capital at the Effective Time.

 

Section 5.02         Covenants of BFC.

 

(a)            Affirmative Covenants. From the date hereof until the Effective Time, BFC will carry on its business consistent with prudent banking practices and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws.

 

(b)            Negative Covenants. From the date hereof until the Effective Time, BFC shall not and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to take any action or knowingly fail to take any action not contemplated by this Agreement that is intended or is reasonably likely to (i) prevent, delay or impair BFC’s ability to consummate the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.02. Except as expressly permitted or contemplated by this Agreement, or as required by applicable law or a Governmental Authority, or with the prior written consent of DBI during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, BFC shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(i)            Take any action that is intended or is reasonably likely to result in the Merger or the Bank Merger failing to qualify as a "reorganization" under Section 368(a) of the Code;

 

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(ii)           Take any action that is likely to materially impair BFC’s ability to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement or Bank First to perform any of its obligations under the Bank Plan of Merger; or

 

(iii)          Agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5.03         Commercially Reasonable Efforts.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the Parties agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws, so as to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable, including the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article VI, and shall reasonably cooperate with the other Party to that end.

 

Section 5.04         Shareholder Approvals.

 

(a)            Each of BFC and DBI shall call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its respective shareholders (the “BFC Meeting” and the “DBI Meeting,” respectively) as soon as reasonably practicable (subject to applicable notice requirements) after the Registration Statement is declared effective for the purpose of obtaining the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval and the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval, as applicable, required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger and, if so desired and mutually agreed, upon other matters of the type customarily brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders to approve a merger agreement or the issuance of shares contemplated thereby (as applicable). The board of directors of each of BFC and DBI shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain from the shareholders of BFC and DBI, as the case may be, the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval, in the case of BFC, and the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval, in the case of DBI, including by communicating to its respective shareholders its recommendation (and including such recommendation in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus) that they approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including, with respect to BFC, the BFC Common Stock Issuance. BFC or DBI shall adjourn or postpone the BFC Meeting or the DBI Meeting, as the case may be, if, as of the time for which such meeting is originally scheduled there are insufficient shares of BFC Common Stock or the DBI Stock, as the case may be, represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary to conduct the business of such meeting, or if on the date of such meeting BFC or DBI, as applicable, has not received proxies representing a sufficient number of shares necessary to obtain the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval or the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, unless this Agreement has been terminated in accordance with its terms, each of the BFC Meeting and DBI Meeting shall be convened, the BFC Common Stock Issuance and this Agreement shall be submitted to the shareholders of BFC, and this Agreement shall be submitted to the shareholders of DBI, at the BFC Meeting and DBI Meeting, respectively, for the purpose of voting on the approval of such proposals and the other matters contemplated hereby, and nothing contained herein shall be deemed to relieve either BFC or DBI of such obligation. BFC and DBI shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate to hold the BFC Meeting and DBI Meeting as soon as reasonably practicable (subject to applicable notice requirements) after the Registration Statement is declared effective, and to set the same record date for each such meeting. Except with the prior approval of BFC, no other matters shall be submitted for the approval of DBI shareholders at the DBI Meeting.

 

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(b)            Except to the extent provided otherwise in Section 5.09, the board of directors of DBI shall at all times prior to and during the DBI Meeting recommend approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of DBI and the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Merger) and any other matters required to be approved by DBI’s shareholders for consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (the “DBI Recommendation”) and shall not withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or qualify such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to the interests of BFC or take any other action or make any other public statement inconsistent with such recommendation and the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus shall include the DBI Recommendation. In the event that there is present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable voting power to secure the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval, DBI will not adjourn or postpone the DBI Meeting unless DBI is advised by counsel that failure to do so would result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the board of directors of DBI. DBI shall keep BFC updated with respect to the proxy solicitation results in connection with the DBI Meeting as reasonably requested by BFC.

 

(c)            The board of directors of BFC shall at all time prior to and during the BFC Meeting recommend approval of this Agreement by the shareholders of BFC and the transactions contemplated herein (including the Merger and the BFC Common Stock Issuance) and any other matters required to be approved by BFC’s shareholders for consummation of the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby (the “BFC Recommendation”) and shall not withhold, withdraw, amend, modify, change or qualify such recommendation in a manner adverse in any respect to the interest of DBI or take any action or make any other public statement inconsistent with such recommendation and the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus shall include the BFC Recommendation. In the event that there is present at such meeting, in person or by proxy, sufficient favorable voting power to secure the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval, BFC will not adjourn or postpone the BFC Meeting unless BFC is advised by counsel that failure to do so would result in a breach of the fiduciary duties of the board of directors of BFC. BFC shall keep DBI updated with respect to the proxy solicitation results in connection with the BFC Meeting as reasonably requested by DBI.

 

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Section 5.05        Registration Statement; Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus; NASDAQ Listing.

 

(a)            BFC and DBI agree to cooperate in the preparation of the Registration Statement to be filed by BFC with the SEC in connection with the BFC Common Stock Issuance (including the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus and all related documents). DBI shall use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to BFC such financial statements and related analysis of DBI, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of DBI, as may be required in order to file the Registration Statement, and any other report required to be filed by BFC with the SEC, in each case, in compliance in all material respects with applicable Laws, and shall, as promptly as practicable following execution of this Agreement, prepare and deliver drafts of such information to BFC to review. Within sixty (60) days of the date of this Agreement, BFC shall file with the SEC the Registration Statement. Each of BFC and DBI agree to use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the SEC as promptly as reasonably practicable after the filing thereof and to maintain such effectiveness for as long as necessary to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. BFC also agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any necessary state securities Law or “blue sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. DBI agrees to cooperate with BFC and BFC’s counsel and accountants in requesting and obtaining appropriate opinions, consents and letters from DBI’s independent auditors in connection with the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus. After the Registration Statement is declared effective under the Securities Act, BFC and DBI, each at its own expense, shall promptly mail or cause to be mailed the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus to its respective shareholders.

 

(b)           BFC will advise DBI, promptly after BFC receives notice thereof, of the time when the Registration Statement has become effective or any supplement or amendment has been filed, of the issuance of any stop order or the suspension of the qualification of BFC Common Stock for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the SEC for the amendment or supplement of the Registration Statement or upon the receipt of any comments (whether written or oral) from the SEC or its staff. BFC will provide DBI and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus, and all responses to requests for additional information by and replies to comments of the SEC prior to filing such with, or sending such to, the SEC, and BFC will provide DBI and its counsel with a copy of all such filings made with the SEC. If at any time prior to the Effective Time there shall occur any event that should be disclosed in an amendment or supplement to the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus or the Registration Statement so that either such document would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, BFC shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare and file such amendment or supplement with the SEC (if required under applicable Law) and cooperate with DBI to mail such amendment or supplement to DBI shareholders (if required under applicable Law).

 

(c)            BFC will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the shares of BFC Common Stock to be issued in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be approved for listing on the Trading Market, subject to official notice of issuance, prior to the Effective Time.

 

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Section 5.06        Regulatory Filings; Consents.

 

(a)            Each of BFC and DBI and their respective Subsidiaries shall cooperate and use their respective reasonable best efforts (i) to promptly prepare all documentation (including the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus), and to effect all filings, to obtain all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Authorities necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Regulatory Approvals and all other consents and approvals of a Governmental Authority required to consummate the Merger in the manner contemplated herein, (ii) to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations and (iii) to cause the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be consummated as expeditiously as practicable; provided, however, notwithstanding the foregoing or anything to the contrary in this Agreement, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require BFC or any of its Subsidiaries or DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to take any non-standard action, or commit to take any such action, or agree to any non-standard condition or restriction, in connection with obtaining the foregoing permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be likely to have a material and adverse effect (measured on a scale relative to DBI) on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, liquidity, assets or deposit liabilities, properties or business of BFC, DBI, the Surviving Entity or the Surviving Bank, after giving effect to the Merger (“Burdensome Condition”). BFC and DBI will furnish each other and each other’s counsel with all information concerning themselves, their Subsidiaries, directors, trustees, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be necessary or advisable in connection with any application, petition or any other statement or application made by or on behalf of BFC or DBI to any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party shall have the right to review and approve in advance all characterizations of the information relating to such party and any of its Subsidiaries that appear in any filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Authority. In addition, BFC and DBI shall each furnish to the other for review a copy of each such filing made in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with any Governmental Authority prior to its filing.

 

(b)           DBI will use its commercially reasonable efforts, and BFC shall reasonably cooperate with DBI at DBI’s request, to obtain all consents, approvals, authorizations, waivers or similar affirmations described on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.12(c) or that are otherwise required to be obtained under the terms of any DBI Material Contract in order to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from constituting a default under such DBI Material Contract or creating any lien, claim, or charge upon any of the assets of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries. Each Party will notify the other Party promptly and shall promptly furnish the other Party with copies of notices or other communications received by such Party or any of its Subsidiaries of any communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person (or another Person) is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and the response thereto from such Party, its Subsidiaries or its representatives). DBI will consult with BFC and its representatives as often as practicable under the circumstances so as to permit DBI and BFC and their respective representatives to cooperate to take appropriate measures to obtain such consents and avoid or mitigate any adverse consequences that may result from the foregoing.

 

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Section 5.07        Publicity.

 

BFC and DBI shall consult with each other before issuing any press release with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other Party, which shall not be unreasonably delayed or withheld; provided, however, that a party may, without the prior consent of the other party (but after such consultation, to the extent practicable in the circumstances), issue such press release or make such public statements as may upon the advice of counsel be required by Law or the rules and regulations of any stock exchanges. It is understood that BFC shall assume primary responsibility for the preparation of joint press releases relating to this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 5.08       Access; Current Information.

 

(a)           For the purposes of verifying the representations and warranties of the other and preparing for the Merger and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement, upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws, DBI agrees to afford BFC and its officers, employees, counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives such access during normal business hours at any time and from time to time throughout the period prior to the Effective Time to DBI’s and its Subsidiaries’ books, records (including, without limitation, Tax Returns and work papers of independent auditors), information technology systems, business, properties and personnel and to such other information relating to them as BFC may reasonably request and DBI shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide any appropriate notices to employees and/or customers in accordance with applicable Law and DBI’s privacy policy and, during such period, DBI shall furnish to BFC, upon BFC’s reasonable request, all such other information concerning the business, properties and personnel of DBI and its Subsidiaries that is substantially similar in scope to the information provided to BFC in connection with its diligence review prior to the date of this Agreement. BFC shall coordinate any such access in accordance with this Section 5.08(a) with DBI’s Chief Financial Officer, Jacqui Engebos,

 

(b)           For the purposes of verifying the representations and warranties of the other and preparing for the Merger and the other matters contemplated by this Agreement, during the period of time from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable Laws, BFC agrees to furnish to DBI such information as DBI may reasonably request concerning the business of BFC and its Subsidiaries that is substantially similar in scope to the information provided to DBI in connection with its diligence review prior to the date of this Agreement.

 

(c)           As promptly as reasonably practicable after they become available, DBI will furnish to BFC copies of the board packages distributed to the board of directors of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, and minutes from the meetings thereof, copies of any internal management financial control reports showing actual financial performance against plan and previous period, and copies of any reports provided to the board of directors of DBI or any committee thereof relating to the financial performance and risk management of DBI.

 

(d)           During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, at the reasonable request of either Party, the other Party will cause one or more of its designated representatives to confer with representatives of the requesting Party and to report the general status of the ongoing operations of the other Party and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the foregoing, DBI agrees to provide to BFC (i) a copy of each report filed by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries with a Governmental Authority, (ii) a copy of DBI’s monthly loan trial balance, and (iii) a copy of DBI’s monthly statement of condition and profit and loss statement and, if requested by BFC, a copy of DBI’s daily statement of condition and daily profit and loss statement, in each case, which shall be provided as promptly as reasonably practicable after it is filed or prepared, as applicable. DBI further agrees to provide BFC, no later than ten (10) Business Days following the end of each calendar month following the date hereof, any supplements to DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.19, DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(a), and DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.22(b) that would be required if the references to November 30, 2021 in each corresponding representation and warranty of DBI were changed to the date of the most recently ended calendar month.

 

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(e)           No investigation by a Party or its representatives shall be deemed to modify or waive any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the other Party set forth in this Agreement, or the conditions to the respective obligations of BFC and DBI to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(f)            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.08, DBI shall not be required to copy BFC on any documents that disclose confidential discussions of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, that contain competitively sensitive business or other proprietary information filed under a claim of confidentiality (including any confidential supervisory information) or any other matter that DBI’s board of directors has been advised by counsel that such distribution to BFC may violate a confidentiality obligation or fiduciary duty or any Law or regulation, or may result in a waiver of DBI’s attorney-client privilege. In the event any of the restrictions in this Section 5.08(f) shall apply, DBI shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide appropriate consents, waivers, decrees and approvals necessary to satisfy any confidentiality issues relating to documents prepared or held by third parties (including work papers), the Parties will make appropriate alternate disclosure arrangements, including adopting additional specific procedures to protect the confidentiality of sensitive material and to ensure compliance with applicable Laws.

 

Section 5.09        No Solicitation by DBI; Superior Proposals.

 

(a)            Except as permitted by Section 5.09(b), DBI shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries and each of their respective officers, directors and employees not to, and will not authorize any investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants, consultants, affiliates or other agents of DBI or any of DBI’s Subsidiaries (collectively, the “DBI Representatives”) to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, induce or knowingly encourage, or take any action to facilitate the making of, any inquiry, offer or proposal which constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal; (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal or furnish, or otherwise afford access, to any Person (other than BFC) any information or data with respect to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal; (iii) release any Person from, waive any provisions of, or fail to enforce any confidentiality agreement or standstill agreement to which DBI is a party; or (iv) enter into any agreement, confidentiality agreement, agreement in principle or letter of intent with respect to any Acquisition Proposal or approve or resolve to approve any Acquisition Proposal or any agreement, agreement in principle or letter of intent relating to an Acquisition Proposal. Any violation of the foregoing restrictions by any of the DBI Representatives, whether or not such DBI Representative is so authorized and whether or not such DBI Representative is purporting to act on behalf of DBI or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Agreement by DBI. DBI and its Subsidiaries shall, and shall cause each of the DBI Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any and all existing discussions, negotiations, and communications with any Persons with respect to any existing or potential Acquisition Proposal.

 

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For purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, offer or proposal (other than an inquiry, offer or proposal from BFC), whether or not in writing, contemplating, relating to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Transaction.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Acquisition Transaction” means (A) any transaction or series of transactions involving any merger, consolidation, recapitalization, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction involving DBI or any of its Subsidiaries; (B) any transaction pursuant to which any third party or group acquires or would acquire (whether through sale, lease or other disposition), directly or indirectly, a significant portion of the assets of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) any issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way of merger, consolidation, share exchange or any similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase or securities convertible into, such securities) representing 20% or more of the votes attached to the outstanding securities of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries; (D) any tender offer or exchange offer that, if consummated, would result in any third party or group beneficially owning 20% or more of any class of equity securities of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries; or (E) any transaction which is similar in form, substance or purpose to any of the foregoing transactions, or any combination of the foregoing.

 

For purposes of this Agreement, “Superior Proposal” means a bona fide, unsolicited Acquisition Proposal (i) that if consummated would result in a third party (or in the case of a direct merger between such third party and DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, the shareholders of such third party) acquiring, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the outstanding DBI Common Stock or more than 50% of the assets of DBI and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, for consideration consisting of cash and/or securities and (ii) that the board of directors of DBI reasonably determines in good faith, after consultation with its outside financial advisor and outside legal counsel, (A) is reasonably capable of being completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal, including all conditions contained therein and the Person making such Acquisition Proposal, and (B) taking into account any changes to this Agreement proposed by BFC in response to such Acquisition Proposal, as contemplated by Section 5.09(c), and all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such takeover proposal, including all conditions contained therein and the Person making such proposal, is more favorable to the shareholders of DBI from a financial point of view than the Merger.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding Section 5.09(a) or any other provision of this Agreement, prior to the date of the DBI Meeting, DBI may take any of the actions described in Section 5.09(a) if, but only if, (i) DBI has received a bona fide unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that did not result from a breach of Section 5.09(a); (ii) the board of directors of DBI reasonably determines in good faith, after consultation with and having considered the advice of its outside financial advisor and outside legal counsel, that (A) such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and (B) the failure to take such actions would cause it to violate its fiduciary duties to DBI’s shareholders under applicable Law; (iii) DBI has provided BFC with at least three (3) Business Days’ prior notice of such determination; and (iv) prior to furnishing or affording access to any information or data with respect to DBI or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal, DBI receives from such Person a confidentiality agreement with terms no less favorable to DBI than those contained in the confidentiality agreement with BFC. DBI shall promptly provide to BFC any non-public information regarding DBI or its Subsidiaries provided to any other Person which was not previously provided to BFC, such additional information to be provided no later than the date of provision of such information to such other party.

 

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(c)           DBI shall promptly (and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours) notify BFC in writing if any proposals or offers are received by, any information is requested from, or any negotiations or discussions are sought to be initiated or continued with, DBI or the DBI Representatives, in each case in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, and such notice shall indicate the name of the Person initiating such discussions or negotiations or making such proposal, offer or information request and the material terms and conditions of any proposals or offers (and, in the case of written materials relating to such proposal, offer, information request, negotiations or discussion, providing copies of such materials (including e-mails or other electronic communications) except to the extent that such materials constitute confidential information of the party making such offer or proposal under an effective confidentiality agreement). DBI agrees that it shall keep BFC informed, on a reasonably current basis, of the status and terms of any such proposal, offer, information request, negotiations or discussions (including any amendments or modifications to such proposal, offer or request).

 

(d)           Except as set forth in Section 5.09(e), neither the board of directors of DBI nor any committee thereof shall (i) withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, or propose to withdraw, qualify, amend or modify, in a manner adverse to BFC in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger), the DBI Recommendation, fail to reaffirm the DBI Recommendation within three (3) Business Days following a request by BFC, or make any statement, filing or release, in connection with the DBI Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the DBI Recommendation (it being understood that taking a neutral position or no position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal shall be considered an adverse modification of the DBI Recommendation); (ii) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal; or (iii) enter into (or cause DBI or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into) any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other agreement (A) related to any Acquisition Transaction (other than a confidentiality agreement entered into in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.09(b)) or (B) requiring DBI to abandon, terminate or fail to consummate the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)           Notwithstanding Section 5.09(d), prior to the date of the DBI Meeting, the board of directors of DBI may withdraw, qualify, amend or modify the DBI Recommendation (a “DBI Subsequent Determination”), or terminate this Agreement in order to concurrently enter into an Agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, after the fifth (5th) Business Day following BFC’s receipt of a notice (the “Notice of Superior Proposal”) from DBI advising BFC that the board of directors of DBI has decided that a bona fide unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that it received (that did not result from a breach of Section 5.09(a)) constitutes a Superior Proposal if, but only if, (i) the board of directors of DBI has determined in good faith, after consultation with and having considered the advice of outside legal counsel and its financial advisor, that the failure to take such actions would cause it to violate its fiduciary duties to DBI’s shareholders under applicable Law, (ii) during the five (5) Business Day period after receipt of the Notice of Superior Proposal by BFC (the “Notice Period”), DBI and the board of directors of DBI shall have cooperated and negotiated in good faith with BFC to make such adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement as would enable DBI to proceed with the DBI Recommendation without a DBI Subsequent Determination; provided, however, that BFC shall not have any obligation to propose any adjustments, modifications or amendments to the terms and conditions of this Agreement and (iii) at the end of the Notice Period, after taking into account any such adjusted, modified or amended terms as may have been proposed by BFC since its receipt of such Notice of Superior Proposal, the board of directors of DBI has again in good faith made the determination (A) in clause (i) of this Section 5.09(e) and (B) that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal. In the event of any material revisions to the Superior Proposal, DBI shall be required to deliver a new Notice of Superior Proposal to BFC and again comply with the requirements of this Section 5.09(e), except that the Notice Period shall be reduced to three (3) Business Days.

 

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(f)            Nothing contained in this Section 5.09 shall prohibit DBI or the board of directors of DBI from complying with DBI’s obligations required under Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any such disclosure relating to an Acquisition Proposal (other than a “stop, look and listen” or similar communication of the type contemplated by Rule 14d-9(f) under the Exchange Act) shall be deemed a change in the DBI Recommendation unless the board of directors of DBI reaffirms the DBI Recommendation in such disclosure.

 

Section 5.10        Indemnification.

 

(a)           For a period of six (6) years from and after the Effective Time, and in any event subject to the provisions of Section 5.10(b), BFC shall indemnify and hold harmless the present and former directors and officers of DBI and its Subsidiaries (each an “Indemnified Party”), against all costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities or amounts that are paid in settlement (which settlement shall require the prior written consent of BFC, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (each a “Claim”), arising out of actions or omissions of such persons in the course of performing their duties for DBI or any of its Subsidiaries occurring at or before the Effective Time (including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby), regardless of whether such Claim is asserted or claimed before, or after, the Effective Time, to the same extent permitted under the organizational documents of DBI and its Subsidiaries in effect on the date of this Agreement to the extent permitted by applicable Law; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the organizational documents of DBI or its Subsidiaries, BFC shall have no obligation to provide indemnification under this paragraph (a) to any Indemnified Party for any Excluded Claim.

 

(b)           Any Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section 5.10 shall promptly notify BFC upon learning of any Claim, provided that, failure to so notify shall not affect the obligation of BFC under this Section 5.10, unless, and only to the extent that, BFC is materially prejudiced in the defense of such Claim as a consequence. In the event of any such Claim (whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time), (i) BFC shall have the right to assume the defense thereof and BFC shall not be liable to such Indemnified Parties for any legal expenses or other counsel or any other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Parties in connection with the defense thereof, (ii) the Indemnified Parties will cooperate in the defense of any such matter, (iii) BFC shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its prior written consent and (iv) BFC shall have no obligation hereunder to any Indemnified Party if such indemnification would be in violation of any applicable federal or state banking Laws or regulations, or in the event that a federal or state banking agency or a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that indemnification of an Indemnified Party in the manner contemplated hereby is prohibited by applicable Laws and regulations, whether or not related to banking Laws.

 

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(c)            For a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, BFC will maintain director’s and officer’s liability insurance (herein, “D&O Insurance”) that serves to reimburse the present and former officers and directors of DBI or its Subsidiaries (determined as of the Effective Time) with respect to claims against such directors and officers arising from facts or events occurring before the Effective Time (including the transactions contemplated hereby), which insurance will contain at least the same coverage and amounts, and contain terms and conditions no less advantageous to the Indemnified Party, as that coverage currently provided by DBI; provided that, if BFC is unable to maintain or obtain the insurance called for by this Section 5.10, BFC shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide as much comparable insurance as is reasonably available (subject to the limitations described below in this Section 5.10(c)); and provided, further, that officers and directors of DBI or its Subsidiaries may be required to make application and provide customary representations and warranties to the carrier of the D&O Insurance for the purpose of obtaining such insurance. In no event shall BFC be required to expend for such tail insurance a premium amount in excess of an amount equal to 150% of the annual premiums paid by DBI for D&O Insurance in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Maximum D&O Tail Premium”). If the cost of such tail insurance exceeds the Maximum D&O Tail Premium, BFC shall obtain tail insurance coverage or a separate tail insurance policy with the greatest coverage available for a cost not exceeding the Maximum D&O Tail Premium.

 

(d)           This Section 5.10 shall survive the Effective Time, is intended to benefit each DBI Indemnified Party (each of whom shall be entitled to enforce this Section against BFC), and shall be binding on all successors and assigns of BFC.

 

(e)           If BFC or any of its successors and assigns (i) shall consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or entity and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger, or (ii) shall transfer all or substantially all of its property and assets to any individual, corporation or other entity, then, in each such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of BFC and its Subsidiaries shall assume the obligations set forth in this Section 5.10.

 

Section 5.11        Employees; Benefit Plans.

 

(a)           Following the Effective Time, for a period the earlier of (i) six months or (ii) as long as an employee of DBI is a Covered Employee (as defined below), BFC shall maintain or cause to be maintained employee benefit plans for the benefit of employees who are full time employees of DBI on the Closing Date and who become full-time employees of BFC (“Covered Employees”) that provide employee benefits which, in the aggregate, are substantially comparable to the employee benefits and cash-based compensation opportunities that are made available on a uniform and non-discriminatory basis to similarly situated employees of BFC; provided, however, that in no event shall any Covered Employee be eligible to participate in any closed or frozen plan of BFC. BFC shall give the Covered Employees credit for their prior service with DBI for purposes of eligibility (including initial participation and eligibility for current benefits) and vesting under any employee benefit plan maintained by BFC and in which Covered Employees may be eligible to participate.

 

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(b)           With respect to any employee benefit plan of BFC that is a health, dental, vision or other welfare plan in which any Covered Employee is eligible to participate, for the plan year that includes the Closing, if Covered Employees are eligible to participate in such plans, BFC shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any pre-existing condition limitations, eligibility waiting periods or evidence of insurability requirements under such BFC plan to be waived with respect to such Covered Employee and his or her covered dependents to the extent such condition was or would have been covered under the DBI Benefit Plan in which such Covered Employee participated immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

(c)           Following the Effective Time, Bank First shall credit each Covered Employee with an amount of paid time off equal to such Covered Employee’s accrued but unused paid time off at Denmark State Bank (“Carryover PTO”), provided that (i) Bank First may allocate the Carryover PTO and between vacation leave and sick leave in its discretion, and (ii) Carryover PTO shall be limited to 100 hours per year for hourly employees, and salaries employees will not be allowed any Carryover PTO.

 

(d)           DBI shall cause Denmark State Bank to take all necessary actions to terminate the Denmark State Bank Retirement Savings Plan, effective as the date immediately preceding the date of the Effective Time of the Merger, subject to the occurrence of the Effective Time. DBI shall provide BFC with evidence that the Denmark State Bank Retirement Savings plan has been terminated and provide copies of the appropriate resolutions terminating the plan (the form and substance of which shall be subject to review and approval by BFC, which will not be unreasonably withheld) not later than three days prior to the Effective Time. The accounts of all participants and beneficiaries in the Denmark State Bank Retirement Savings Plan shall become fully vested upon termination of such plan.

 

(e)           Prior to the Effective Time, DBI shall take, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to take, all actions requested by BFC that may be necessary or appropriate to, conditioned on the occurrence of the Effective Time, (i) cause one or more DBI Benefits Plans not covered above to terminate as of the Effective Time, or as of the date immediately preceding the Effective Time, (ii) cause benefit accruals and entitlements under any DBI Benefit Plan to cease as of the Effective Time, or as of the date immediately preceding the Effective Time, (iii) cause the continuation on and after the Effective Time of any contract, arrangement or insurance policy relating to any DBI Benefit Plan for such period as may be requested by BFC, or (iv) facilitate the merger of any DBI Benefit Plan into any employee benefit plan maintained by BFC. All resolutions, notices, or other documents issued, adopted or executed in connection with the implementation of this Section 5.11(e) shall be subject to BFC’s reasonable prior review and approval, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

 

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(f)           Except for any employee listed on DBI Disclosure Schedule 5.11(f), any employee of DBI or Denmark State Bank that becomes an employee of Bank First at the Effective Time who is terminated within six months following the Effective Time (other than for cause, death, disability, normal retirement or voluntarily resignation) shall receive a severance payment calculated in accordance with the policy set forth on BFC Disclosure Schedule 5.11(f).

 

(g)           Following the Effective Time, BFC shall assume, honor and comply with all obligations set forth in the employment and change in control agreements listed on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.15(l).

 

(h)           Nothing in this Section 5.11 shall be construed to limit the right of BFC (including, following the Closing Date, DBI) to amend or terminate any DBI Benefit Plan or other employee benefit plan, to the extent such amendment or termination is permitted by the terms of the applicable plan, nor shall anything in this Section 5.11 be construed to require BFC (including, following the Closing Date, DBI) to retain the employment of any particular Covered Employee for any fixed period of time following the Closing Date, and the continued retention (or termination) by BFC of any Covered Employee subsequent to the Effective Time shall be subject in all events to BFC’s normal and customary employment procedures and practices, including customary background screening and evaluation procedures, and satisfactory employment performance.

 

(i)            For purposes of this Section 5.11, (i) “employees of DBI” shall include employees of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) “employees of BFC” shall include employees of BFC or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) all references to DBI shall include each of the Subsidiaries of DBI (iv) all references to BFC shall include each of the Subsidiaries of BFC.

 

Section 5.12        Notification of Certain Changes.

 

BFC and DBI shall promptly advise the other Party of any change or event having, or which could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect or which it believes would, or which could reasonably be expected to, cause or constitute a material breach of any of its or its respective Subsidiaries’ representations, warranties or covenants contained herein and DBI shall provide on a periodic basis written notice to BFC of any matters that DBI becomes aware of that should be disclosed on a supplement or amendment to the DBI Disclosure Schedule.

 

Section 5.13       Transition; Informational Systems Conversion.

 

From and after the date hereof, BFC and DBI will use their commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate the integration of DBI with the business of BFC following consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and shall meet on a regular basis to discuss and plan for the conversion of the data processing and related electronic informational systems of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries (the “Informational Systems Conversion”) to those used by BFC, which planning shall include, but not be limited to, (a) discussion of third-party service provider arrangements of DBI and each of its Subsidiaries; (b) non-renewal or changeover, after the Effective Time, of personal property leases and software licenses used by DBI and each of its Subsidiaries in connection with the systems operations; (c) retention of outside consultants and additional employees to assist with the conversion; (d) outsourcing, as appropriate after the Effective Time, of proprietary or self-provided system services; and (e) any other actions necessary and appropriate to facilitate the conversion, as soon as practicable following the Effective Time. BFC shall promptly reimburse DBI on request for any reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, expenses or charges that DBI may incur as a result of taking, at the request of BFC, any action prior to the Effective Time to facilitate the Informational Systems Conversion.

 

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Section 5.14       Termination of Contracts.

 

Prior to the Measuring Date and in accordance with this Section 5.14, DBI will take all actions necessary to accrue any and all costs, fees, expenses, contract payments, penalties or liquidated damages necessary to be paid in connection with the termination of each DBI Material Contract listed on BFC Disclosure Schedule 5.14 (unless BFC otherwise directs DBI not to terminate such contract), and any other contract or agreement requested by BFC to be amended, modified or terminated (collectively, the “Terminated Contracts”).

 

Section 5.15        No Control of Other Party’s Business.

 

Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give BFC, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of DBI or its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time, and nothing contained in this Agreement shall give DBI, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of BFC or its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of DBI and BFC shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, control and supervision over its and its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.

 

Section 5.16        Certain Litigation.

 

Each Party shall promptly advise the other Party orally and in writing of any actual or threatened shareholder litigation against such Party and/or the members of the board of directors of DBI or the board of directors of BFC related to this Agreement or the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. DBI shall: (i) permit BFC to review and discuss in advance, and consider in good faith the views of BFC in connection with, any proposed written or oral response to such shareholder litigation; (ii) furnish BFC’s outside legal counsel with all non-privileged information and documents which outside counsel may reasonably request in connection with such shareholder litigation; (iii) consult with BFC regarding the defense or settlement of any such shareholder litigation, shall give due consideration to BFC’s advice with respect to such shareholder litigation and shall not settle any such litigation prior to such consultation and consideration; provided, however, that DBI shall not settle any such shareholder litigation if such settlement requires the payment of money damages, without the written consent of BFC (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless the payment of any such damages by DBI is reasonably expected by DBI, following consultation with outside counsel, to be fully covered (disregarding any deductible to be paid by DBI) under DBI’s existing director and officer insurance policies, including any tail policy.

 

Section 5.17        Director Resignations.

 

DBI will cause to be delivered to BFC resignations of all the directors of DBI and its Subsidiaries, such resignations to be effective as of the Effective Time.

 

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Section 5.18        Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement.

 

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and effective upon Closing, DBI has caused each director of DBI and Denmark State Bank to execute and deliver the Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (collectively, the “Director Restrictive Covenant Agreements”). In consideration of the foregoing, at or prior to Closing, BFC shall pay to each director who enters into a Director Restrictive Covenant Agreement an amount as set forth in BFC Disclosure Schedule 5.18.

 

Section 5.19        Claims Letters.

 

Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and effective upon the Closing, DBI has caused each director and executive officer of DBI and Denmark State Bank to execute and deliver the Claims Letter in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E.

 

Section 5.20        Coordination.

 

(a)           Prior to the Effective Time, subject to applicable Laws, DBI and its Subsidiaries shall take any actions BFC may reasonably request from time to time to better prepare the parties for integration of the operations of DBI and its Subsidiaries with BFC and its Subsidiaries, respectively. Without limiting the foregoing, senior officers of DBI and BFC shall meet from time to time as BFC may reasonably request, and in any event not less frequently than monthly, to review the financial and operational affairs of DBI and its Subsidiaries, and DBI shall give due consideration to BFC’s input on such matters, with the understanding that, notwithstanding any other provision contained in this Agreement, neither BFC nor Bank First shall under any circumstance be permitted to exercise control of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. DBI shall permit representatives of Bank First to be onsite at DBI to facilitate integration of operations and assist with any other coordination efforts as necessary, provided such efforts shall be done without undue disruption to Denmark State Bank’s business, during normal business hours and at the expense of BFC or Bank First (not to include Denmark State Bank’s regular employee payroll).

 

(b)           Prior to the Effective Time, subject to applicable Laws, DBI and its Subsidiaries shall take any actions BFC may reasonably request in connection with negotiating any amendments, modifications or terminations of any Leases or DBI Material Contracts that BFC may request, including, but not limited to, actions necessary to cause any such amendments, modifications or terminations to become effective prior to (to the extent that the conditions set forth in Article VI of this Agreement have already been satisfied), or immediately upon, the Closing, and shall cooperate with BFC and will use its commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate specific provisions that may be requested by BFC in connection with any such amendment, modification or termination.

 

(c)            From and after the date hereof, subject to applicable Laws, the parties shall reasonably cooperate (provided that the parties shall cooperate to reasonably minimize disruption to DBI’s or its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses) with the other in preparing for the prompt conversion or consolidation of systems and business operations promptly after the Effective Time (including by entering into customary confidentiality, non-disclosure and similar agreements with the other party and appropriate service providers) and DBI shall, upon BFC’s reasonable request, introduce BFC and its representatives to suppliers of DBI and its Subsidiaries for the purpose of facilitating the integration of DBI and its business into that of BFC. In addition, after satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 6.01(a) and Section 6.01(b), subject to applicable Laws, DBI shall, upon BFC’s reasonable request, introduce BFC and its representatives to customers of DBI and its Subsidiaries for the purpose of facilitating the integration of DBI and its business into that of BFC. Any interaction between BFC and DBI’s and any of its Subsidiaries’ customers and suppliers shall be coordinated by DBI. DBI shall have the right to participate in any discussions between BFC and DBI’s customers and suppliers.

 

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(d)           BFC and DBI agree to take all action necessary and appropriate to cause Denmark State Bank to merge with Bank First in accordance with applicable Laws and the terms of the Plan of Bank Merger immediately following the Effective Time or as promptly as practicable thereafter.

 

Section 5.21       Transactional Expenses.

 

DBI has provided in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.35 a reasonable good faith estimate of costs and fees that DBI and its Subsidiaries expect to pay to retained representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, exclusive of any costs that may be incurred by DBI as a result of any litigation which may arise in connection with this Agreement (collectively, “DBI Expenses”). DBI shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the aggregate amount of all DBI Expenses to not exceed the total expenses disclosed in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.35. DBI shall promptly notify BFC if or when it determines that it expects to exceed its total budget for DBI Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.21, DBI shall not incur any investment banking, brokerage, finders or other similar financial advisory fees in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than those expressly set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.35.

 

Section 5.22        Confidentiality.

 

Prior to the execution of this Agreement and prior to the consummation of the Merger, subject to applicable Laws, each of BFC and DBI, and their respective Subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees, consultants and advisors have provided, and will continue to provide one another with information which may be deemed by the party providing the information to be non-public, proprietary and/or confidential, including, but not limited to, trade secrets of the disclosing party. Each Party agrees that it will, and will cause its representatives to, hold any information obtained pursuant to this Article V in accordance with the terms of the confidentiality and non-disclosure letter agreement, dated as of November 5, 2021 between BFC and DBI.

 

Section 5.23       Tax Matters.

 

(a)           The Parties intend that each of the Merger and the Bank Merger shall each qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that this Agreement constitutes a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g) of the Regulations. Except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, from and after the date of this Agreement, each of BFC and DBI shall use their respective reasonable best efforts to cause each of the Merger and the Bank Merger to qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and will not take any action, cause any action to be taken, fail to take any action or cause any action to fail to be taken which action or failure to act is intended or is reasonably likely to prevent either the Merger or the Bank Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

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(b)           BFC shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax Returns for DBI and its Subsidiaries for all periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date that are due to be filed after the Closing Date.

 

Section 5.24        FINRA Compliance.

 

DBI shall take all actions and submit all filings necessary to ensure compliance by DBI with Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b-17 and FINRA Rule 6490.

 

Section 5.25        Dissolution of Non-Bank Subsidiaries.

 

DBI shall take all actions and submit all filings necessary to fully dissolve DBI’s subsidiaries listed on DBI Disclosure Schedule 3.03(a) at or prior to Closing except for Denmark State Bank.

 

Article VI

 

CONDITIONS TO CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER

 

Section 6.01        Conditions to Obligations of the Parties to Effect the Merger.

 

The respective obligations of the Parties to consummate the Merger are subject to the fulfillment or, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, written waiver by the Parties prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)            Shareholder Votes. This Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as applicable, shall have received the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval at the DBI Meeting and the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval at the BFC Meeting.

 

(b)           Regulatory Approvals; No Burdensome Condition. All Regulatory Approvals required to consummate the Merger and the Bank Merger in the manner contemplated herein shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof, if any, shall have expired or been terminated, and no such Regulatory Approval includes or contains, or shall have resulted in the imposition of, any Burdensome Condition.

 

(c)            No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No judgment, order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Authority that prohibits or makes illegal the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(d)           Effective Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC or any other Governmental Authority.

 

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(e)           Tax Opinions Relating to the Merger. BFC and DBI, respectively, shall have received opinions from Alston & Bird LLP and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., respectively, each dated as of the Closing Date, in substance and form reasonably satisfactory to BFC and DBI, respectively, to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinions, the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering their opinions, Alston & Bird LLP and Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. may require and rely upon representations as to certain factual matters contained in certificates of officers of each of BFC and DBI, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such counsel.

 

Section 6.02        Conditions to Obligations of DBI.

 

The obligations of DBI to consummate the Merger also are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by DBI prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of BFC (i) set forth in Section 4.09 shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date, (ii) Section 4.01, Section 4.02, Section 4.03(a), Section 4.04, Section 4.08, and Section 4.12 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and (iii) set forth in this Agreement, other than those sections specifically identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.02(a), shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to BFC. DBI shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of BFC by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of BFC to the foregoing effect.

 

(b)           Performance of Obligations of BFC. BFC shall have performed and complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects at or prior to the Closing Date except where the failure of the performance of, or compliance with, such obligation has not had and does not have a Material Adverse Effect on BFC, and DBI shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of BFC by its Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer to such effect.

 

(c)            No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement (i) no change or event has occurred which has resulted in BFC or Bank First being subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) no condition, event, fact, circumstance or other occurrence has occurred that may reasonably be expected to have or result in such parties being subject to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(d)           Trading Market Listing. Shares of BFC Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger shall have been approved for listing on the Trading Market.

 

Section 6.03        Conditions to Obligations of BFC.

 

The obligations of BFC to consummate the Merger also are subject to the fulfillment or written waiver by BFC prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)            Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of DBI (i) set forth in Section 3.02(a) and Section 3.09(b) shall be true and correct in all respects (with respect to Section 3.02(a), other than de minimis inaccuracies, it being agreed that for purposes of Section 3.02(a), any inaccuracy in which the applicable amounts as of a date of determination exceed the amounts set forth in Section 3.02(a) by no more than 1% shall be deemed de minimis) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made as of the Closing Date, (ii) the first sentence of Section 3.01, Section 3.04(a), Section 3.05, Section 3.14 and Section 3.34 shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date) and (iii) set forth in this Agreement, other than those sections specifically identified in clauses (i) or (ii) of this Section 6.03(a), shall be true and correct (disregarding all qualifications or limitations as to “materiality”, “Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import set forth therein) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made as of the Closing Date (except to the extent expressly made as of an earlier date, in which case as of such date), except, in the case of this clause (iii), where the failure to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to DBI. BFC shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of DBI by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of DBI to the foregoing effect.

 

(b)           Performance of Obligations of DBI. DBI shall have performed and complied with all of its obligations under this Agreement in all material respects at or prior to the Closing Date, and BFC shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of DBI by DBI’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to such effect.

 

(c)            No Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement (i) no change or event has occurred which has resulted in DBI or any of its Subsidiaries being subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) no condition, event, fact, circumstance or other occurrence has occurred that may reasonably be expected to have or result in such parties being subject to a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)           Plan of Bank Merger. Except as otherwise contemplated by Section 1.03, the Plan of Bank Merger shall have been executed and delivered.

 

(e)           Dissenting Shares. Dissenting Shares shall be less than five percent (5%) of the issued and outstanding shares of DBI Common Stock.

 

(f)            Consents and Approvals. DBI has received, in form and substance satisfactory to DBI and BFC, all consents, approvals, waivers and other assurances from all non-governmental third parties which are required to be obtained under the terms of any contract, agreement or instrument to which DBI or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their respective properties is bound in order to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement from constituting a default under such contract, agreement or instrument or creating any lien, claim or charge upon any of the assets of DBI or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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Section 6.04        Frustration of Closing Conditions.

 

Neither BFC nor DBI may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in Section 6.01, Section 6.02 or Section 6.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such failure was caused by such Party’s failure to use its reasonable best efforts to consummate any of the transactions contemplated hereby, as required by and subject to Section 5.03.

 

Article VII

 

TERMINATION

 

Section 7.01       Termination.

 

This Agreement may be terminated, and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned:

 

(a)            Mutual Consent. At any time prior to the Effective Time, by the mutual consent, in writing, of BFC and DBI if the board of directors of BFC and the board of directors of DBI each so determines by vote of a majority of the members of its entire board.

 

(b)           No Regulatory Approval. By BFC or DBI, if either of their respective boards of directors so determines by a vote of a majority of the members of its entire board, in the event any Regulatory Approval required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been denied by final, non-appealable action by such Governmental Authority or an application therefor shall have been permanently withdrawn at the request of a Governmental Authority.

 

(c)           No Shareholder Approval. By either BFC or DBI (provided, in the case of DBI, that it shall not be in breach of any of its obligations under Section 5.04), if the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval or the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at a duly held meeting of such shareholders or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

(d)           Breach of Representations and Warranties. By either BFC or DBI (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein in a manner that would entitle the other party to not consummate this Agreement) if there shall have been (i) with respect to representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement that are not qualified by the term “material” or do not contain terms such as “Material Adverse Effect,” a material breach of any of such representations or warranties by the other party and (ii) with respect to representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement that are qualified by the term “material” or contain terms such as “Material Adverse Effect,” any breach of any of such representations or warranties by the other Party; which breach is not cured prior to the earlier of (y) thirty (30) days following written notice to the Party committing such breach from the other Party or (z) two (2) Business Days prior to the Expiration Date, or which breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the Closing.

 

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(e)            Breach of Covenants. By either BFC or DBI (provided that the terminating party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained herein in a manner that would entitle the other Party not to consummate the agreement) if there shall have been a material breach of any of the covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement on the part of the other Party, which breach shall not have been cured prior to the earlier of (i) thirty (30) days following written notice to the Party committing such breach from the other Party or (ii) two (2) Business Days prior to the Expiration Date, or which breach, by its nature, cannot be cured prior to the Closing.

 

(f)            Delay. By either BFC or DBI if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before September 30, 2022, provided, however, that such date will be automatically extended to December 31, 2022, if the only outstanding condition to Closing under Article VI is the receipt of all Regulatory Approvals (the “Expiration Date”), unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to a material breach of this Agreement by the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement.

 

(g)           Failure to Recommend; Etc. In addition to and not in limitation of BFC’s termination rights under Section 7.01(e), by BFC if (i) there shall have been a material breach of Section 5.09, or (ii) the board of directors of DBI (A) withdraws, qualifies, amends, modifies or withholds the DBI Recommendation, or makes any statement, filing or release, in connection with the DBI Meeting or otherwise, inconsistent with the DBI Recommendation (it being understood that taking a neutral position or no position with respect to an Acquisition Proposal shall be considered an adverse modification of the DBI Recommendation), (B) materially breaches its obligation to call, give notice of and commence the DBI Meeting under Section 5.04(a), (C) approves or recommends an Acquisition Proposal, (D) fails to publicly recommend against a publicly announced Acquisition Proposal within three (3) Business Days of being requested to do so by BFC, (E) fails to publicly reconfirm the DBI Recommendation within three (3) Business Days of being requested to do so by BFC, or (F) resolves or otherwise determines to take, or announces an intention to take, any of the foregoing actions.

 

(h)           Acceptance of Superior Proposal. By DBI in connection with entering into a definitive agreement to effect a Superior Proposal after making an DBI Subsequent Determination in accordance with Section 5.09(e).

 

Section 7.02       Termination Fee.

 

(a)           In recognition of the efforts, expenses and other opportunities foregone by BFC while structuring and pursuing the Merger, DBI shall pay to BFC a termination fee equal to $4,800,000 (“Termination Fee”), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by BFC in the event of any of the following: (i) in the event BFC terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(g), DBI shall pay BFC the Termination Fee within one (1) Business Day after receipt of BFC’s notification of such termination; (ii) in the event that after the date of this Agreement and prior to the termination of this Agreement, an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made known to senior management of DBI or has been made directly to its shareholders generally or any Person shall have publicly announced (and not withdrawn) an Acquisition Proposal with respect to DBI and (A) thereafter this Agreement is terminated (x) by either BFC or DBI pursuant to Section 7.01(c) because the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval shall not have been obtained or (y) by BFC pursuant to Section 7.01(d) or Section 7.01(e) and (B) prior to the date that is twelve (12) months after the date of such termination, DBI enters into any agreement or consummates a transaction with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (whether or not the same Acquisition Proposal as that referred to above), then DBI shall, on the earlier of the date it enters into such agreement and the date of consummation of such transaction, pay BFC the Termination Fee, provided, that for purposes of this Section 7.02(a)(ii), all references in the definition of Acquisition Proposal to “20%” shall instead refer to “50%,” and (iii) in the event DBI terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01(h), DBI shall pay BFC the Termination Fee within one (1) Business Day after DBI’s notification of such termination.

 

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(b)           DBI and BFC each agree that the agreements contained in this Section 7.02 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that, without these agreements, BFC would not enter into this Agreement; accordingly, if DBI fails promptly to pay any amounts due under this Section 7.02, DBI shall pay interest on such amounts from the date payment of such amounts were due to the date of actual payment at the rate of interest equal to the sum of (i) the rate of interest published from time to time in The Wall Street Journal, Eastern Edition (or any successor publication thereto), designated therein as the prime rate on the date such payment was due, plus (ii) 200 basis points, together with the costs and expenses of BFC (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) in connection with such suit.

 

(c)           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the Parties agree that if DBI pays or causes to be paid to BFC the Termination Fee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), DBI (or any successor in interest of DBI) will not have any further obligations or liabilities to BFC with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 7.03       Effect of Termination.

 

Except as set forth in Section 7.02(c), termination of this Agreement will not relieve a breaching party from liability for any breach of any covenant, agreement, representation or warranty of this Agreement (a) giving rise to such termination and (b) resulting from fraud or any willful and material breach.

 

Article VIII

 

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 8.01      Definitions.

 

The following terms are used in this Agreement with the meanings set forth below:

 

Acquisition Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).

 

Acquisition Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).

 

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Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Articles of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).

 

ASC 320” means GAAP Accounting Standards Codification Topic 320.

 

Associate” when used to indicate a relationship with any Person means (1) any corporation or organization (other than DBI or any of its Subsidiaries) of which such Person is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (2) any trust or other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity, or (3) any relative or family member of such Person.

 

ASTM” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(x).

 

Audited Annual Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).

 

Bank First” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

 

Bank Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

 

Bank Plan of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

 

Bank Secrecy Act” means the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended.

 

BFC” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

BFC Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of BFC.

 

BFC Common Stock Issuance” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).

 

BFC Common Stock Price shall mean the mathematical average, calculated for the twenty (20) trading-day period ending on the fifth (5th) trading day preceding the Closing Date, of the VWAP of a share of BFC Common Stock for each trading day during such period.

 

BFC Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article IV.

 

BFC Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).

 

BFC Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(c).

 

BFC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.05(a).

 

BFC Voting Agreement” or “BFC Voting Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

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BOLI” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.32(b).

 

Book-Entry Shares” means any non-certificated share held by book entry in DBI’s stock transfer book, which immediately prior to the Effective Time represents an outstanding share of DBI Common Stock.

 

Burdensome Condition” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.06(a).

 

Business Day” means Monday through Friday of each week, except a legal holiday recognized as such by the U.S. government or any day on which banking institutions in the State of Wisconsin are authorized or obligated to close.

 

Calculation Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c).

 

Capital Deficiency Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(a).

 

CARES Act” means the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Pub. L. 116-136), as amended and supplemented, and any administrative or other guidance published with respect thereto by any Governmental Authority (including IRS Notices 2020-22 and 2020-65), or any other law (including the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Pub. L. 116-260) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-2)) or executive order or executive memorandum (including the Memorandum on Deferring Payroll Tax Obligations in Light of the Ongoing COVID-19 Disaster, dated August 8, 2020) intended to address the consequences of COVID-19 (in each case, including any comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law and including any related or similar orders or declarations from any Governmental Authority).

 

Carryover PTO” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(c).

 

Cash Component” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(i).

 

Cash Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(ii).

 

Cash Conversion Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(a).

 

Cash Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).

 

Cash Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(ii).

 

Certificate” means any outstanding certificate, which immediately prior to the Effective Time, represents an outstanding share of DBI Common Stock.

 

Claim” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).

 

Closing” and “Closing Date” have the meanings set forth in Section 1.04(b).

 

Code” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

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Community Reinvestment Act” means the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended.

 

Controlled Group Members” means any of DBI’s related organizations described in Code Sections 414(b), (c) or (m).

 

Covered Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11(a).

 

COVID-19 Measures” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.37(a).

 

DBI” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

DBI 401(a) Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(c).

 

DBI Benefit Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).

 

DBI Cancelled Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(b).

 

DBI Common Stock” means, collectively, the Class A common stock, no par value per share and the Class B common stock, no par value per share, of DBI.

 

DBI Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.02(b).

 

DBI Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Article III.

 

DBI Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).

 

DBI ESPP” means the Denmark Bancshares, Inc. 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended to date

 

DBI Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.21.

 

DBI Financial Advisor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.14.

 

DBI Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property used in or held for use in the conduct of the business of DBI and its Subsidiaries.

 

DBI Investment Securities” means the investment securities of DBI and its Subsidiaries.

 

DBI Investor Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(d).

 

DBI Loan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(c).

 

DBI Material Contract” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12(a).

 

DBI Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(a).

 

DBI Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.04(b).

 

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DBI Regulatory Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13.

 

DBI Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).

 

DBI Restricted Share” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).

 

DBI Stock Plans” means all equity plans of DBI or any Subsidiary, each as amended to date.

 

DBI Subsequent Determination” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).

 

DBI Voting Agreement” or “DBI Voting Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Deferred Payroll Taxes” means any Taxes payable by DBI or any of its Subsidiaries that (i) relates to the portion of the “payroll tax deferral period” (as defined in Section 2302(d) of the CARES Act) that occurs prior to the Closing and (ii) that is payable following the Closing as permitted by Section 2302(a) of the CARES Act, similar law or executive order (together with all regulations and guidance related thereto issued by a Governmental Authority).

 

Denmark State Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

 

Derivative Transaction” means any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction or collar transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities, bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, catastrophe events, weather-related events, credit-related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction (including any option with respect to any of these transactions) or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to any such transaction or transactions.

 

Director Restrictive Covenant Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.18.

 

Dissenting Shareholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).

 

Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(c).

 

Dodd-Frank Act” means the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

 

D&O Insurance” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(c).

 

Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).

 

Election Deadline” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(d).

 

Election Form” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

 

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“Enforceability Exception” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.05.

 

Environmental Law” means any federal, state or local Law, regulation, order, decree, permit, authorization, opinion or agency requirement currently in effect relating to: (a) pollution, the protection or restoration of the indoor or outdoor environment, human health and safety, or natural resources, (b) the handling, use, presence, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, or (c) any injury or threat of injury to persons or property in connection with any Hazardous Substance. The term Environmental Law includes, but is not limited to, the following statutes, as amended, any successor thereto, and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any state or local statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and the like addressing similar issues: (a) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1101, et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act; 42 U.S.C. § 300f, et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.; (b) common Law that may impose liability (including without limitation strict liability) or obligations for injuries or damages due to the presence of or exposure to any Hazardous Substance.

 

Equal Credit Opportunity Act” means the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, as amended.

 

ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

ERISA Affiliates” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).

 

Estimated Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c).

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(a).

 

Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a).

 

Exchange Ratio” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(ii).

 

Excluded Claim” means (i) any Claim brought by any Indemnified Party against any other Indemnified Party or BFC or its Subsidiaries (or their respective successors) or (ii) any Claim brought by BFC or its Subsidiaries (or their respective successors) against any Indemnified Party.

 

Expiration Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.01(f).

 

Fair Credit Reporting Act” means the Fair Credit Reporting Act, as amended.

 

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Fair Housing Act” means the Fair Housing Act, as amended.

 

FDIA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.27.

 

FDIC” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

 

FFIEC” means the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

 

FFCRA” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18(l).

 

Final Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(c).

 

Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).

 

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

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, applied consistently with past practice, including with respect to quantity and frequency.

 

Governmental Authority” means any U.S. or foreign federal, state or local governmental commission, board, body, bureau or other regulatory authority or agency, including, without limitation, courts and other judicial bodies, bank regulators, insurance regulators, applicable state securities authorities, the SEC, the IRS or any self-regulatory body or authority, including any instrumentality or entity designed to act for or on behalf of the foregoing.

 

Hazardous Substance” means any and all substances (whether solid, liquid or gas) defined, listed, or otherwise regulated as pollutants, hazardous wastes, hazardous substances, hazardous materials, extremely hazardous wastes, flammable or explosive materials, radioactive materials or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect under any present or future Environmental Law or that may have a negative impact on human health or the environment, including, but not limited to, petroleum and petroleum products, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, radon, radioactive materials, flammables and explosives, mold, mycotoxins, microbial matter and airborne pathogens (naturally occurring or otherwise). Hazardous Substance does not include substances of kinds and in amounts ordinarily and customarily used or stored for the purposes of cleaning or other maintenance or operations.

 

Holder” means the holder of record of shares of DBI Common Stock.

 

Home Mortgage Disclosure Act” means Home Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975, as amended.

 

Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(a).

 

Informational Systems Conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.13.

 

Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.32(a).

 

Intellectual Property” means (a) trademarks, service marks, trade names, Internet domain names, designs, logos, slogans, and general intangibles of like nature, together with all goodwill, registrations and applications related to the foregoing; (b) patents and industrial designs (including any continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, renewals, reissues, and applications for any of the foregoing); (c) copyrights (including any registrations and applications for any of the foregoing); (d) Software (excluding off-the-shelf Software); and (e) technology, trade secrets and other confidential information, know-how, proprietary processes, formulae, algorithms, models, and methodologies.

 

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IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus” means the joint proxy statement and prospectus and other proxy solicitation materials of BFC and DBI relating to the BFC Meeting and the DBI Meeting, respectively.

 

Knowledge” means, with respect to DBI, the actual knowledge, of the Persons set forth in DBI Disclosure Schedule 8.01, after due inquiry of their direct subordinates who would be likely to have knowledge of such matter, and with respect to BFC, the actual knowledge of the Persons set forth in BFC Disclosure Schedule 8.01, after due inquiry of their direct subordinates who would be likely to have knowledge of such matter.

 

Law” means any federal, state, local or foreign Law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, injunction, decree, arbitration award, agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental Authority that is applicable to the referenced Person.

 

Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.30(b).

 

Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09.

 

Liens” means any charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, restriction, claim, lien or encumbrance, conditional and installment sale agreement, charge, claim, option, rights of first refusal, encumbrances, or security interest of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any limitation on voting, sale, transfer or other disposition or exercise of any other attribute of ownership).

 

Loans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(a).

 

Mailing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

 

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Material Adverse Effect” with respect to any party means (i) any change, development or effect that individually or in the aggregate is, or is reasonably likely to be, material and adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, liquidity, assets or deposit liabilities, properties, or business of such party and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) any change, development or effect that individually or in the aggregate would, or would be reasonably likely to, materially impair the ability of such party to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise materially impairs, or is reasonably likely to materially impair, the ability of such party to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that, in the case of clause (i) only, a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the impact of (A) changes after the date of this Agreement in banking and similar Laws of general applicability or interpretations thereof by Governmental Authorities (except to the extent that such change disproportionately adversely affects DBI and its Subsidiaries or BFC and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other companies of similar size operating in the same industry in which DBI and BFC operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect will be taken into account), (B) changes after the date of this Agreement in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks or bank holding companies generally (except to the extent that such change disproportionately adversely affects DBI and its Subsidiaries or BFC and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other companies of similar size operating in the same industry in which DBI and BFC operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect will be taken into account), (C) changes after the date of this Agreement in global, national or regional political conditions (including the outbreak of war or acts of terrorism) or in economic or market (including equity, credit and debt markets, as well as changes in interest rates) conditions affecting the financial services industry generally (except to the extent that such change disproportionately adversely affects DBI and its Subsidiaries or BFC and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, compared to other companies of similar size operating in the same industry in which DBI and BFC operate, in which case only the disproportionate effect will be taken into account), (D) public disclosure of the transactions contemplated hereby or actions expressly required by this Agreement or actions or omissions that are taken with the prior written consent of the other party, or as otherwise expressly permitted or contemplated by this Agreement, (E) any failure by DBI or BFC to meet any internal or published industry analyst projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues or earnings for any period (it being understood and agreed that the facts and circumstances giving rise to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of Material Adverse Effect may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect), (F) changes in the trading price or trading volume of BFC Common Stock, and (G) the impact of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby on relationships with customers or employees (including the loss of personnel subsequent to the date of this Agreement).

 

Maximum D&O Tail Premium” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(c).

 

Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d).

 

Minimum Tangible Equity Capital” shall mean $67,565,297.

 

NASDAQ” means National Market System of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

National Labor Relations Act” means the National Labor Relations Act, as amended.

 

Non-Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(iii).

 

Notice of Superior Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).

 

Notice Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(e).

 

OCC” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).

 

Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary, usual and customary course of business of DBI and DBI’s Subsidiaries consistent with past practice, including with respect to frequency and amount.

 

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Offering Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.12.

 

OREO” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22(b).

 

Party” or “Parties” have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Per Share Amount” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(e)(iii).

 

Person” means any individual, bank, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, business trust, limited liability company, unincorporated organization or other organization or firm of any kind or nature.

 

Phase I” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01(x).

 

Plan of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.04(a).

 

PPP” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.37(b).

 

Registration Statement” means the Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be filed with the SEC by BFC in connection with the BFC Common Stock Issuance (including the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus constituting a part thereof).

 

Requesting Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.05.

 

Regulations” means the final and temporary regulations promulgated under the Code by the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Regulatory Approvals” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06(a).

 

Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval” means approval of this Agreement by a vote (in person or by proxy) of the majority of the outstanding shares of BFC Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the BFC Meeting.

 

Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval” means approval of this Agreement by a vote (in person or by proxy) of the majority of the outstanding shares of DBI Common Stock entitled to vote thereon at the DBI Meeting.

 

Representative” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(c).

 

Rights” means, with respect to any Person, warrants, options, rights, convertible securities and other arrangements or commitments which obligate the Person to issue or dispose of any of its capital stock or other ownership interests.

 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Software” means computer programs, whether in source code or object code form (including any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies), databases and compilations (including any and all data and collections of data), and all documentation (including user manuals and training materials) related to the foregoing.

 

SRO” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06.

 

Stock Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(i).

 

Stock Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03(b).

 

Stock Election Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.01(d)(i).

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any party, any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the capital stock or other ownership interest having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time directly or indirectly owned by such party. Any reference in this Agreement to a Subsidiary of DBI means, unless the context otherwise requires, any current or former Subsidiary of DBI.

 

Superior Proposal” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.09(a).

 

Surviving Bank” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.03.

 

Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Tangible Equity Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.02(b).

 

Tax” and “Taxes” shall mean all federal, state, local, and foreign taxes, charges, fees, levies, imposts, duties, or other like assessments, as well as income, gross receipts, excise, employment, sales, use, transfer, intangible, recording, license, payroll, franchise, severance, documentary, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, environmental, federal highway use, commercial rent, customs duties, capital stock, paid-up capital, profits, withholding, Social Security, single business and unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, registration, ad valorem, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated, or other tax or governmental fee of any kind whatsoever, or any amount in respect of unclaimed property or escheat, imposed by or required by a Governmental Authority to be paid or withheld, whether disputed or not, including any related interest, penalties, and additions imposed thereon or with respect thereto, and including any liability for Taxes of another Person pursuant to a contract, as a transferee or successor, under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or analogous provision of state, local or foreign Law or otherwise.

 

Tax Returns” shall mean any report, return, declaration, claim for refund, information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any associated schedules, forms, attachments or amendments and any related or supporting information, estimates, elections, or statements provided or required to be provided to a Taxing Authority in connection with Taxes, including any return of an Affiliated or combined or unitary group that includes a Party or its Subsidiaries and including without limitation any estimated Tax Return.

 

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Taxing Authority” means any Governmental Authority charged with the determination, collection, or imposition of any Tax or Taxes.

 

Terminated Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14.

 

Termination Fee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.02(a).

 

The date hereof” or “the date of this Agreement” means the date first set forth above in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Total Cash Election Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(b)(i).

 

Trading Market” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

Truth in Lending Act” means the Truth in Lending Act of 1968, as amended.

 

Unaudited Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.07(a).

 

USA PATRIOT Act” means the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

VWAP” means for any date or period, the volume weighted average price of BFC Common Stock for such date (or the nearest preceding date) or period on the Trading Market as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market on its website (based on a trading day from 9:30 a.m. (New York City time) to 4:02 p.m. (New York City time)).

 

WBCL” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01.

 

WDFI-Banking” means the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions – Division of Banking.

 

WDFI-Corporations” means the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions – Division of Corporate and Consumer Services.

 

Wisconsin Courts” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03(b).

 

Article IX

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.01      Survival.

 

No representations, warranties, agreements or covenants contained in this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time other than this Section 9.01 and any other agreements or covenants contained herein that by their express terms are to be performed after the Effective Time, including, without limitation, Section 5.10.

 

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Section 9.02      Waiver; Amendment.

 

Prior to the Effective Time and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, any provision of this Agreement may be (a) waived by the Party benefited by the provision, provided such waiver is in writing and signed by such Party, or (b) amended or modified at any time, by an agreement in writing among the Parties executed in the same manner as this Agreement, except that after the BFC Meeting or the DBI Meeting no amendment shall be made which by Law requires further approval by the shareholders of BFC or DBI, as applicable, without obtaining such approval. The waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or as a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

 

Section 9.03      Governing Law; Jurisdiction; Waiver of Right to Trial by Jury.

 

(a)            This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard for conflict of law provisions.

 

(b)            Each Party agrees that it will bring any action or proceeding in respect of any claim arising out of or related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby exclusively in any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in the State of Wisconsin (the “Wisconsin Courts”), and, solely in connection with claims arising under this Agreement or the transactions that are the subject of this Agreement, (i) irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Wisconsin Courts, (ii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such action or proceeding in the Wisconsin Courts, (iii) waives any objection that the Wisconsin Courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any party and (iv) agrees that service of process upon such party in any such action or proceeding will be effective if notice is given in accordance with Section 9.05.

 

(c)            Each Party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this Agreement is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such Party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such Party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party certifies and acknowledges that (i) no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (ii) each Party understands and has considered the implications of this waiver, (iii) each Party makes this waiver voluntarily, and (iv) each Party has been induced to enter into this Agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section 9.03.

 

Section 9.04      Expenses.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.02, each Party will bear all expenses incurred by it in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including fees and expenses of its own financial consultants, accountants and counsel. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall limit either Party’s rights to recover any liabilities or damages arising out of the other Party’s willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

 

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Section 9.05      Notices.

 

All notices, requests and other communications hereunder to a Party, shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly given if delivered (a) personally, (b) by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), with adequate postage prepaid thereon, (c) by properly addressed electronic mail delivery (with confirmation of delivery receipt), or (d) by reputable courier service to such Party at its address set forth below, or at such other address or addresses as such Party may specify from time to time by notice in like manner to the Parties. All notices shall be deemed effective upon delivery.

 

(a)             if to BFC, to:

 

Bank First Corporation
402 North 8th Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
Attn:    Michael B. Molepske, President & CEO
E-mail: mmolepske@bankfirstwi.bank

 

 with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to BFC) to:

 

Alston & Bird LLP
One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
Attn:    Mark Kanaly
E-mail: ***@***

 

(b)             if to DBI, to:

 

Denmark Bancshares, Inc.
103 E. Main Street
Denmark, WI 54208
Attn:    Scot G. Thompson
E-mail: ***@***

 

with a copy (which shall not constitute notice to DBI) to:

 

Godfrey & Kahn S.C.

833 East Michigan Street, Suite 1800

Milwaukee, WI 53202

 Attn. Patrick S. Murphy
 E-mail: ***@***

 

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Section 9.06      Entire Understanding; No Third Party Beneficiaries.

 

This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the Parties and thereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made. Except for the Indemnified Parties’ rights under Section 5.10, BFC and DBI hereby agree that their respective representations, warranties and covenants set forth herein are solely for the benefit of the other Party, in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Agreement, and this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, confer upon any Person (including any person or employees who might be affected by Section 5.11), other than the Parties, any rights or remedies hereunder, including, the right to rely upon the representations and warranties set forth herein. The representations and warranties in this Agreement are the product of negotiations between the Parties and are for the sole benefit of the Parties. Consequently, Persons other than the Parties may not rely upon the representations and warranties in this Agreement as characterizations of actual facts or circumstances as of the date of this Agreement or as of any other date.

 

Section 9.07      Severability.

 

In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the Parties will use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.08      Enforcement of the Agreement.

 

The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction without having to show or prove economic damages and without the requirement of posting a bond, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

Section 9.09      Interpretation.

 

(a)            When a reference is made in this Agreement to sections, exhibits or schedules, such reference shall be to a section of, or exhibit or schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and captions and headings contained in this Agreement are included solely for convenience of reference; if there is any conflict between a caption or heading and the text of this Agreement, the text shall control. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”

 

(b)           The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and the other agreements and documents contemplated herein. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises under any provision of this Agreement or any other agreement or document contemplated herein, this Agreement and such other agreements or documents shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of authorizing any of the provisions of this Agreement or any other agreements or documents contemplated herein.

 

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(c)            The DBI Disclosure Schedule and the BFC Disclosure Schedule, as well as all other schedules and all exhibits to this Agreement, shall be deemed part of this Agreement and included in any reference to this Agreement. Any matter disclosed pursuant to any section of either Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed disclosed for purposes of any other section of Article III or Article IV, respectively, to the extent that applicability of the disclosure to such other section is reasonably apparent on the face, notwithstanding the absence of a specific cross-reference, of such disclosure. No item is required to be set forth in either Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty if its absence would not result in the related representation or warranty being deemed untrue or incorrect. The mere inclusion of an item in either Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall not be deemed an admission by either party that such item represents a material exception or fact, event or circumstance or that such item is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or that any breach or violation of applicable Laws or any contract exists or has actually occurred. This Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed to require any person to take any action, or fail to take any action, if to do so would violate any applicable Law.

 

(d)           Any reference contained in this Agreement to specific statutory or regulatory provisions or to any specific Governmental Authority shall include any successor statute or regulation, or successor Governmental Authority, as the case may be. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the masculine, feminine, and neuter genders will be deemed to be interchangeable, and the singular includes the plural and vice versa. As used herein, (i) the term “made available” means any document or other information that was (a) provided by one party or its representatives to the other party or its representatives prior to the date hereof or (b) included in the virtual data room of a party prior to the date hereof, and (ii) the word “or” is not exclusive.

 

(e)            Unless otherwise specified, the references to “Section” and “Article” in this Agreement are to the Sections and Article of this Agreement. When used in this Agreement, words such as “herein”, “hereinafter”, “hereof”, “hereto”, and “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

Section 9.10      Assignment.

 

No Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Party, and any purported assignment in violation of this Section 9.10 shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

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Section 9.11      Counterparts.

 

This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed in counterparts by their duly authorized officers, all as of the day and year first above written.

 

  BANK FIRST CORPORATION
   
   
  By:   /s/ Michael B. Molepske
  Name:   Michael B. Molepske
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
   
   
  DENMARK BANCSHARES, INC.
   
   
  By:   /s/ Scot G. Thompson
  Name: Scot G. Thompson
  Title: President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of DBI Voting Agreement

 

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 18, 2022, by and between the undersigned holder (“Shareholder”) of common stock of Denmark Bancshares, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (“DBI”), and Bank First Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (“BFC”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, BFC and DBI are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) DBI will merge with and into BFC, with BFC as the surviving entity, and (ii) Denmark State Bank, a Wisconsin state chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of DBI will merge with and into Bank First, N.A. (“Bank First”), a national banking association and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BFC, with Bank First as the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”), and in connection with the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock of DBI, no par value per share (“DBI Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares of BFC Common Stock;

 

WHEREAS, Shareholder “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or direct the disposition of) and to vote (or direct the voting of) directly or indirectly the number of shares of DBI Common Stock indicated on the signature page of this Agreement under the heading “Total Number of Shares of DBI Common Stock Subject to this Agreement;” provided, that such shares do not include shares beneficially owned by Shareholder but subject to the voting direction of a third party with regard to voting on the Merger (such shares, together with any additional shares of DBI Common Stock subsequently acquired by Shareholder during the term of this Agreement, including through the exercise of any stock option or other equity award, warrant or similar instrument, being referred to collectively as the “Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, it is a material inducement to the willingness of BFC to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of, and as a material inducement to, BFC entering into the Merger Agreement and proceeding with the transactions contemplated thereby, and in consideration of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by BFC in connection therewith, Shareholder and BFC agree as follows:

 

1

 

 

Section 1.          Agreement to Vote Shares. Shareholder agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of shareholders of DBI, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances in which Shareholder is entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval, except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by BFC, Shareholder shall:

 

(a)            appear at each such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and

 

(b)            vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, all the Shares as to which the Shareholder has, directly or indirectly, the right to vote or direct the voting, (i) in favor of adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including any amendments or modifications of the terms thereof approved by the board of directors of DBI and adopted in accordance with the terms thereof); (ii) in favor of any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies to approve the Merger Agreement; (iii) against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of DBI contained in the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder contained in this Agreement; and (iv) against any Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or any other action, agreement or transaction that is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to impede, interfere or be inconsistent with, delay, postpone, discourage or materially and adversely affect consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or this Agreement.

 

Shareholder further agrees not to vote or execute any written consent to rescind or amend in any manner any prior vote or written consent, as a shareholder of DBI, to approve or adopt the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 2.          No Transfers. Until the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6 and (ii) receipt of the Requisite DBI Shareholder Approval, Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, any of the Shares, except the following transfers shall be permitted: (a) transfers by will or operation of Law, in which case this Agreement shall bind the transferee, (b) transfers pursuant to any pledge agreement, subject to the pledgee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (c) transfers in connection with estate and tax planning purposes, including transfers to relatives, trusts and charitable organizations, subject to each transferee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and (d) such transfers as BFC may otherwise permit in its sole discretion. Any transfer or other disposition in violation of the terms of this Section 2 shall be null and void.

 

Section 3.          Representations and Warranties of Shareholder. Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with BFC as follows:

 

(a)            Shareholder has all requisite capacity and authority to enter into and perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)            This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Shareholder, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by BFC, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Shareholder enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

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(c)            The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance by Shareholder of his, her or its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate or conflict with, or constitute a default under, any agreement, instrument, contract or other obligation or any order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Shareholder is a party or by which Shareholder is bound, or any statute, rule or regulation to which Shareholder is subject or, in the event that Shareholder is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, any charter, bylaw or other organizational document of Shareholder.

 

(d)            Shareholder is the record and beneficial owner of, or is the trustee that is the record holder of, and whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, and has good title to all of the Shares, and the Shares are owned free and clear of any liens, security interests, charges or other encumbrances. The Shares do not include shares over which Shareholder exercises control in a fiduciary capacity for any other person or entity that is not an Affiliate of Shareholder, and no representation by Shareholder is made with respect thereto. Shareholder has the right to vote the Shares, and none of the Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting of the Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of capital stock of DBI other than the Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock.

 

Section 4.          No Solicitation. From and after the date hereof until the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 6, Shareholder, in his, her or its capacity as a shareholder of DBI, shall not, nor shall such Shareholder authorize any partner, officer, director, advisor or representative of, such Shareholder or any of his, her or its Affiliates to, directly or indirectly (and, to the extent applicable to Shareholder, such Shareholder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prohibit any of his, her or its representatives or Affiliates to), (a) initiate, solicit, induce or knowingly encourage, or take any action to facilitate the making of, any inquiry, offer or proposal which constitutes, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (b) except in his capacity as a director or officer of DBI and under circumstances for which such actions are permitted for DBI under the Merger Agreement, participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding any Acquisition Proposal or furnish, or otherwise afford access, to any person (other than BFC) any information or data with respect to DBI or otherwise relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (c) enter into any agreement, agreement in principle or letter of intent with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or approve or resolve to approve any Acquisition Proposal or any agreement, agreement in principle or letter of intent relating to an Acquisition Proposal, (d) solicit proxies with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (other than the Merger Agreement) or otherwise encourage or assist any party in taking or planning any action that would compete with, restrain or otherwise serve to interfere with or inhibit the timely consummation of the Merger in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement, or (e) initiate a shareholders’ vote or action by consent of DBI’s shareholders with respect to an Acquisition Proposal.

 

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Section 5.          Specific Performance; Remedies; Attorneys’ Fees. Shareholder acknowledges that it is a condition to the willingness of BFC to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement and that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to BFC if Shareholder fails to comply with the obligations imposed by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, BFC will not have an adequate remedy at law or in equity. Accordingly, Shareholder agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that BFC has an adequate remedy at Law. Shareholder further agrees that Shareholder will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection with BFC’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief. In addition, after discussing the matter with Shareholder, BFC shall have the right to inform any third party that BFC reasonably believes to be, or to be contemplating, participating with Shareholder or receiving from Shareholder assistance in violation of this Agreement, of the terms of this Agreement and of the rights of BFC hereunder, and that participation by any such persons with Shareholder in activities in violation of Shareholder’s agreement with BFC set forth in this Agreement may give rise to claims by BFC against such third party.

 

Section 6.          Term of Agreement; Termination. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement by the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto, and shall be automatically terminated upon the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) the amendment of the Merger Agreement in any manner that materially and adversely affects any of Shareholder’s rights set forth therein (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any reduction to the Merger Consideration), (c) termination of the Merger Agreement or (d) three (3) years from the date hereof. Upon such termination, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

Section 7.          Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.

 

Section 8.          Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by each party. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time.

 

Section 9.          Severability. In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.

 

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Section 10.        Capacity as Shareholder. This Agreement shall apply to Shareholder solely in his, her or its capacity as a shareholder of DBI and it shall not apply in any manner to Shareholder in his, her or its capacity as a director of DBI, if applicable. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to apply to, or limit in any manner, the obligations of Shareholder to comply with his, her or its fiduciary duties as a director of DBI, if applicable.

 

Section 11.        Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard for conflict of law provisions.

 

Section 12.        Jurisdiction. Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Wisconsin in Manitowoc County or the United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Wisconsin court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Wisconsin court. Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.

 

Section 13.        WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 13.

 

Section 14.        Waiver of Appraisal Rights; Further Assurances. To the extent permitted by applicable law, Shareholder hereby waives any rights of appraisal or rights to dissent from the Merger or demand fair value for his, her or its Shares in connection with the Merger, in each case, that Shareholder may have under applicable law. From time to time prior to the termination of this Agreement, at BFC’s request and without further consideration, Shareholder shall execute and deliver such additional documents and take all such further action as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to effect the actions and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder further agrees not to commence or participate in, and to take all actions necessary to opt out of any class in any class action with respect to, any claim, derivative or otherwise, against BFC, Bank First, DBI, Denmark State Bank or any of their respective successors relating to the negotiation, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Merger Agreement or the consummation of the Merger.

 

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Section 15.        Disclosure. Shareholder hereby authorizes DBI and BFC to publish and disclose in any announcement or disclosure required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and in the Joint Proxy Statement-Prospectus such Shareholder’s identity and ownership of the Shares and the nature of Shareholder’s obligations under this Agreement; provided, however, that BFC shall provide Shareholder written drafts of any such disclosure and consider in good faith Shareholder’s comments thereto.

 

Section 16.        Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BANK FIRST CORPORATION
  
 By:  
 Name: Michael B. Molepske
 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 SHAREHOLDER
  
  

 

Total Number of Shares of DBI Common Stock Subject to this Agreement:
  
 Class A:
  
 Class B:

 

Signature Page to DBI Voting Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit B

 

Form of BFC Voting Agreement

 

THIS VOTING AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of January 18, 2022, by and between the undersigned holder (“Shareholder”) of common stock of Bank First Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (“BFC”), and Denmark Bancshares, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (“DBI”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, BFC and DBI are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) DBI will merge with and into BFC, with BFC as the surviving entity, and (ii) Denmark State Bank, a Wisconsin state chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of DBI will merge with and into Bank First, N.A. (“Bank First”), a national banking association and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BFC, with Bank First as the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”), and in connection with the Merger, each outstanding share of common stock of DBI, no par value per share (“DBI Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration and cash in lieu of fractional shares of BFC Common Stock;

 

WHEREAS, Shareholder “beneficially owns” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) and is entitled to dispose of (or direct the disposition of) and to vote (or direct the voting of) directly or indirectly the number of shares of BFC Common Stock indicated on the signature page of this Agreement under the heading “Total Number of Shares of BFC Common Stock Subject to this Agreement;” provided, that such shares do not include shares beneficially owned by Shareholder but subject to the voting direction of a third party with regard to voting on the Merger (such shares, together with any additional shares of BFC Common Stock subsequently acquired by Shareholder during the term of this Agreement, including through the exercise of any stock option or other equity award, warrant or similar instrument, being referred to collectively as the “Shares”); and

 

WHEREAS, it is a material inducement to the willingness of DBI to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of, and as a material inducement to, DBI entering into the Merger Agreement and proceeding with the transactions contemplated thereby, and in consideration of the expenses incurred and to be incurred by DBI in connection therewith, Shareholder and DBI agree as follows:

 

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Section 1.         Agreement to Vote Shares. Shareholder agrees that, while this Agreement is in effect, at any meeting of shareholders of BFC, however called, or at any adjournment thereof, or in any other circumstances in which Shareholder is entitled to vote, consent or give any other approval, except as otherwise agreed to in writing in advance by DBI, Shareholder shall:

 

(a)            appear at each such meeting in person or by proxy or otherwise cause the Shares to be counted as present thereat for purposes of calculating a quorum; and

 

(b)            vote (or cause to be voted), in person or by proxy, all the Shares as to which the Shareholder has, directly or indirectly, the right to vote or direct the voting, (i) in favor of adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby (including any amendments or modifications of the terms thereof approved by the board of directors of BFC and adopted in accordance with the terms thereof); (ii) in favor of any proposal to adjourn or postpone such meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies to approve the Merger Agreement; and (iii) against any action or agreement that would result in a breach of any covenant, representation or warranty or any other obligation or agreement of BFC contained in the Merger Agreement or of Shareholder contained in this Agreement.

 

Shareholder further agrees not to vote or execute any written consent to rescind or amend in any manner any prior vote or written consent, as a shareholder of BFC, to approve or adopt the Merger Agreement unless this Agreement shall have been terminated in accordance with its terms.

 

Section 2.         No Transfers. Until the earlier of (i) the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 5 and (ii) receipt of the Requisite BFC Shareholder Approval, Shareholder agrees not to, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract option, commitment or other arrangement or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, any of the Shares, except the following transfers shall be permitted: (a) transfers by will or operation of Law, in which case this Agreement shall bind the transferee, (b) transfers pursuant to any pledge agreement, subject to the pledgee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, (c) transfers in connection with estate and tax planning purposes, including transfers to relatives, trusts and charitable organizations, subject to each transferee agreeing in writing, prior to such transfer, to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and (d) such transfers as DBI may otherwise permit in its sole discretion. Any transfer or other disposition in violation of the terms of this Section 2 shall be null and void.

 

Section 3.         Representations and Warranties of Shareholder. Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with DBI as follows:

 

(a)            Shareholder has all requisite capacity and authority to enter into and perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.

 

(b)            This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Shareholder, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by DBI, constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of Shareholder enforceable against Shareholder in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

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(c)            The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Shareholder does not, and the performance by Shareholder of his, her or its obligations hereunder and the consummation by Shareholder of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, violate or conflict with, or constitute a default under, any agreement, instrument, contract or other obligation or any order, arbitration award, judgment or decree to which Shareholder is a party or by which Shareholder is bound, or any statute, rule or regulation to which Shareholder is subject or, in the event that Shareholder is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, any charter, bylaw or other organizational document of Shareholder.

 

(d)            Shareholder is the record and beneficial owner of, or is the trustee that is the record holder of, and whose beneficiaries are the beneficial owners of, and has good title to all of the Shares, and the Shares are owned free and clear of any liens, security interests, charges or other encumbrances. The Shares do not include shares over which Shareholder exercises control in a fiduciary capacity for any other person or entity that is not an Affiliate of Shareholder, and no representation by Shareholder is made with respect thereto. Shareholder has the right to vote the Shares, and none of the Shares is subject to any voting trust or other agreement, arrangement or restriction with respect to the voting of the Shares, except as contemplated by this Agreement. Shareholder does not own, of record or beneficially, any shares of capital stock of BFC other than the Shares or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, other than any restricted stock issued by BFC.

 

Section 4.         Specific Performance; Remedies; Attorneys’ Fees. Shareholder acknowledges that it is a condition to the willingness of DBI to enter into the Merger Agreement that Shareholder execute and deliver this Agreement and that it will be impossible to measure in money the damage to DBI if Shareholder fails to comply with the obligations imposed by this Agreement and that, in the event of any such failure, DBI will not have an adequate remedy at law or in equity. Accordingly, Shareholder agrees that injunctive relief or other equitable remedy is the appropriate remedy for any such failure and will not oppose the granting of such relief on the basis that DBI has an adequate remedy at Law. Shareholder further agrees that Shareholder will not seek, and agrees to waive any requirement for, the securing or posting of a bond in connection with DBI’s seeking or obtaining such equitable relief. In addition, after discussing the matter with Shareholder, DBI shall have the right to inform any third party that DBI reasonably believes to be, or to be contemplating, participating with Shareholder or receiving from Shareholder assistance in violation of this Agreement, of the terms of this Agreement and of the rights of DBI hereunder, and that participation by any such persons with Shareholder in activities in violation of Shareholder’s agreement with DBI set forth in this Agreement may give rise to claims by DBI against such third party.

 

Section 5.         Term of Agreement; Termination. The term of this Agreement shall commence on the date hereof. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement by the mutual written agreement of the parties hereto, and shall be automatically terminated upon the earlier to occur of (a) the Effective Time, (b) the amendment of the Merger Agreement in any manner that materially changes the terms of the Merger Agreement, (c) termination of the Merger Agreement or (d) three (3) years from the date hereof. Upon such termination, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder; provided, however, that such termination shall not relieve any party from liability for any breach of this Agreement prior to such termination.

 

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Section 6.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.

 

Section 7.         Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by each party. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time.

 

Section 8.         Severability. In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.

 

Section 9.         Capacity as Shareholder. This Agreement shall apply to Shareholder solely in his, her or its capacity as a shareholder of BFC and it shall not apply in any manner to Shareholder in his, her or its capacity as a director of BFC, if applicable. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to apply to, or limit in any manner, the obligations of Shareholder to comply with his, her or its fiduciary duties as a director of BFC, if applicable.

 

Section 10.       Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard for conflict of law provisions.

 

Section 11.        Jurisdiction. Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Wisconsin in Manitowoc County or the United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Wisconsin court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Wisconsin court. Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.

 

Section 12.       WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE EACH SUCH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER, (B) EACH PARTY UNDERSTANDS AND HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) EACH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) EACH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 12.

 

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Section 13.       Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

DENMARK BANCSHARES, INC.
  
 By:  
 Name: Scot Thompson
 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 SHAREHOLDER
  
  

 

Total Number of Shares of BFC Common Stock Subject to this Agreement:
  
  

 

Signature Page to BFC Voting Agreement

 

 

 

 

Exhibit C

 

Form of Bank Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement

 

PLAN OF MERGER AND MERGER AGREEMENT

DENMARK STATE BANK

with and into

BANK FIRST, N.A.

under the charter of

BANK FIRST, N.A.

under the title of

“BANK FIRST, N.A.”

(“Resulting Bank”)

 

THIS PLAN OF MERGER AND MERGER AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of January 18, 2022, by and between Bank First, N.A. (“Bank First”), a national banking association, with its main office located at 402 North 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220, and Denmark State Bank, a Wisconsin state-chartered bank, with its main office located at 103 Main Street, Denmark WI 54208 (“Denmark State Bank,” and together with Bank First, the “Banks”).

 

WHEREAS, at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors of Bank First has approved this Agreement and authorized its execution pursuant to the authority given by and in accordance with the provisions of The National Bank Act (the “Act”);

 

WHEREAS, at least a majority of the entire Board of Directors of Denmark State Bank has approved this Agreement and authorized its execution in accordance Wisconsin Statutes § ###-###-#### and the Act;

 

WHEREAS, Bank First Corporation (“BFC”), which owns all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Bank First, and Denmark Bancshares, Inc. (“DBI”), which owns all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Denmark State Bank, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Holding Company Agreement”) which, among other things, contemplates the merger of DBI with and into BFC, all subject to the terms and conditions of such Holding Company Agreement (the “Holding Company Merger”)

 

WHEREAS, BFC, as the sole shareholder of Bank First, and DBI, as the sole shareholder of Denmark State Bank, have approved this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, each of the Banks is entering into this Agreement to provide for the merger of Denmark State Bank with and into Bank First, with Bank First being the surviving bank (“Resulting Bank”) of such merger transaction (the “Bank Merger”) subject to, and as soon as practicable following, the closing of the Holding Company Merger.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

 

 

 

SECTION 1

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined below) and pursuant to the Act and the provisions of Section 18(c) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1828(c)), Denmark State Bank shall be merged with and into Bank First. Bank First shall continue its existence as the Resulting Bank under the charter of the Resulting Bank and the separate corporate existence of Denmark State Bank shall cease. The closing of the Bank Merger shall become effective at the time specified in the certificate of merger issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”) in connection with the Bank Merger (such date and time when the Bank Merger becomes effective, the “Effective Time”).

 

SECTION 2

 

The name of the Resulting Bank shall be “Bank First, N.A.” or such other name as such bank may adopt prior to the Effective Time. The Resulting Bank will exercise trust powers.

 

SECTION 3

 

The business of the Resulting Bank from and after the Effective Time shall be that of a national banking association. The business of the Resulting Bank shall be conducted from its main office which shall be located at 402 North 8th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220, as well as at its legally established branches and at the banking offices of Denmark State Bank that are acquired in the Bank Merger (which such banking offices are set forth on Exhibit A to this Agreement and shall continue to conduct operations after the closing of the Bank Merger as branch offices of Bank First).

 

SECTION 4

 

At the Effective Time, the amount of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Resulting Bank shall be the amount of capital stock of Bank First issued and outstanding immediately prior to Effective Time. Preferred stock shall not be issued by the Resulting Bank.

 

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SECTION 5

 

All assets of Denmark State Bank and the Resulting Bank, as they exist at the Effective Time, shall pass to and vest in the Resulting Bank without any conveyance or other transfer; and the Resulting Bank shall be considered the same business and corporate entity as each constituent bank with all the rights, powers and duties of each constituent bank and the Resulting Bank shall be responsible for all the liabilities of every kind and description of each of Denmark State Bank and the Resulting Bank existing as of the Effective Time, all in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

 

SECTION 6

 

The Banks shall contribute to the Resulting Bank acceptable assets having a book value, over and above liability to its creditors, in such amounts as set forth on the books of Bank First and Denmark State Bank at the Effective Time.

 

SECTION 7

 

At the Effective Time, each outstanding share of common stock of Denmark State Bank shall be cancelled with no consideration being paid therefor.

 

Outstanding certificates representing shares of the common stock of Denmark State Bank shall, at the Effective Time, be cancelled.

 

SECTION 8

 

Upon the Effective Time, the then outstanding shares of Bank First’s common stock shall continue to remain outstanding shares of Bank First’s common stock, all of which shall continue to be owned by BFC.

 

SECTION 9

 

The directors of the Resulting Bank following the Effective Time shall consist of those directors of Bank First as of the Effective Time, who shall serve until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. The executive officers of the Resulting Bank following the Effective Time shall consist of those executive officers of Bank First as of the Effective Time, who shall serve until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

SECTION 10

 

This Agreement and consummation of the Bank Merger in accordance with the terms hereof is also subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

a)The Holding Company Merger shall have closed and become effective.

 

b)The OCC shall have approved this Agreement and the Bank Merger and shall have issued all other necessary authorizations and approvals for the Bank Merger, and any statutory waiting period shall have expired.

 

c)The Bank Merger may be abandoned at the election of Bank First at any time, whether before or after filings are made for regulatory approval of the Bank Merger.

 

SECTION 11

 

Each of the Banks hereby invites and authorizes the OCC to examine each of the Bank’s records in connection with the Bank Merger.

 

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SECTION 12

 

Effective as of the Effective Time, the articles of association and bylaws of the Resulting Bank shall consist of the articles of association and bylaws of Bank First as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.

 

SECTION 13

 

This Agreement shall terminate if and at the time of any termination of the Holding Company Agreement.

 

SECTION 14

 

This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding of the Banks with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, and supersedes all other prior commitments, arrangements or understandings, both oral and written, among the Banks with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

The provisions of this Agreement are intended to be interpreted and construed in a manner so as to make such provisions valid, binding and enforceable. In the event that any provision of this Agreement is determined to be partially or wholly invalid, illegal or unenforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be modified or restricted to the extent necessary to make such provision valid, binding and enforceable, or, if such provision cannot be modified or restricted in a manner so as to make such provision valid, binding and enforceable, then such provision shall be deemed to be excised from this Agreement and the validity, binding effect and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected or impaired in any manner.

 

No waiver, amendment, modification or change of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless and until made in writing and signed by the Banks. No waiver, forbearance or failure by any Bank of its rights to enforce any provision of this Agreement shall constitute a waiver or estoppel of such Bank’s right to enforce any other provision of this Agreement or a continuing waiver by such Bank of compliance with any provision hereof.

 

Except to the extent federal law is applicable, this Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Wisconsin without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.

 

This Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the Banks’ respective successors and permitted assigns. Unless otherwise expressly stated herein, this Agreement shall not benefit or create any right of action in or on behalf of any person or entity other than the Banks.

 

This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including by facsimile or optically-scanned electronic mail attachment), each of which shall be deemed to be original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

[Signatures on Following Page]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Denmark State Bank and Bank First have entered into this Agreement as of the date first set forth above.

 

DENMARK STATE BANK
  
 By:  
 Name: Scot Thompson
 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

BANK FIRST, N.A., A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION
  
 By:
   Name: Michael B. Molepske
   Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

[Signature Page to Bank Plan of Merger and Merger Agreement]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A 

Banking Offices of the Resulting Bank

 

[To be completed prior to filing.]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit D

 

Form of Director Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement

 

This Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement (the “Agreement”), is dated as of January 18, 2022, by and between ________________________, an individual resident of the State of Wisconsin (“Director”), and Bank First Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (“BFC”). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Merger Agreement (defined below).

 

RECITALS:

 

WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, BFC and Denmark Bancshares, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (“DBI”), are entering into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (as such agreement may be subsequently amended or modified, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which (i) DBI will merge with and into BFC, with BFC as the surviving entity, and (ii) Denmark State Bank, a Wisconsin state-chartered bank and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of DBI, will merge with and into Bank First, N.A., a national banking association and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of BFC (“Bank First”), with Bank First as the surviving bank (collectively, the “Merger”);

 

WHEREAS, Director is a shareholder of DBI and, as a result of the Merger and pursuant to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Director is expected to receive significant consideration in exchange for the shares of DBI Common Stock held by Director;

 

WHEREAS, as of and prior to the date hereof, Director serves and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of DBI or Denmark State Bank, and, therefore, Director has knowledge of the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets (each as hereinafter defined);

 

WHEREAS, as a result of the Merger, BFC will succeed to all of the Confidential Information and Trade Secrets, for which BFC as of the Effective Time will have paid valuable consideration and desires reasonable protection; and

 

WHEREAS, it is a material prerequisite to the consummation of the Merger that each director of DBI and Denmark State Bank, including Director, enter into this Agreement.

 

AGREEMENT:

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of these premises and the mutual covenants and undertakings herein contained, BFC and Director, each intending to be legally bound, covenant and agree as follows:

 

Section 1.         Restrictive Covenants.

 

(a)            Director acknowledges that (i) BFC has separately bargained for the restrictive covenants in this Agreement; and (ii) the types and periods of restrictions imposed by the covenants in this Agreement are fair and reasonable to Director and such restrictions will not prevent Director from earning a livelihood.

 

 

 

 

(b)            Having acknowledged the foregoing, solely in the event that the Merger is consummated, Director covenants and agrees with BFC as follows:

 

(i)            From and after the Effective Time, Director will not disclose or use any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets for so long as such information remains Confidential Information or a Trade Secret, as applicable, for any purpose, except for any disclosure that is required by applicable Law. In the event that Director is required by Law to disclose any Confidential Information, Director will: (A) if and to the extent permitted by such Law, provide BFC with prompt notice of such requirement prior to the disclosure so that BFC may waive the requirements of this Agreement or seek an appropriate protective order at BFC’s sole expense; and (B) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that any Confidential Information disclosed will be accorded confidential treatment. If, in the absence of a waiver or protective order, Director is nonetheless, in the opinion of his or her counsel, required to disclose Confidential Information, disclosure may be made only as to that portion of the Confidential Information that counsel advises Director is required to be disclosed.

 

(ii)            Except as expressly provided on Schedule I to this Agreement, for a period beginning at the Effective Time and ending two (2) years after the Effective Time, Director will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of BFC), on Director’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit or attempt to solicit any customer of BFC, Bank First, DBI or Denmark State Bank (each a “Protected Party”), including actively sought prospective customers of Denmark State Bank as of the Effective Time, for the purpose of providing products or services that are Competitive (as hereinafter defined) with those offered or provided by any Protected Party.

 

(iii)            Except as expressly provided on Schedule I to this Agreement, for a period beginning at the Effective Time and ending two (2) years after the Effective Time, Director will not (except on behalf of or with the prior written consent of BFC), either directly or indirectly, on Director’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, act as a director, manager, officer or employee of any business which is the same as or essentially the same as the business conducted by any Protected Party and which has an office located within the Restricted Territory.

 

(iv)            For a period beginning at the Effective Time and ending two (2) years after the Effective Time, Director will not, on Director’s own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit or recruit or attempt to solicit or recruit, directly or by assisting others, any employee of any Protected Party, whether or not such employee is a full-time employee or a temporary employee of such Protected Party, whether or not such employment is pursuant to a written agreement and whether or not such employment is for a determined period or is at will, to cease working for such Protected Party; provided that the foregoing will not prevent the placement of any general solicitation for employment not specifically directed towards employees of any Protected Party or hiring any such person as a result thereof.

 

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(c)            For purposes of this Section 1, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below:

 

(i)            “Competitive,” with respect to particular products or services, means products or services that are the same as or similar to the products or services of any Protected Party.

 

(ii)            “Confidential Information” means data and information:

 

(A)            relating to the business of DBI and its Subsidiaries, including Denmark State Bank, regardless of whether the data or information constitutes a Trade Secret;

 

(B)            disclosed to Director or of which Director became aware as a consequence of Director’s relationship with DBI and/or Denmark State Bank;

 

(C)            having value to DBI and/or Denmark State Bank and, as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, BFC and/or Bank First; and

 

(D)            not generally known to competitors of DBI or BFC (including competitors to Denmark State Bank or Bank First).

 

Confidential Information shall include Trade Secrets, methods of operation, names of customers, price lists, financial information and projections, personnel data and similar information; provided, however, that the terms “Confidential Information” and “Trade Secrets” shall not mean data or information that (x) has been disclosed to the public, except where such public disclosure has been made by Director without authorization from DBI or BFC, (y) has been independently developed and disclosed by others, or (z) has otherwise entered the public domain through lawful means.

 

(iii)            “Restricted Territory” means each county in Wisconsin where Denmark State Bank operates a banking office at the Effective Time and each county contiguous to each of such counties.

 

(iv)            “Trade Secret” means information, without regard to form, including technical or nontechnical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, financial data, financial plans, product plans or a list of actual or potential customers or suppliers, that is not commonly known by or available to the public and which information:

 

(A)            derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use; and

 

(B)            is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.

 

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(d)            Director acknowledges that irreparable loss and injury would result to BFC upon the breach of any of the covenants contained in this Section 1 and that damages arising out of such breach would be difficult to ascertain. Director hereby agrees that, in addition to all other remedies provided at law or in equity, BFC may petition and obtain from a court of law or equity, without the necessity of proving actual damages and without posting any bond or other security, both temporary and permanent injunctive relief to prevent a breach by Director of any covenant contained in this Section 1, and shall be entitled to an equitable accounting of all earnings, profits and other benefits arising out of any such breach. In the event that the provisions of this Section 1 should ever be determined to exceed the time, geographic or other limitations permitted by applicable Law, then such provisions shall be modified so as to be enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by Law. If such provision(s) cannot be modified to be enforceable, the provision(s) shall be severed from this Agreement to the extent unenforceable. The remaining provisions and any partially enforceable provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 2.         Term; Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by the written consent of the parties hereto, and this Agreement shall be automatically terminated upon the earlier of (i) termination of the Merger Agreement; (ii) two (2) years following the Effective Time or (iii) upon a Change in Control of BFC (as defined in Schedule I). For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of Section 1 shall only become operative upon the consummation of the Merger but, in such event, shall survive the consummation of the Merger until the earlier of (a) two (2) years after the Effective Time or (b) upon a Change in Control of BFC. Upon termination of this Agreement, no party shall have any further obligations or liabilities hereunder, except that termination of this Agreement will not relieve a breaching party from liability for any breach of any provision of this Agreement occurring prior to the termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 3.         Notices. All notices, requests and other communications hereunder to a party shall be in writing and shall be deemed properly given if delivered (a) personally, (b) by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), with adequate postage prepaid thereon, (c) by properly addressed electronic mail delivery (with confirmation of delivery receipt), or (d) by reputable courier service to such party at its address set forth below, or at such other address or addresses as such party may specify from time to time by notice in like manner to the parties hereto. All notices shall be deemed effective upon delivery.

 

If to BFC:Bank First Corporation
 402 North 8th Street
 Manitowoc, WI 54220
 Attn: Michael B. Molepske,
   President and CEO
 E-mail: mmolepske@bankfirstwi.bank
  
If to Director:The address of Director’s principal residence as it appears in DBI’s records as of the date hereof, as subsequently modified by Director’s provision of notice regarding the same to BFC.

 

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Section 4.         Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard for conflict of law provisions. Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Wisconsin in Manitowoc County or the United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Wisconsin court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Wisconsin court. Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable Laws.

 

Section 5.         Modification and Waiver. No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Director and BFC. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or any prior subsequent time.

 

Section 6.         Severability. In the event that any one or more provisions of this Agreement shall for any reason be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Agreement and the parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to substitute a valid, legal and enforceable provision which, insofar as practical, implements the purposes and intents of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.         Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed and delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file and in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other party, it being understood that all parties need not sign the same counterpart. Signatures delivered by facsimile or by electronic data file shall have the same effect as originals.

 

Section 8.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the parties hereto with reference to the transactions contemplated hereby, and this Agreement supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made.

 

Section 9.         Construction; Interpretation. Whenever the singular number is used in this Agreement and when required by the context, the same shall include the plural and vice versa, and the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders and vice versa. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and are in no way intended to describe, interpret, define or limit the scope, extent or intent of this Agreement or any of its provisions.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

BANK FIRST CORPORATION
  
 By:  
 Name: Michael B. Molepske
 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 DIRECTOR
  
  
  

 

Signature Page – Non-Competition and Non-Disclosure Agreement

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

For avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree that the restrictions set forth in Sections 1(b) (ii) and (iii) shall not apply to any of the following activities of Director:

 

1.The provision of legal services by Director to any Person.
2.The offer and sale of insurance products by Director to any Person.
3.The provision of investment advisory and brokerage services by Director to any Person.
4.The provision of private equity/venture capital financing by Director to any Person.
5.The provision of accounting services by Director to any Person.
6.The ownership of 5% or less of any class of securities of any Person.
7.The provision of automobile financing in connection with the operation of auto dealerships.
8.Obtaining banking-related services or products for entities owned or controlled by the Director.
9.Referrals of clients or obtaining banking-related services in connection with the conduct of real estate or mortgage broker businesses.
10.Activities that are incidental to the Director’s performance of his or her profession so long as such activities are not a scheme to circumvent the restrictions contained in this Agreement.

 

For the purposes of this agreement, “Change in Control of BFC” means (a) any person or group of persons within the meaning of §13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities of BFC, or (b) individuals serving on the board of directors of BFC cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the board of directors of BFC.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit E

 

Form of Claims Letter

 

January 18, 2022

 

Bank First Corporation

402 North 8th Street

Manitowoc, WI 54220

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter is delivered pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 18, 2022 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and between Bank First Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (“BFC”), and Denmark Bancshares, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation (“DBI”).

 

Concerning any claims which the undersigned may have against DBI or any of its subsidiaries, including Denmark State Bank (each, a “DBI Entity”), in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee of any DBI Entity, and in consideration of the promises and the mutual covenants contained herein and in the Merger Agreement and the mutual benefits to be derived hereunder and thereunder, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are acknowledged, the undersigned, intending to be legally bound, hereby agrees as follows:

 

Section 1.         Definitions. Unless otherwise defined in this letter, capitalized terms used in this letter have the meanings given to them in the Merger Agreement.

 

Section 2.         Release of Certain Claims.

 

(a)            The undersigned hereby releases and forever discharges, effective upon the consummation of the Merger pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each DBI Entity, and each of their respective directors and officers (in their capacities as such), and their respective successors and assigns, and each of them (hereinafter, individually and collectively, the “Released Parties”) of and from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, debts, accounts, covenants, agreements, obligations, costs, expenses, actions or causes of action of every nature, character or description (collectively, “Claims”), which the undersigned, solely in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee of any DBI Entity has or claims to have, or previously had or claimed to have, in each case as of the Effective Time, against any of the Released Parties, whether or not in law, equity or otherwise, based in whole or in part on any facts, conduct, activities, transactions, events or occurrences known or unknown, matured or unmatured, contingent or otherwise (individually a “Released Claim,” and collectively, the “Released Claims”), except for (i) compensation for services that have accrued but have not yet been paid in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or other contract rights relating to severance, employment, stock options and restricted stock grants which have been disclosed in writing to BFC on or prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, and (ii) the items listed in Section 2(b) below.

 

 

 

 

(b)            For avoidance of doubt, the parties acknowledge and agree that the Released Claims do not include any of the following:

 

(i)            any Claims that the undersigned may have in any capacity other than as an officer, director or employee of any DBI Entity, including, but not limited to, (A) Claims as a borrower under loan commitments and agreements between the undersigned and Denmark State Bank, (B) Claims as a depositor under any deposit account with Denmark State Bank, (C) Claims as the holder of any Certificate of Deposit issued by Denmark State Bank, (D) Claims on account of any services rendered by the undersigned in a capacity other than as an officer, director or employee of any DBI Entity; (E) Claims in his or her capacity as a shareholder of DBI, and (F) Claims as a holder of any check issued by any other depositor of Denmark State Bank;

 

(ii)the Claims excluded in Section 2(a)(i) above;

 

(iii)          any Claims that the undersigned may have under the Merger Agreement;

 

(iv)          any right to indemnification that the undersigned may have under the articles of incorporation or bylaws of any DBI Entity, under Wisconsin law or the Merger Agreement; or

 

(v)           any rights or Claims listed on Schedule I to this Agreement.

 

Section 3.         Forbearance. The undersigned shall forever refrain and forebear from commencing, instituting or prosecuting any lawsuit, action, claim or proceeding before or in any court, regulatory, governmental, arbitral or other authority to collect or enforce any Released Claims which are released and discharged hereby.

 

Section 4.         Miscellaneous.

 

(a)            This letter shall be governed by, and interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the internal, substantive laws of the State of Wisconsin, without regard for conflict of law provisions.

 

(b)            This letter contains the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the Released Claims released hereby, and the release of Claims contained in this letter supersedes all prior agreements, arrangements or understandings (written or otherwise) with respect to such Released Claims and no representation or warranty, oral or written, express or implied, has been made by or relied upon by any party hereto, except as expressly contained herein or in the Merger Agreement.

 

(c)            This letter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the undersigned and the Released Parties and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

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(d)           This letter may not be modified, amended or rescinded except by the written agreement of the undersigned and the Released Parties, it being the express understanding of the undersigned and the Released Parties that no term hereof may be waived by the action, inaction or course of delaying by or between the undersigned or the Released Parties, except in strict accordance with this paragraph, and further that the waiver of any breach of the terms of this letter shall not constitute or be construed as the waiver of any other breach of the terms hereof.

 

(e)            The undersigned represents, warrants and covenants that the undersigned is fully aware of the undersigned’s rights to discuss any and all aspects of this matter with any attorney chosen by him or her, and that the undersigned has carefully read and fully understands all the provisions of this letter, and that the undersigned is voluntarily entering into this letter.

 

(f)            This letter shall become effective upon the consummation of the Merger, and its operation to extinguish all of the Released Claims released hereby is not dependent on or affected by the performance or non-performance of any future act by the undersigned or the Released Parties. If the Merger Agreement is terminated for any reason, this letter shall be of no force or effect.

 

(g)            If any civil action, arbitration or other legal proceeding is brought for the enforcement of this letter, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default or misrepresentation in connection with any provision of this letter, the successful or prevailing party or parties shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys’ fees, court costs, sales and use taxes and all expenses even if not taxable as court costs (including, without limitation, all such fees, taxes, costs and expenses incident to arbitration, appellate, bankruptcy and post-judgment proceedings), incurred in that proceeding, in addition to any other relief to which such party or parties may be entitled. Attorneys’ fees shall include, without limitation, paralegal fees, investigative fees, administrative costs, sales and use taxes and all other charges billed by the attorney to the prevailing party (including any fees and costs associated with collecting such amounts).

 

(h)            Each party acknowledges and agrees that any controversy which may arise under this letter is likely to involve complicated and difficult issues, and therefore each such party hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives any right such party may have to a trial by jury in respect of any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this letter, or the transactions contemplated by this letter. Each party certifies and acknowledges that (i) no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce the foregoing waiver, (ii) each party understands and has considered the implications of this waiver, (iii) each party makes this waiver voluntarily, and (iv) each party has been induced to enter into this letter by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Section.

 

(i)            Any civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be brought in the courts of record of the State of Wisconsin in Manitowoc County or the United States District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. Each party consents to the jurisdiction of such Wisconsin court in any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation and waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such civil action, counterclaim, proceeding or litigation in such Wisconsin court. Service of any court paper may be effected on such party by mail, as provided in this letter, or in such other manner as may be provided under applicable laws, rules of procedure or local rules.

 

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 Sincerely,
  
 Signature of Director
  
 Name of Director

 

Signature Page – Claims Letter

 

 

 

 

On behalf of Bank First Corporation, I hereby acknowledge receipt of this letter as of this 18th day of January, 2022.

 

BANK FIRST CORPORATION
  
 By:  
 Name: Michael B. Molepske
 Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page – Claims Letter

 

 

 

 

Schedule I

 

Additional Excluded Claims