WARRANT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 4.3
WARRANT AGREEMENT
THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of this day of , by and between CARROLL BANCORP, INC., a Maryland Corporation (the Company), and Registrar and Transfer Company, a New Jersey corporation (the Warrant Agent).
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS, the Company is offering units comprised of one (1) share of the Companys common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Stock), and one warrant to purchase one-half (1/2) of one share of Stock (the Warrant) (each share of Stock and Warrant shall hereinafter be referred to as a Unit) at an offering price of $ per Unit (the Offering).
WHEREAS, each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one-half of one share of Stock at the purchase price of $ per whole share (the Warrant Price) at any time commencing on the expiration date of the Offering and ending on , 2017 (the Expiration Date).
WHEREAS, the Company desires to appoint the Warrant Agent to act on its behalf in connection with the (i) issuance, transfer and exchange of the certificates representing the Warrants (the Warrant Certificates), (ii) the exercise of the Warrants by the holders thereof (together with any permitted registered successors or assigns, the Holders) and (iii) the adjustment of the Warrants in certain events as contained herein in accordance with the terms of the Warrants and this Warrant Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. APPOINTMENT OF WARRANT AGENT. The Company hereby appoints the Warrant Agent as its agent to issue the Warrant Certificates, as set forth herein, subject to resignation or replacement of the Warrant Agent as provided herein. The Warrant Agent agrees to accept such appointment, subject to the terms and conditions as set forth herein and to issue, and exchange the Warrant Certificates pursuant to the terms provided for herein and to notify the Companys transfer agent to issue the certificates representing the appropriate number of shares of Stock (or other consideration) upon exercise of the Warrants. The Company agrees to issue and honor the Warrants on the terms and conditions as herein set forth and to instruct its transfer agent to issue its Stock (or other securities) upon notice from the Warrant Agent of the proper exercise of any Warrant. The Warrant Agent is hereby empowered to enforce any rights of the Holders for the benefit of any Holders, subject to the terms and conditions contained herein.
2. ISSUANCE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES.
2.1. Form of Warrant Certificate. All Warrants shall be issued substantially in the form of the Warrant Certificate annexed hereto as Exhibit A. The terms of any such Warrant Certificate are incorporated herein by reference.
2.2. Execution of Warrants. The Warrants shall be issued in registered form only. No Warrants shall have been duly and validly issued until a Holder has received a Warrant Certificate executed by the Chairman or President of the Company and the Secretary or Treasurer of the Company and such Certificate is countersigned by an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent. Any Warrant Certificate may be executed by the officers of the Company by means of a facsimile signature. The Warrant Agent shall maintain the register of all Holders.
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2.3. Maximum Number of Warrants. The Company hereby authorizes the Warrant Agent to issue up to an aggregate of Warrants pursuant to the Companys written instruction and the terms hereof, subject to adjustment as hereafter provided in Section 4 hereof.
2.4. Initial Holders. The Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent a list of the names of the persons who shall be the initial Holders of the Warrants and the number of Warrants to which each such person is entitled. The Company shall deliver to the Warrant Agent, along with this Warrant Agreement, a sufficient number of duly executed Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Certificates requested by the Company shall be completed and countersigned by the Warrant Agent and promptly delivered to the Company to be mailed or delivered to the Holders pursuant to the terms hereof. When requested by the Warrant Agent, from time to time hereafter, the Company will execute additional Warrant Certificates in blank for the Warrant Agent to issue hereunder.
2.5. Rights of A Holder. Subject to adjustment as provided herein, each Warrant shall evidence the right to purchase one-half of one share of Stock at the Warrant Price. Following the Expiration Date, any Warrant not previously exercised shall be null and void.
3. EXERCISE OF WARRANT.
3.1. Exercise Period. The Warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time commencing on the date hereof and ending at 5:00 P.M., prevailing Eastern Time, on the Expiration Date. If the Expiration Date is not a Business Day, it shall automatically be extended to 5:00 P.M. on the next day which is a Business Day. Business Day means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday on which banks in Maryland are authorized by law to close.
3.2 Means of Exercise. In order to exercise a Warrant, the Holder must present and surrender the Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at its office, with the Subscription Form on the back of the Warrant Certificate duly executed and accompanied by payment in full, in the form of cash, by certified or official bank check payable to the order of the Company or its successor, of the aggregate Warrant Price for the number of shares of Stock specified in such Subscription Form.
3.3 Limitations on Exercise Due to Ownership Restrictions. Due to applicable regulatory restrictions, the registered holder of a Warrant shall be prohibited from exercising the Warrant if, in the Companys sole discretion, such exercise would result in the registered holder or any other person or entity (or any group including such holder or other person or entity) being required to obtain prior clearance or approval from or submit a notice to any state or federal bank regulatory authority to acquire, own or control such shares if, as of the date such warrant are presented for exercise, such clearance or approval has not been obtained and/or any required waiting period has not expired. In this regard, the Warrant Agent shall immediately notify the Company upon receipt of a subscription form that, upon issuance of the shares of Stock subscribed to therein, would result in the registered holder or any other person or entity (or any group including such holder or other person or entity) owning or controlling in the aggregate more than 9.99% of the Companys outstanding voting power or the Stock.
3.4. Issuance of Stock. Upon the request of the Warrant Agent, the Company shall promptly deliver or cause its transfer agent to deliver to the Holder exercising a Warrant a certificate or certificates evidencing the shares of Stock purchased when any Warrant is validly exercised.
3.4. Certain Exercise Provisions. If any Warrant is exercised in part only, a new Warrant Certificate, dated the date of such exercise, evidencing the rights of the Holder thereof to purchase the balance of the shares of Stock purchasable under such original Warrant shall promptly be issued to such
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Holder. Upon receipt of any Warrant Certificate by the Warrant Agent, at its office, in proper form for exercise and accompanied by payments as herein provided, the Holder shall be deemed to be the holder of record of the shares of Stock issuable upon such exercise, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the Company shall then be closed or that certificates representing such shares of Stock shall not then be actually delivered to the Holder.
4. ADJUSTMENT OF WARRANT PRICE AND NUMBER OF SHARES PURCHASABLE AND OTHER ITEMS IN CERTAIN EVENTS. The Warrant Price and the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of any Warrant and the other terms and conditions of the Warrant shall be subject to adjustment and modification as follows in the circumstances provided:
4.1. The Warrant Price and the resulting number of shares of Stock issuable under each Warrant shall be subject to adjustment as follows:
(a) If the Company, after the date of this Warrant Agreement but before its exercise:
(1) | pays a dividend or any other distribution payable in shares of its Stock; |
(2) | subdivides its outstanding shares of Stock into a greater number of shares; |
(3) | combines its outstanding shares of Stock into a smaller number of shares; or |
(4) | issues by reclassification of its shares of Stock any shares of capital stock of the Company (other than a change in par value). |
The Warrant Price in effect and the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of such Warrant immediately prior to such action shall be adjusted so that the Holder of each Warrant may receive the number of shares of Stock of the Company to which it would have been entitled upon such action if such Holder had so exercised the Warrant immediately prior thereto. An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4 shall become effective immediately after the record date for the determination of owners of Stock entitled thereto in the case of a dividend or distribution, and shall become effective immediately after the effective date in the case of a subdivision, combination, reclassification, or issuance of rights, options or warrants retroactive to the record date, if any, for such event.
(b) No payment or adjustment shall be made by or on behalf of the Company on account of any cash dividends on the Stock issued upon any exercise of a Warrant which was declared for payment to the holders of Stock of record as of a date prior to the date on which such Warrant is exercised.
(c) Upon each adjustment of the Warrant Price made pursuant to this Section 4, each Warrant shall thereafter (until another such adjustment) evidence the right to purchase that number of shares of Stock (calculated to the nearest hundredth) obtained by dividing the initial Warrant Price by the Warrant Price in effect after such adjustment.
(d) The Companys failure to give the notice required by this Section 4.1 or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of such action listed under this Section 4.1.
(e) For the purpose of this Section 4.1, the term shares of Stock shall mean (1) the class of stock designated as the Stock at the date of this Warrant Agreement, or (2) any other class of stock resulting from successive changes or reclassifications of such shares consisting solely of changes in par value, from no par value to par value or from par value to no par value. In the event that at any time, as a result of an adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4, the Holder shall become entitled to purchase
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any shares of the Company other than shares of Stock, thereafter the number of such other shares so purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant and the Warrant Price of such shares shall be subject to adjustment from time to time in a manner and on terms as nearly equivalent as practicable to the provisions with respect to the shares of Stock contained in this Section 4.1.
4.2. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution, or winding up of the affairs of the Company (other than in connection with a merger or sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of its assets outside of the ordinary course of business), the right to exercise each Warrant shall terminate and expire at the close of business on the last full business day before the earliest date fixed for the payment of any distributable amount on the Stock. The Company shall cause a notice to be mailed to each Holder at least 20 days prior to the applicable record date for such payment stating the date on which such liquidation, dissolution or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date on which it is expected that holders of shares of Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Stock for securities or other property or assets (including cash) deliverable upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and that each Holder may exercise outstanding Warrants during such 20 day period and, thereby, receive consideration in the liquidation on the same basis as other previously outstanding shares of the same class as the shares acquired upon exercise. The Companys failure to give notice required by this Section 4.2 or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
4.3. Merger, Consolidation, etc.
(a) In case of any merger of the Company into any other entity or sale or conveyance of all or substantially all of its assets outside of the ordinary course of business, or similar reorganization (such merger, sale, conveyance, or reorganization a Change) then, as a condition of such Change, lawful and adequate provisions shall be made whereby the Holders shall thereafter have the right to receive upon payment of the Warrant Price in effect immediately prior to such Change, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in this Warrant Agreement (including but not limited to all provisions contained in this Section 4), and in lieu of the shares of the Companys Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants, such shares of stock, securities, cash or assets which such Holder would have been entitled to receive after the happening of such Change had such Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such Change. The provisions of this Section 4.3 shall similarly apply to successive Changes. The Company shall cause a notice to be mailed to each Holder at least 20 days prior to the applicable record date for the Change covered by this Section 4.3(a) and shall provide notice of the Change and shall set forth the first and last date on which the Holder may exercise outstanding Warrants. The Companys failure to give the notice required by this Section 4.3(a) or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the Change covered by this Section 4.3(a).
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if as a result of such Change, holders of the Companys Stock shall receive consideration other than solely in shares of stock or other securities in exchange for their Stock, the Company may, at its option, fulfill its obligation hereunder by causing the Notice required by Section 4.3(a) hereof to include notice to Holders of the opportunity to exercise their Warrants before the applicable record date for the Change, and thereby receive consideration in the Change, on the same basis as other previously outstanding shares of the same class as the shares acquired upon exercise. If the notice specified in the preceding sentence is provided to Holders, Warrants not exercised in accordance with this Section 4.3(b) before consummation of the Change shall be cancelled and become null and void on the effective date of the Change. The notice provided by the Warrant Agent pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) shall include a description of the terms of this Warrant Agreement providing for cancellation of the Warrants in the event that Warrants are not exercised by the prescribed date. The Companys failure to give any notice required by this Section 4.3(b) or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of any such Change.
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4.4 FDIC Direction. Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant Agreement to the contrary, if the Companys capital falls below the applicable minimum regulatory requirements, as determined by the Maryland Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation or the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the FDIC), the FDIC may direct the Company to require the Holders to exercise or forfeit their rights under the Warrant Certificate and this Warrant Agreement (the FDIC Direction). The Company shall cause a notice to be mailed to each Holder at least 20 days prior to the applicable record date for such exercise or forfeiture covered by this Section 4.4, which notice shall set forth the first and last date on which the Holder may exercise outstanding Warrants and the date that the Warrants will become null and void. The Companys failure to give the notice required by this Section 4.4 or any defect therein shall not affect the validity of the FDIC Direction covered by this Section 4.4.
4.5. Duty to Make Fair Adjustments in Certain Cases. If any event occurs as to which in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company the other provisions of this Section 4 are not strictly applicable, or if strictly applicable would not fairly protect the purchase rights of the Holders in accordance with the essential intent and principles of this Warrant Agreement, then the Board of Directors shall make an adjustment in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such essential intent and principles, as to protect the purchase rights of the Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the issuance of Stock or any securities convertible into Stock by the Company either for cash or in a merger, consolidation, exchange or acquisition shall not, by itself, constitute a basis for requiring any adjustment in the Warrants unless specifically enumerated herein.
4.6. Good Faith Determination. Any determination as to whether an adjustment or limitation of exercise is required pursuant to this Section 4 (and the amount of any adjustment), shall be binding upon the Holders and the Company if made in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company.
4.7. Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants or the Warrant Price is adjusted, the Company shall promptly file in the custody of its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary at its principal office and with the Warrant Agent, an officers certificate setting forth the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants, the Warrant Price after such adjustment, a statement, in reasonable detail, of the facts requiring such adjustment and the computation by which such adjustment was made. Each such officers certificate shall be made available at all reasonable times for inspection by the Holders, and the Warrant Agent shall, forthwith after each such adjustment, promptly mail a copy of such certificate to such Holders by first class mail, postage prepaid.
4.8 No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock or scrip representing fractional shares shall be issued upon any exercise of the Warrant. In lieu of any fractional share to which the registered holder would otherwise be entitled, the registered holder shall be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Market Price of the Stock on the last trading day preceding the date of exercise less the pro-rated Warrant Price for such fractional share.
For purposes of this Agreement, Market Price means, with respect to a particular security, on any given day, the last reported sale price regular way or, in case no such reported sale takes place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices regular way, in either case on the principal national securities exchange on which the applicable securities are listed or admitted to trading, or if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and ask prices or, if none, the last price, on any quotation system on which the security is then quoted or, if not then quoted on any quotation system, as furnished by two members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose. Market Price shall be determined without reference to after hours or extended hours trading. If such security is not listed and
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traded in a manner that the quotations referred to above are available for the period required hereunder, the Market Price per share of Stock shall be deemed to be the fair market value per share of such security as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Company in reliance on an opinion of a nationally recognized independent investment banking corporation retained by the Company for this purpose and certified in a resolution to the registered holder. For the purposes of determining the Market Price of the Stock on the trading day preceding, on or following the occurrence of an event, (i) that trading day shall be deemed to commence immediately after the regular scheduled closing time of trading on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board or such national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed or, if trading is closed at an earlier time, such earlier time and (ii) that trading day shall end at the next regular scheduled closing time, or if trading is closed at an earlier time, such earlier time (for the avoidance of doubt, and as an example, if the Market Price is to be determined as of the last trading day preceding a specified event and the closing time of trading on a particular day is 4:00 p.m. and the specified event occurs at 5:00 p.m. on that day, the Market Price would be determined by reference to such 4:00 p.m. closing price).
4.9. No Change of Warrant Certificate Necessary. Irrespective of any adjustment in the Warrant Price or in the number or kind of shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, the Warrant Certificates may continue to express the same price and number and kind of shares as are stated in the Warrant Certificates as initially issued.
5. SHARES TO BE FULLY PAID; RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders:
5.1. Due Authorization and Valid Issuance. That all shares of Stock which may be issued upon the exercise of the rights represented by the Warrant Certificates will, upon issue and payment of the aggregate Warrant Price therefore, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.
5.2. Sufficient Number of Shares. That during the period within which the rights represented by the Warrant Certificates may be exercised, the Company will at all times have authorized and reserved for the purpose of issue upon exercise of the rights evidenced by the Warrant Certificates, a sufficient number of shares of Stock to provide for the exercise of the rights represented by the Warrant Certificates.
5.3. Assurance of No Securities Law Violation. That the Company will take all such action as may be necessary to ensure that the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants may be so issued without violation of any applicable federal or state law or regulation, or of any requirements of any securities exchange upon which any capital stock of the Company may be listed, if any.
5.4. Registration of Securities. That if any securities to be reserved for the purpose of exercise of Warrants hereunder require registration with, or approval of, any governmental authority under any federal securities law before such securities may be validly issued or delivered upon such exercise, including but not limited to in the event of the formation of a holding company, then the Company (or in the event a holding company is formed, such holding company) will in good faith and as expeditiously as reasonably possible, endeavor to secure such registration or approval. The Company will use reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate approvals or registrations under state blue sky securities laws. With respect to any such securities, however, Warrants may not be exercised by, or shares of Stock issued to, any Registered Holder in any state in which such exercise would be unlawful. Further, the Warrants shall not be exercisable at any time when the offer and sale of the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants shall not be covered by a current and effective Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and applicable state securities laws, and the Warrant Agent shall not permit the exercise of any Warrant at any such time when it has been informed by the Company that there is not such a current and effective Registration Statement, or if such exercise would otherwise violate a law, rule, regulation or regulatory order or agreement applicable to the Company.
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6. EXCHANGE, ASSIGNMENT OR LOSS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE.
6.1. Exchange. The Warrants shall not be exchangeable at the option of the Holder other than by operation of law. If a Warrant becomes exchangeable by operation of law, then the Warrant shall be so exchangeable upon (i) instruction from the Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company and (ii) presentation and surrender of the Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent for other Warrant Certificates of different denominations.
6.2. Transfer or Assignment. The Warrants are not transferable other than by operation of law. If a Warrant becomes so transferable, then upon (i) written confirmation from an officer of the Company that the Warrant may be so transferred and (ii) surrender of the Warrant Certificate and similar Warrant Certificates at the principal office of the Warrant Agent, by the Holder thereof in person or by an attorney duly authorized in writing, with the election to transfer section properly completed and duly executed, such Warrant Certificates may be transferred or exchanged in the manner provided in the Warrant Certificate and without payment of any service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like tenor, evidencing in the aggregate the number of Warrants evidenced by the Warrant Certificates so surrendered and registered in the name or names as requested by the then registered owner thereof or by an attorney duly authorized in writing. Warrants transferred pursuant to such Section shall be accompanied by a proper payment of any applicable transfer taxes.
6.3. Lost or Destroyed Warrant Certificates. Upon receipt by the Warrant Agent of evidence satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of a Warrant Certificate and (i) in the case of such loss, theft or destruction, of reasonably satisfactory indemnification and bonding, or (ii) if mutilated, upon surrender and cancellation of such Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent shall execute and deliver a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor. Any such new Warrant Certificate executed and delivered shall constitute an additional contractual obligation on the part of the Company, whether or not the Warrant Certificate so lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated shall be at any time enforceable by anyone.
6.4 Combination of Multiple Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant Certificate issued to the same Holder may be divided or combined with other Warrant Certificates into a Warrant Certificate evidencing the same aggregate number of Warrants.
7. NO ISSUANCE OF FRACTIONAL INTERESTS IN STOCK. The Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares of Stock on the exercise of the Warrants. If any fraction of a share of Stock would be issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants (or any specified portion thereof), the Company shall pay an amount in cash (or reduce the Exercise Price by an amount) equal to the product of such fraction and the fair market value of a share of the Stock, as determined by the Company in the good faith exercise of its discretion, and the aggregate Warrant Price shall be adjusted accordingly.
8. NO RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDERS; CERTAIN NOTICES AND REPORTS TO HOLDERS.
8.1 No Rights; Notices of Dividends and Distributions. Except as specifically provided in this Warrant Agreement, nothing contained in this Warrant Agreement or in the Warrant Certificates shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders or any permitted transferees the right to vote or to receive dividends or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the Company or any other matter, or any rights whatsoever as stockholders of the Company. If, however, between the date hereof and the Expiration Date (or if earlier the occurrence of any event specified in Section 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 terminating the Warrants), any of the following events shall occur:
(a) the Company shall declare any cash dividend upon its shares of Stock payable at a rate more than 50% in excess of the rate of the last cash dividend theretofore paid; or
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(b) the Company shall declare any dividend payable in any securities other than shares of Stock upon its shares of Stock or make any distribution (other than a regular cash dividend out of undistributed net income) to the holders of its shares of Stock; or
(c) the Company shall distribute any rights, options or warrants to purchase capital stock to the holders of shares of Stock; or
(d) a capital reorganization or reclassification of the Companys capital stock shall be proposed;
then in any one or more of said events, the Company shall give to the Holders at least twenty (20) days prior written notice of the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing of the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or distribution. Any such notice shall also specify, in the case of any such dividend or distribution, the date on which holders of shares of Stock are entitled thereto. Failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in the mailing thereof shall not affect the validity of any action taken in connection with such dividend or distribution.
8.1. Reports. The Company shall transmit by mail to all registered Holders, all reports and other documents that the Company transmits to holders of shares of Stock generally, at the same time and in the same manner as such reports and other documents are transmitted to holders of shares of Stock.
9. AGREEMENT OF HOLDERS. Every Holder of a Warrant, by his acceptance thereof, consents and agrees with the Company, the Warrant Agent and every other Holder of a Warrant that the Company and the Warrant Agent may deem and treat the person in whose name the Warrant Certificate is registered as the Holder and as the absolute, true and lawful owner of the Warrants represented thereby for all purposes, and neither the Company nor the Warrant Agent shall be affected by any notice or knowledge to the contrary.
10. DUTIES OF WARRANT AGENT. The Warrant Agent acts hereunder as agent and in a ministerial capacity for the Company, and its duties shall be determined solely by the provisions hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not, by issuing and delivering Warrant Certificates or by any other act hereunder be deemed to make any representations as to the validity, value or authorization of the Warrant Certificates or the Warrants represented thereby or of any securities or other property delivered upon exercise of any Warrant or whether any stock issued upon exercise of any Warrant is fully paid and non-assessable.
Other than as set forth herein, the Warrant Agent shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Warrant Certificates to make or cause to be made any adjustment of the Warrant Price provided in this Warrant Agreement, or to determine whether any fact exists which may require any such adjustment, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment, when made, or with respect to the method employed in making the same. It shall not (i) be liable for any recital or statement of facts contained herein or for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in reliance on any Warrant Certificate or other document or instrument believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties, (ii) be responsible for any failure on the part of the Company to comply with any of its covenants and obligations contained in this Warrant Agreement or in any Warrant Certificate, or (iii) be liable for any act or omission in connection with this Warrant Agreement except for its own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
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The Warrant Agent may at any time consult with counsel satisfactory to it (who may be counsel for the Company) and shall incur no liability or responsibility for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel.
Any notice, statement, instruction, request, direction, order or demand by the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced if given orally by the Chairman of the Board, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, provided that such instructions shall be reaffirmed in a written instrument executed by the officer giving such written instructions and delivered to the Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 12.5 hereof. The Warrant Agent shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in accordance with such notice, statement, instruction, request, direction, order or demand believed by it to be genuine.
The Company agrees to pay the Warrant Agent reasonable compensation for its services hereunder and to reimburse it for its reasonable expenses hereunder and further agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent and save it harmless against any and all losses, expenses and liabilities, including judgments, costs and counsel fees, for anything done or omitted by the Warrant Agent in the execution of its duties and powers hereunder except losses, expenses and liabilities arising as a result of the Warrant Agents gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith.
The Warrant Agent may resign its duties and be discharged from all further duties and liabilities hereunder (except liabilities arising as a result of the Warrant Agents own gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith), after giving thirty (30) days prior written notice to the Company. At least fifteen (15) days prior to the date such resignation is to become effective, the Warrant Agent shall cause a copy of such notice of resignation to be mailed to the Holder of each Warrant Certificate at the Companys expense. Upon such resignation, or any inability of the Warrant Agent to act as such hereunder, the Company shall appoint a new Warrant agent in writing. The Company shall have complete discretion in the naming of a new Warrant agent, who may be an affiliate, subsidiary or department of the Company, or any person used by the Company as transfer agent for the Stock. If the Company shall fail to make such appointment within a period of fifteen (15) days after it has been notified in writing of such resignation by the resigning Warrant Agent, then the Holder of any Warrant Certificate may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a new Warrant agent.
The Company may, upon notice to the Holders, remove and replace the Warrant Agent if the Warrant Agent is the transfer agent for the Companys Stock and the Warrant Agent ceases to be the transfer agent for the Company Stock for any reason.
After acceptance in writing of an appointment by a new Warrant agent is received by the Company, such new Warrant agent shall be vested with the same powers, rights, duties and responsibilities as if it had been originally named herein as the Warrant Agent, without any further assurance, conveyance, act or deed. Any former Warrant agent hereby agrees to cooperate with and deliver all records and Warrant Certificates to the new Warrant agent at the direction of the new agent and the Company.
Not later than the effective date of an appointment of a new Warrant agent by the Company, the Company shall file notice with the resigning or terminated Warrant agent and shall forthwith cause a copy of such notice to be mailed to each Holder.
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Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant agent may be converted or merged or any corporation resulting from any consolidation to which the Warrant Agent or any new Warrant agent shall be a party or any corporation succeeding to the trust business of the Warrant Agent shall be a successor Warrant agent under this Warrant Agreement without any further act. Any such successor Warrant agent shall promptly cause notice of its succession as Warrant agent to be mailed to the Company and to each Holder.
Nothing herein shall preclude the Warrant Agent from acting in any other capacity for the Company.
11. MODIFICATION OF AGREEMENT. The Warrant Agent and the Company may by supplemental agreement make any changes or corrections in this Warrant Agreement: (i) that they shall deem appropriate to cure any ambiguity or to correct any defective or inconsistent provision or manifest mistake or error herein contained; or (ii) that they may deem necessary or desirable and which shall not adversely affect the purchase or other material rights of the Holders of Warrant Certificates. This Warrant Agreement shall not otherwise be modified, supplemented or amended in any respect except with the consent in writing of the Holders of Warrant Certificates representing not less than 50% of the Warrants then outstanding, but no such amendment, modification or supplement which changes the number or nature of the securities purchasable upon the exercise of any Warrant, the Warrant Price or accelerates the Expiration Date, shall be made without the consent in writing of each and every Holder (but no consent shall be required for such changes as are specifically contemplated by this Warrant Agreement as originally executed).
12. MISCELLANEOUS.
12.1. Entire Agreement. This Warrant Agreement and the form of Warrant Certificate annexed hereto as Exhibit A contains the entire Warrant Agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Warrant Agreement and supersedes all prior negotiations, arrangements or understandings with respect thereto.
12.2. Counterparts. This Warrant Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and each of which shall be deemed an original.
12.3. Governing Law. This Warrant Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
12.4. Descriptive Headings. The descriptive headings of this Warrant Agreement are for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any provision of this Warrant Agreement.
12.5. Notices. Any notice or other communications required hereunder to be given to a Holder shall be in writing and shall be sufficiently given, if mailed (first class, postage prepaid), or personally delivered, addressed in the name and at the address of such Holder appearing from time to time on the records of the Warrant Agent. Notices or other communications to the Company shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given if delivered by hand or mailed to the Company at its then principal office, Attention: President, or at such other address as the Company shall have designated by written notice to the Warrant Agent. Notices or other communications to the Warrant Agent shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given if delivered by hand or mailed (first class, postage prepaid) to its then principal office. Notice by mail shall be deemed given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Warrant Agent have executed this Warrant Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date first set forth above.
CARROLL BANCORP, INC. | ||
By: |
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REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY | ||
By: |
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[SPECIMAN WARRANT CERTIFICATE]
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS WARRANT ARE SET FORTH IN THE COMPANYS PROSPECTUS (THE PROSPECTUS) AND THE WARRANT AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY DATED [] (THE WARRANT AGREEMENT) AND ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND WARRANT AGREEMENT ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER COMPANY, AS WARRANT AGENT FOR CARROLL BANCORP, INC. (THE COMPANY).
WARRANT NUMBER | NUMBER OF SHARES | |||
SYKESVILLE MARYLAND |
Incorporated under the laws of the State of Maryland |
REGISTERED OWNER: |
WARRANT CERTIFICATE |
Evidencing a Non-Transferable Warrant to Purchase Shares of Common Stock |
Exercise Price: $ [] per Share
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VOID IF NOT EXERCISED ON OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION TIME OF 5:00 PM EASTERN TIME ON []
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THIS CERTIFIES THAT FOR VALUE RECEIVED the registered owner whose name is inscribed hereon is the owner of this warrant to purchase the number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Carroll Bancorp, Inc., set forth above, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, the Warrant Agreement, the instructions relating hereto on the reverse side hereof and the instructions as to the use of this certificate included in this mailing. The non-transferable warrant represented by this Warrant Certificate may be exercised by duly completing Section 1 on the reverse side hereof and by returning the full payment of the exercise price for the share(s) of common stock to be purchased, as described on the reverse side hereof. Special delivery instructions may be specified by completing Section 2 on the reverse side hereof. THE WARRANT EVIDENCED BY THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE AND MAY NOT BE EXERCISED UNLESS THE REVERSE SIDE HEREOF IS COMPLETED AND SIGNED, WITH A SIGNATURE GUARANTEE, IF APPLICABLE. No fractional shares will be issued. This Warrant does not entitle the holder to any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company until such Warrant is exercised in accordance with the instructions herein. This Warrant Certificate is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. |
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Russell J. Grimes, President and Chief Executive Officer
| Tina M. Blankenship, Secretary |
DELIVERY OPTIONS FOR WARRANT CERTIFICATE
By Mail, Hand, Express Mail or Overnight Courier: |
Registrar and Transfer Company ATTN: Reorg/Exchange Dept. 10 Commerce Drive Cranford, NJ 07016 |
DELIVERY OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH
ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY
Delivery by facsimile will not constitute valid delivery.
NOTICE OF EXERCISE. PLEASE PRINT ALL INFORMATION CLEARLY AND LEGIBLY.
SECTION 1
COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING IF YOU WISH TO PURCHASE ALL OR A PORTION OF THE SHARES OF THE COMPANYS COMMON STOCK WHICH THIS WARRANT ENTITLES YOU TO PURCHASE:
Exercise of Warrant
I exercise my right to purchase pursuant to this warrant shares of common stock of the Company. Therefore, I remit payment of:
X | $[] = | $ | ||||
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(# of shares) | (exercise price) | (total payment) |
In the form of (check one):
¨ an uncertified check drawn on a U.S. bank payable to Registrar and Transfer Company as warrant offering agent for various holders.
¨ a cashiers check drawn on Carroll Community Bank payable to Registrar and Transfer Company as warrant offering agent for various holders.
¨ a wire transfer directed to the following account: ABA No. , Account No. , Bank, , Account Name: Registrar and Transfer Company as warrant offering agent for various holders.
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Signature(s) of Warrantholder(s) |
Indicate, by initialing in the provided blank, that you are aware of the absence of deposit insurance covering the securities being sold pursuant to this Warrant Certificate.
IMPORTANT: THE SIGNATURE(S) MUST CORRESPOND IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERNATION, WITH THE NAME(S) AS PRINTED ON THE REVERSE OF THIS WARRANT CERTIFICATE.
If signature is by trustee(s), executor(s), administrator(s), guardian(s), attorney(s)-in-fact, agent(s), officer(s) of a corporation or another acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity. Please provide the following information (please print). See the instructions.
Name(s): |
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Capacity (Full Title): |
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Taxpayer ID # or Social Security #: |
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SECTION 2
SPECIAL ISSUANCE OR DELIVERY INSTRUCTION FOR WARRANTHOLDERS:
(a) To be completed ONLY if the certificate representing the Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than that of the registered holder. (See the instructions). DO NOT FORGET TO COMPLETE THE GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S) SECTION BELOW.
ISSUE COMMON STOCK TO:
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(Please Print Name) |
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(Print Full Address) |
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(Social Security # or Tax ID#) |
(b) To be completed ONLY if the certificate representing the Common Stock is to be sent to an address other than that shown on the front of this certificate. (See the instructions). DO NOT FORGET TO COMPLETE THE GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S) SECTION BELOW.
ISSUE COMMON STOCK TO:
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(Please Print Name) |
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(Print Full Address) |
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(Social Security # or Tax ID#) |
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
YOU MUST HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE GUARANTEED IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR SHARES DELIVERED TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN YOUR OWN OR TO A SHAREHOLDER OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED HOLDER.
Your signature must be guaranteed by an Eligible Guarantor Institution, as defined in Rule 17AD-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These generally include (a) a commercial bank or trust company, (b) a member firm or a domestic stock exchange or (c) a credit union.
Signature: |
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(Name of Bank or Firm) |
By: |
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(Signature of Officer) |
The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain events the exercise price and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to this Warrant, as set forth on the face hereof, may, subject to certain conditions, be adjusted.
As discussed in the Warrant Agreement there are limitations on exercising this Warrant if such exercise would cause the Warrant holder to own or control a certain percentage of the Companys voting power or Common Stock.
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This Warrant may not be exercised if the issuance of the shares of Common Stock hereby is not subject to a current and effective registration statement under the securities Act of 1933, as amended, and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from the registration requirements thereof is applicable, or if such exercise would otherwise violate any applicable law, rule, regulation or regulatory order or agreement.
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SUBSCRIPTION FORM
Dated: , 20
The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the within Warrant to the extent of purchasing shares of Stock and hereby makes payment of $ in satisfaction of the Warrant Price thereof.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF STOCK
Name |
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(please typewrite or print in block letters) | ||
Address |
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Signature |
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Tax Identification Number |
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