Description of Capital Stock of Kearny Financial Corp

Exhibit 4.2

Description of Registrant’s Securities

General

Kearny Financial Corp. (“Kearny”) is authorized to issue 800,000,000 shares of common stock, par value of $0.01 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share. Each share of common stock has the same relative rights as, and is identical in all respects to, each other share of common stock. All outstanding shares of our common stock are duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable.

The shares of common stock represent non-withdrawable capital, are not an account of an insurable type, and are not insured by the FDIC or any other government agency.

Common Stock

Dividends. Kearny may pay dividends to an amount equal to the excess of our capital surplus over payments that would be owed upon dissolution to stockholders whose preferential rights upon dissolution are superior to those receiving the dividend, and to an amount that would not make us insolvent, as and when declared by our board of directors. The payment of dividends by Kearny is also subject to limitations that are imposed by law and applicable regulation, including restrictions on payments of dividends that would reduce Kearny’s assets below the then-adjusted balance of its liquidation account. The holders of common stock of Kearny will be entitled to receive and share equally in dividends as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. If Kearny issues shares of preferred stock, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock with respect to dividends.

Voting Rights. The holders of common stock of Kearny have exclusive voting rights in Kearny. They elect Kearny’s board of directors and act on other matters as are required to be presented to them under Maryland law or as are otherwise presented to them by the board of directors. Generally, each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share and does not have any right to cumulate votes in the election of directors. Any person who beneficially owns more than 10% of the then-outstanding shares of Kearny’s common stock, however, is not entitled or permitted to vote any shares of common stock held in excess of the 10% limit. If Kearny issues shares of preferred stock, holders of the preferred stock may also possess voting rights. Certain matters require the approval of 80% of our outstanding common stock.

Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Kearny Bank, Kearny, as the holder of 100% of Kearny Bank’s capital stock, would be entitled to receive all assets of Kearny Bank available for distribution, after payment or provision for payment of all debts and liabilities of Kearny Bank, including all deposit accounts and accrued interest thereon, and after distribution of the balance in the liquidation account to eligible account holders and supplemental eligible account holders. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Kearny, the holders of its common stock would be entitled to receive, after payment or provision for payment of all its debts and liabilities (including payments with respect to its liquidation account), all of the assets of Kearny available for distribution. If preferred stock is issued, the holders thereof may have a priority over the holders of the common stock in the event of liquidation or dissolution.

Preemptive Rights. Holders of the common stock of Kearny are not entitled to preemptive rights with respect to any shares that may be issued. The common stock is not subject to redemption.

Preferred Stock

Preferred stock may be issued with preferences and designations as our board of directors may from time to time determine. Our board of directors may, without stockholder approval, issue shares of preferred stock with voting, dividend, liquidation and conversion rights that could dilute the voting strength of the holders of the common stock and may assist management in impeding an unfriendly takeover or attempted change in control.

Maryland Law and Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of Kearny

Anti-Takeover Article and Bylaw Provisions. Kearny’s articles of incorporation and bylaws contain a number of provisions relating to corporate governance and rights of stockholders that might discourage future takeover attempts. As a result, stockholders who might desire to participate in such transactions may not have an opportunity to do so. In addition, these provisions may also render the removal of the Board of Directors or management of Kearny more difficult.

Directors. The Board of Directors is divided into three classes. The members of each class are elected for a term of three years and only one class of directors is elected annually. Thus, it would take at least two annual elections to replace a majority of Kearny’s directors. The bylaws establish qualifications for Board members, including a residency requirement, an age restriction, restrictions on affiliations with competitors of Kearny Bank and restrictions based upon prior legal or regulatory violations. Further, the bylaws impose notice and information requirements in connection with the nomination by stockholders of candidates for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal by stockholders of business to be acted upon at an annual meeting of stockholders. Such notice and information requirements are applicable to all stockholder business proposals and nominations, and are in addition to any requirements under the federal securities laws.

Evaluation of Offers. The articles of incorporation of Kearny provide that its Board of Directors, when evaluating a transaction that would or may involve a change in control of Kearny (whether by purchases of its securities, merger, consolidation, share exchange, dissolution, liquidation, sale of all or substantially all of its assets, proxy solicitation or otherwise), may, in connection with the exercise of its business judgment in determining what is in the best interests of Kearny and its stockholders and in making any recommendation to the stockholders, give due consideration to all relevant factors, including, but not limited to:

If the Board of Directors determines that any proposed transaction should be rejected, it may take any lawful action to defeat such transaction.

Restrictions on Call of Special Meetings. The bylaws provide that special meetings of stockholders can be called by the President, by a majority of the whole Board of Directors or upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all votes entitled to vote at the meeting.

Prohibition of Cumulative Voting. The articles of incorporation prohibit cumulative voting for the election of directors.

Limitation of Voting Rights. The articles of incorporation provide that in no event will any person who beneficially owns more than 10% of the then-outstanding shares of common stock, be entitled or permitted to vote any of the shares of common stock held in excess of the 10% limit; provided that such 10% limit shall not apply if a majority of the unaffiliated directors approve the acquisition of shares in excess of the 10% limit prior to such acquisition.

Restrictions on Removing Directors from Office. The articles of incorporation provide that directors may be removed only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all of Kearny’s then-outstanding capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (after giving effect to the limitation on voting rights discussed above in “Limitation of Voting Rights”), voting together as a single class.

Authorized but Unissued Shares. Kearny has authorized but unissued shares of common and preferred stock. See “General.” Kearny is authorized to issue preferred stock from time to time in one or more series subject to applicable provisions of law, and the Board of Directors is authorized to fix the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of such shares. In addition, the articles of incorporation provide that a majority of the whole Board may, without action by the stockholders, amend the articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares of stock of any class or series that Kearny has the authority to issue. In the event of a proposed merger, tender offer or other attempt to gain control of Kearny that the Board of Directors does not approve, it would be possible for the Board of Directors to authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock with rights and preferences that would impede the completion of the transaction. An effect of the possible issuance of preferred stock therefore may be to deter a future attempt to gain control of Kearny. The Board of Directors has no present plan or understanding to issue any preferred stock.

Amendments to Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. Except as provided under “Authorized but Unissued Shares,” above, regarding the amendment of the articles of incorporation by the Board of Directors to increase or decrease the number of shares authorized for issuance, or as otherwise allowed by law, any amendment to the articles of incorporation must be approved by Kearny’s Board of Directors and also by a majority of the outstanding shares of its voting stock; provided, however, that approval by at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock is generally required to amend the following provisions:

(i)          The limitation on voting rights of persons who directly or indirectly beneficially own more than 10% of the outstanding shares of common stock;

(ii)         The division of the Board of Directors into three staggered classes;

(iii)        The ability of the Board of Directors to fill vacancies on the Board;

(iv)        The requirement that at least 80% of the votes eligible to be cast by stockholders must vote to remove directors, and that stockholders can only remove directors for cause;

(v)         The ability of the Board of Directors to amend and repeal the bylaws;

(vi)        The ability of the Board of Directors to evaluate a variety of factors in evaluating offers to purchase or otherwise acquire Kearny;

(vii)       The authority of the Board of Directors to provide for the issuance of preferred stock;

(viii)      The validity and effectiveness of any action lawfully authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of outstanding shares of common stock;

(ix)         The number of stockholders constituting a quorum or required for stockholder consent;

(x)          The indemnification of current and former directors and officers, as well as employees and other agents, by Kearny;

(xi)         The limitation of liability of officers and directors to Kearny for money damages;

(xii)        The inability of stockholders to cumulate their votes in the election of directors;

(xiii)       The advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations; and

(xiv)      The provision of the articles of incorporation requiring approval of at least 80% of the outstanding voting stock to amend the provisions of the articles of incorporation provided in (i) through (xiii) of this list.

The articles of incorporation also provide that the bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of a majority of Kearny’s directors or by the stockholders by the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the total votes eligible to be voted at a duly constituted meeting of stockholders. Any amendment of this supermajority requirement for amendment of the bylaws would also require the approval of 80% of the outstanding voting stock.

 Business Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Under Maryland law, as may be made applicable by the Board of Directors of Kearny at any time pursuant to its bylaws, “business combinations” between Kearny and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or, in circumstances specified in the statute, certain transfers of assets, certain stock issuances and transfers, liquidation plans and reclassifications involving interested stockholders and their affiliates or issuance or reclassification of equity securities. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as: (i) any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of Kearny voting stock after the date on which Kearny had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock; or (ii) an affiliate or associate of Kearny at any time after the date on which Kearny had 100 or more beneficial owners of its stock who, within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of Kearny. A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the Board of Directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, the Board of Directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the Board of Directors.

Any business combination between Kearny and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the Board of Directors of Kearny and approved by the affirmative vote of at least: (i) 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of Kearny, and (ii) two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of Kearny other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder. These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if Kearny’s common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

Change in Control Law and Regulations

Under the Change in Bank Control Act, no person may acquire control of an insured bank or its parent holding company unless the Federal Reserve Board has been given 60 days’ prior written notice and has not issued a notice disapproving the proposed acquisition. The Federal Reserve Board takes into consideration certain factors, including the financial and managerial resources of the acquirer and the competitive effects of the acquisition.  In addition, federal regulations provide that no company may acquire control of a bank without the prior approval of the Federal Reserve Board.  Any company that acquires such control becomes a “bank holding company” subject to registration, examination and regulation by the Federal Reserve Board.  

Control, as defined under federal law, means ownership, control of or holding irrevocable proxies representing more than 25% of any class of voting stock, control in any manner of the election of a majority of the company’s directors, or a determination by the Federal Reserve Board that the acquirer has the power to direct, or directly or indirectly exercise a controlling influence over, the management or policies of the institution.  Acquisition of more than 10% of any class of a holding company’s voting stock constitutes a rebuttable determination of control under the regulations under certain circumstances including where, as is the case with Kearny, the issuer has registered securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Federal Reserve Board regulations provide that parties seeking to rebut control will be provided an opportunity to do so in writing.

Benefit Plans

In addition to the provisions of Kearny’s articles of incorporation and bylaws described above, benefit plans of Kearny and Kearny Bank that may authorize the issuance of equity to its board of directors, officers and employees contain or may contain provisions which also may discourage hostile takeover attempts which the board of directors of Kearny Bank might conclude are not in the best interests of Kearny and Kearny Bank or Kearny’s stockholders.