UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): | May 26, 2011 |
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
__________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida | 001-13660 | 59-2260678 |
_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction |
_____________
(Commission |
______________
(I.R.S. Employer |
of incorporation) | File Number) | Identification No.) |
815 Colorado Avenue, Stuart, Florida | 34994 | |
_________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices) |
___________
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: | 772-287-4000 |
Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
On May 27, 2011, Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (the Company) filed with the Florida Secretary of State Articles of Amendment (the Articles of Amendment) to the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation adding a new Section 4.06 to Article IV thereto (the Protective Amendment) that is intended to help preserve certain tax benefits primarily associated with the Companys net operating losses. As described below under Item 5.07 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the Protective Amendment was approved by the Companys shareholders at the Companys 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 26, 2011 (the Annual Meeting).
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Protective Amendment.
Prohibited Transfers. Subject to certain exceptions pertaining to existing 5% or greater shareholders, the Protective Amendment generally will restrict any direct or indirect transfer (such as transfers of our stock that result from the transfer of interests in other entities that own our stock) if the effect would be to:
| increase the direct or indirect ownership of our stock by any person (or any public group of shareholders, as that term is defined under Section 382) from less than 5% to 5% or more of our common stock, $0.10 par value (Common Stock); |
| increase the percentage of our Common Stock owned directly or indirectly by a person (or public group) owning or deemed to own 5% or more of our Common Stock; or |
| create a new public group. |
Consequences of Prohibited Transfers. Upon adoption of the Protective Amendment, any direct or indirect transfer attempted in violation of the Protective Amendment would be void ab initio as of the date of the prohibited transfer as to the purported transferee (or, in the case of an indirect transfer, the ownership of the direct owner of our Common Stock would terminate effective simultaneously with the transfer), and the purported transferee (or in the case of any indirect transfer, the direct owner) would not be recognized as the owner of the shares owned in violation of the Protective Amendment for any purpose, including for purposes of voting and receiving dividends or other distributions in respect of such Common Stock, or in the case of options or warrants, receiving our Common Stock in respect of their exercise. Prohibited transfers are also subject to other restrictions, as set forth in the Articles of Amendment.
Modification and Waiver of Transfer Restrictions. The Companys Board of Directors will have the discretion to approve a transfer of our Common Stock or securities convertible into shares of our Common Stock that would otherwise violate the transfer restrictions if it determines that the transfer is in the Companys and our shareholders best interests. If the Board of Directors decides to permit such a transfer, that transfer or later transfers may result in an ownership change that could limit our use of our net operating losses (collectively, NOLs) for tax benefits.
The Board of Directors may establish, modify, amend or rescind by-laws, regulations and procedures for purposes of determining whether any transfer of Common Stock would jeopardize our ability to use our NOLs.
The Protective Amendment will expire on the earliest of:
| the Board of Directors determination that the Protective Amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of our NOLs because of the amendment or repeal of Section 382 or any successor statute; |
| the beginning of a taxable year to which the Board of Directors determines that none of our NOLs may be carried forward; |
| such date as the Board of Directors otherwise determines that the Protective Amendment is no longer necessary for the preservation of tax benefits associated with our NOLs; or |
| three years from its adoption, unless reapproved by shareholders. |
The Board of Directors may also accelerate the expiration date of the Protective Amendment in the event of a change in the law.
The foregoing description of the Protective Amendment does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles of Amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
The information provided under Item 3.03 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 26, 2011, the Company held its Annual Meeting. Of the 93,504,938 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the record date for the Annual Meeting, 77,114,758 shares were present at the meeting in person or by proxy. The final results of each of the proposals voted on by the Companys shareholders are described below:
Proposal 1 Elect Directors:
To re-elect four Class III directors, each to serve for a
term of three years. The vote for each director is as set forth below.
Number of Shares
Votes For
Votes Withheld
Broker Non-Votes
52,307,960
3,646,769
21,160,029
54,604,464
1,350,265
21,160,029
54,623,421
1,331,308
21,160,029
54,474,313
1,480,416
21,160,029
The four nominees were each re-elected as Class III directors by a plurality of the votes cast.
Proposal 2 NOL Protective Amendment: To adopt a protective amendment to the Companys Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to restrict certain transfers of the Companys Common Stock, in order to preserve certain tax benefits associated with our net operating losses.
Votes For
|
Votes Against | Abstentions | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
73,407,008
|
2,266,824 | 1,440,926 |
The vote required to approve this proposal was the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Accordingly, this proposal was approved.
Proposal 3 Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor: To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as independent auditor for the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011.
Number of Shares | ||||||||||||||
Votes For
|
Votes Against | Abstentions | ||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||
76,689,553
|
261,569 | 163,636 |
|
The vote required to approve this proposal was the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Accordingly, this proposal was approved.
Proposal 4 Reverse Stock Split Extension: To extend the time frame from June 21, 2011 to May 25, 2012 in which our Board of Directors is permitted to (i) effect a reverse stock split of our Common Stock at one of seven reverse split ratios, 1 for-2, 1-for-5, 1-for-10, 1-for-15, 1-for-20, 1-for-25 or 1-for-30, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and (ii) reduce the number of authorized shares of our Common Stock by the reverse stock split ratio determined by the Board of Directors.
Votes For
|
Votes Against | Abstentions | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
71,457,401
|
4,484,384 | 1,172,973 |
The vote required to approve this proposal was the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Accordingly, this proposal was approved. The Board of Directors has not made a determination as to whether it will effect the reverse stock split or the ratio or timing of any reverse stock split.
Proposal 5 Advisory (Non-binding) Vote on Compensation of Named Executive Officers: To allow shareholders to endorse or not endorse the compensation of the Companys named executive officers as disclosed in the proxy statement:
Number of Shares | ||||||||||||||||
Votes For
|
Votes Against | Abstentions | Broker Non-Votes | |||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
53,829,261
|
1,138,147 | 987,321 | 21,160,029 |
|
The vote required to approve this non-binding advisory resolution was the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Accordingly, this proposal was approved.
Proposal 6 Adjournment of Annual Meeting: To grant the proxy holders discretionary authority to vote to adjourn the Annual Meeting for up to 120 days to allow for the solicitation of additional proxies in the event that there are insufficient shares voted at the Annual Meeting, in person or by proxy, to approve the other proposals under consideration at the meeting.
Votes For
|
Votes Against | Abstentions | ||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
72,676,312
|
3,301,479 | 1,136,967 |
The vote required to approve this proposal was the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on the proposal. Accordingly, this proposal was approved.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
3.1
|
Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida | ||||
May 31, 2011 | By: |
/s/Dennis S. Hudson, III
|
||
|
||||
Name: Dennis S. Hudson, III | ||||
Title: Chairman & Chief Executive Officer |
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Description
Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida
Exhibit 3.1
To 8-K dated May 26, 2011
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
TO THE
AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida, a profit corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Florida, hereby certifies as follows:
I.
The name of the corporation is Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida (the Corporation).
II.
The Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation are amended to add a new Section 4.06 to Article IV Capital Stock, attached hereto as Exhibit A, in accordance with Section 607.1006 of the Florida Business Corporation Act (FBCA).
III.
The only voting group entitled to vote on the amendment contained in Exhibit A was the holders of shares of the Corporations common stock. The amendment to the Corporations Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation attached hereto as Exhibit A was duly adopted by the Corporations shareholders in accordance with the provisions of Sections 607.1003 and 607.1004 of the FBCA on May 26, 2011 at the Corporations annual meeting of shareholders. The number of votes cast for the amendment above by the shareholders was sufficient for approval.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seacoast Banking Corporation of Florida has caused these Articles of Amendment to be signed by Dennis S. Hudson, III, its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, this 26th day of May, 2011.
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA
By:
/s/ Dennis S. Hudson, III
Name: Dennis S. Hudson, III
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Exhibit A
AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
This amendment (the Amendment) to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the
Restated Articles) adds a new Section 4.06 to Article IV Capital Stock, to read in its entirety
as follows:
Section 4.06. Restrictions on Transfer.
The following provisions provide for
certain restrictions on transfers of Common Stock.
(a)
Definitions. As used in this Section 4.06, the following capitalized terms have
the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters (and any references to any
portions of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T shall include any successor provisions):
(1) 5-percent Transaction means any Transfer described in paragraph (1) or
paragraph (2) of section (b) of this Section 4.06.
(2) 5-percent Shareholder means a Person or group of Persons that is a 5-percent
shareholder of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(g).
(3) Agent has the meaning set forth in section (e) of this Section 4.06.
(4) Code means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time, and the Treasury Regulations and administrative rulings issued thereunder.
(5) Common Stock means any interest in Common Stock that would be treated as
stock of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).
(6) Corporation Security or Corporation Securities means (A) shares of Common Stock,
(B) shares of Preferred Stock, (C) warrants, rights, or options (including options within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.382-4(d)(9)) to purchase Securities of the Corporation, and
(D) any Stock.
(7) Effective Date means the date of filing of this Certificate of Amendment of
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation with the Secretary of State of the State of
Florida.
(8) Excess Securities has the meaning given to such term in paragraph (1) of
section (d) of this Section 4.06.
(9) Expiration Date means the earliest of (A) the time at which Section 382 of the
Code or any successor statute is repealed, if the Board of Directors determines that this Section
4.06 is no longer necessary for the preservation of Tax Benefits, (B) the first day of a taxable
year of the Corporation to which the Board of Directors determines that no Tax Benefits may be
carried forward, (C) such other date as the Board of Directors shall fix in accordance with
section (l) of this Section 4.06, or (D) three years from the Effective Date unless this Section
4.06 is reapproved by shareholders.
(10) Percentage Stock Ownership means the percentage Stock Ownership interest of
any Person or group (as the context may require) for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, as
determined in accordance with the Treasury Regulation §§ 1.382-2T(g), (h), (j) and (k) or any
successor provision.
(11) Person means any individual, firm, corporation or other legal entity, and
includes any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity;
provided
,
however
,
that a Person shall not mean a Public Group.
(12) Pre-existing 5-percent Shareholder means (A) any Person that has filed a
Schedule 13D or 13G with respect to the Common Stock on or before the Effective Date and (B) any
5-percent owner or higher tier entity of any Person described in the foregoing clause (A)
within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §§ 1.382-2T(f)(10) and 1.382-2T(f)(14).
(13) Preferred Stock means any interest in Series A Preferred Stock that would be
treated as stock of the Corporation pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).
(14) Prohibited Distributions means any and all dividends or other distributions
paid by the Corporation with respect to any Excess Securities received by a Purported Transferee.
(15) Prohibited Transfer means any Transfer or purported Transfer of Corporation
Securities to the extent that such Transfer is prohibited and/or void under this Section 4.06.
(16) Public Group has the meaning set forth in Treasury Regulation
§ 1.382-2T(f)(13).
(17) Purported Transferee has the meaning set forth in paragraph (1) of section (d)
of this Section 4.06.
(18) Securities and Security each has the meaning set forth in section (g) of
this Section 4.06.
(19) Stock means any interest that would be treated as stock of the Corporation
pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(f)(18).
(20) Stock Ownership means any direct or indirect ownership of Stock, including any
ownership by virtue of application of constructive ownership rules, with such direct, indirect and
constructive ownership determined under the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the
regulations thereunder.
(21) Tax Benefits means the net operating loss carryforwards, capital loss
carryforwards, general business credit carryforwards, alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards
and foreign tax credit carryforwards, as well as any loss or deduction attributable to a net
unrealized built-in loss of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof, within
the meaning of Section 382 of the Code.
(22) Transfer means, any direct or indirect sale, transfer, assignment, conveyance,
pledge or other disposition or other action taken by a Person, other than the Corporation, that
alters the Percentage Stock Ownership of any Person or group, including, without limitation, the
creation or grant of an option (including an option within the meaning of Treasury Regulation
§ 1.382-4(d)(9)), but shall not include (A) the creation or grant of an option by the Corporation,
or (B) the issuance of Stock by the Corporation.
(23) Transferee means any Person to whom Corporation Securities are Transferred.
(24) Treasury Regulations means the regulations, including temporary regulations or
any successor regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time.
(b)
Transfer and Ownership Restrictions. In order to preserve the Tax Benefits, from and
after the Effective Date of this Section 4.06, except as otherwise provided by section (c) of this
Section 4.06, any attempted Transfer of Corporation Securities prior to the Expiration Date and any
attempted Transfer of Corporation Securities pursuant to an agreement entered into prior to the
Expiration Date, shall be prohibited and void
ab initio
(1) if the transferor is a 5-percent
Shareholder or (2) to the extent that, as a result of such Transfer (or any series of Transfers of
which such Transfer is a part), either (A) any Person or group of Persons would become a 5-percent
Shareholder or (B) the Percentage Stock Ownership in the Corporation of any 5-percent Shareholder
would be increased.
(c)
Exceptions. (1) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if a Transfer by
(but not to) a Pre-existing 5-percent Shareholder otherwise would be prohibited by section (b) of
this Section 4.06, such Transfer shall not be prohibited under section (b) if both of the following
conditions are met: (A) such Transfer does not increase the Percentage Stock Ownership of any
5-percent Shareholder or create a new 5-percent Shareholder, in each case other than a Public Group
(including a new Public Group created under Treasury Regulation § 1.382-2T(j)(3)(i)) and (B) the
Stock that is the subject of the Transfer was acquired by such Pre-existing 5-percent Shareholder
prior to the Effective Date.
(2) The restrictions set forth in section (b) of this Section 4.06 shall not apply to an
attempted Transfer that is a 5-percent Transaction if the transferor or the Transferee obtains the
written approval of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. As a condition
to granting its approval pursuant to this section (c), the Board of Directors, may, in its sole
discretion, require (at the expense of the transferor and/or transferee) an opinion of counsel
selected by the Board of Directors that the Transfer shall not result in the application of any
Section 382 of the Code limitation on the use of the Tax Benefits;
provided
that the Board
may grant such approval notwithstanding the effect of such approval on the Tax Benefits if it
determines that the approval is or is reasonably likely to be in the best interests of the
Corporation. The Board of Directors may impose any conditions that it deems reasonable and
appropriate in connection with such approval, including, without limitation, restrictions on the
ability of any Transferee to Transfer Stock acquired through a Transfer. Approvals of the Board of
Directors hereunder may be given prospectively or retroactively. The Board of Directors, to the
fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the authority granted by this Section 4.06 through
duly authorized officers or agents of the Corporation. Nothing in this section (c) shall be
construed to limit or restrict the Board of Directors in the exercise of its fiduciary duties under
applicable law.
(d)
Excess Securities. (1) No employee or agent of the Corporation shall record any
Prohibited Transfer, and the purported transferee of such a Prohibited Transfer (the Purported
Transferee) shall not be recognized as a shareholder of the Corporation for any purpose whatsoever
in respect of the Corporation Securities which are the subject of the Prohibited Transfer (the
Excess Securities). Until the Excess Securities are acquired by another Person in a Transfer that
is not a Prohibited Transfer, the Purported Transferee shall not be entitled with respect to such
Excess Securities to any rights of shareholders of the Corporation, including, without limitation,
the right to vote such Excess Securities and to receive dividends or distributions, whether
liquidating or otherwise, in respect thereof, if any, and the Excess Securities shall be deemed to
remain with the transferor unless and until the Excess Securities are transferred to the Agent
pursuant to section (e) of this Section 4.06 or until an approval is obtained under section (c) of
this Section 4.06. After the Excess Securities have been acquired in a Transfer that is not a
Prohibited Transfer, the Corporation Securities shall cease to be Excess Securities. For this
purpose, any Transfer of Excess Securities not in accordance with the provisions of this
section (d) or section (e) of this Section 4.06 shall also be a Prohibited Transfer.
(2) The Corporation may require as a condition to the registration of the Transfer
of any Corporation Securities or the payment of any distribution on any Corporation Securities that
the proposed Transferee or payee furnish to the Corporation all information reasonably requested by
the Corporation with respect to all the direct or indirect ownership interests in such Corporation
Securities. The Corporation may make such arrangements or issue such instructions to its stock
transfer agent as may be determined by the Board of Directors to be necessary or advisable to
implement this Section 4.06, including, without limitation, authorizing such transfer agent to
require an affidavit from a Purported Transferee regarding such Persons actual and constructive
ownership of stock and other evidence that a Transfer will not be prohibited by this Section 4.06
as a condition to registering any transfer.
(e)
Transfer to Agent. If the Board of Directors determines that a Transfer of
Corporation Securities constitutes a Prohibited Transfer then, upon written demand by the
Corporation sent within thirty days of the date on which the Board of Directors determines that the
attempted Transfer would result in Excess Securities, the Purported Transferee shall transfer or
cause to be transferred any certificate or other evidence of ownership of the Excess Securities
within the Purported Transferees possession or control, together with any Prohibited
Distributions, to an agent designated by the Board of Directors (the Agent). The Agent shall
thereupon sell to a buyer or buyers, which may include the Corporation, the Excess Securities
transferred to it in one or more arms-length transactions (on the public securities market on
which such Excess Securities are traded, if possible, or otherwise privately);
provided
,
however
, that any such sale must not constitute a Prohibited Transfer and
provided,
further
, that the Agent shall effect such sale or sales in an orderly fashion and shall not
be required to effect any such sale within any specific time frame if, in the Agents discretion,
such sale or sales would disrupt the market for the Corporation Securities or otherwise would
adversely affect the value of the Corporation Securities. If the Purported Transferee has resold
the Excess Securities before receiving the Corporations demand to surrender Excess Securities to
the Agent, the Purported Transferee shall be deemed to have sold the Excess Securities for the
Agent, and shall be required to transfer to the Agent any Prohibited Distributions and proceeds of
such sale, except to the extent that the Corporation grants written permission to the Purported
Transferee to retain a portion of such sales proceeds not exceeding the amount that the Purported
Transferee would have received from the Agent pursuant to section (f) of this Section 4.06 if the
Agent rather than the Purported Transferee had resold the Excess Securities.
(f) Application of Proceeds and Prohibited Distributions. The Agent shall apply any
proceeds of a sale by it of Excess Securities and, if the Purported Transferee has previously
resold the Excess Securities, any amounts received by it from a Purported Transferee, together, in
either case, with any Prohibited Distributions, as follows: (1) first, such amounts shall be paid
to the Agent to the extent necessary to cover its costs and expenses incurred in connection with
its duties hereunder, (2) second, any remaining amounts shall be paid to the Purported Transferee,
up to the amount paid by the Purported Transferee for the Excess Securities (or the fair market
value at the time of the Transfer, in the event the purported Transfer of the Excess Securities
was, in whole or in part, a gift, inheritance or similar Transfer) which amount shall be determined
at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors, and (3) third, any remaining amounts shall be
paid to one or more organizations qualifying under section 501(c)(3) of the Code (or any comparable
successor provision) selected by the Board of Directors. The Purported Transferee of Excess
Securities shall have no claim, cause of action or any other recourse whatsoever against the
Corporation, except as provided herein. The Purported Transferees sole right with respect to such
shares shall be limited to the amount payable to the Purported Transferee pursuant to this
section (f). In no event shall the proceeds of any sale of Excess Securities pursuant to this
section (f) inure to the benefit of the Corporation or the Agent, except to the extent used to
cover costs and expenses incurred by Agent in performing its duties hereunder.
(g) Modification of Remedies for Certain Indirect Transfers. In the event of any Transfer
which does not involve a transfer of securities of the Corporation within the meaning of Florida
law (Securities, and individually, a Security) but which would cause a 5-percent Shareholder to
violate a restriction on Transfers provided for in this Section 4.06, the application of
section (e) and section (f) of this Section 4.06 shall be modified as described in this
section (g). In such case, no such 5-percent Shareholder shall be required to dispose of any
interest that is not a Security, but such 5-percent Shareholder and/or any Person whose ownership
of Securities is attributed to such 5-percent Shareholder shall be deemed to have disposed of and
shall be required to dispose of sufficient Securities (which Securities shall be disposed of in the
inverse order in which they were acquired) to cause such 5-percent Shareholder, following such
disposition, not to be in violation of this Section 4.06. Such disposition shall be deemed to occur
simultaneously with the Transfer giving rise to the application of this provision, and such number
of Securities that are deemed to be disposed of shall be considered Excess Securities and shall be
disposed of through the Agent as provided in sections (e) and (f) of this Section 4.06, except that
the maximum aggregate amount payable either to such 5-percent Shareholder, or to such other Person
that was the direct holder of such Excess Securities, in connection with such sale shall be the
fair market value of such Excess Securities at the time of the purported Transfer. All expenses
incurred by the Agent in disposing of such Excess Stock shall be paid out of any amounts due such
5-percent Shareholder or such other Person. The purpose of this section (g) is to extend the
restrictions in sections (b) and (e) of this Section 4.06 to situations in which there is a
5-percent Transaction without a direct Transfer of Securities, and this section (g), along with the
other provisions of this Section 4.06, shall be interpreted to produce the same results, with
differences as the context requires, as a direct Transfer of Corporation Securities.
(h)
Legal Proceedings; Prompt Enforcement. If the Purported Transferee fails to
surrender the Excess Securities or the proceeds of a sale thereof to the Agent within thirty days
from the date on which the Corporation makes a written demand pursuant to section (e) of this
Section 4.06 (whether or not made within the time specified in section (e) of this Section 4.06),
then the Corporation shall promptly take all actions which it believes are appropriate to enforce
the provisions hereof, including the institution of legal proceedings to compel the surrender.
Nothing in this section (h) shall: (1) be deemed inconsistent with any Transfer of the Excess
Securities provided in this Section 4.06 being void
ab initio
, (2) preclude the Corporation in its
discretion from immediately bringing legal proceedings without a prior demand, or (3) cause any
failure of the Corporation to act within the time periods set forth in section (e) of this Section
4.06 to constitute a waiver or loss of any right of the Corporation under this Section 4.06. The
Board of Directors may authorize such additional actions as it deems advisable to give effect to
the provisions of this Section 4.06.
(i)
Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, any shareholder subject
to the provisions of this Section 4.06 who knowingly violates the provisions of this Section 4.06
and any Persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with such shareholder shall be
jointly and severally liable to the Corporation for, and shall indemnify and hold the Corporation
harmless against, any and all damages suffered as a result of such violation, including but not
limited to damages resulting from a reduction in, or elimination of, the Corporations ability to
utilize its Tax Benefits, and attorneys and auditors fees incurred in connection with such
violation.
(j)
Obligation to Provide Information. As a condition to the registration of the
Transfer of any Stock, any Person who is a beneficial, legal or record holder of Stock, and any
proposed Transferee and any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with the
proposed Transferee, shall provide such information as the Corporation may request from time to
time in order to determine compliance with this Section 4.06 or the status of the Tax Benefits of
the Corporation.
(k) Legends. The Board of Directors may require that any certificates issued by
the Corporation evidencing ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to the restrictions on
transfer and ownership contained in this Section 4.06 bear the following legend:
THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, AS AMENDED (THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION), OF THE
CORPORATION CONTAINS RESTRICTIONS PROHIBITING THE TRANSFER (AS DEFINED IN THE
ARTICLE OF INCORPORATION) OF COMMON STOCK OF THE CORPORATION (INCLUDING THE CREATION
OR GRANT OF CERTAIN OPTIONS, RIGHTS AND WARRANTS) WITHOUT THE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION (THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS) IF SUCH
TRANSFER AFFECTS THE PERCENTAGE OF STOCK OF THE CORPORATION (WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 382 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE CODE) AND THE
TREASURY REGULATIONS PROMULGATED THEREUNDER), THAT IS TREATED AS OWNED BY A FIVE
PERCENT SHAREHOLDER UNDER THE CODE AND SUCH REGULATIONS. IF THE TRANSFER
RESTRICTIONS ARE VIOLATED, THEN THE TRANSFER WILL BE VOID
AB INITIO
AND THE
PURPORTED TRANSFEREE OF THE STOCK WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER EXCESS SECURITIES (AS
DEFINED IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION) TO THE CORPORATIONS AGENT. IN THE EVENT
OF A TRANSFER WHICH DOES NOT INVOLVE SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION WITHIN THE
MEANING OF THE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA (SECURITIES) BUT
WHICH WOULD VIOLATE THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, THE PURPORTED TRANSFEREE (OR THE
RECORD OWNER) OF THE SECURITIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TRANSFER SUFFICIENT SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO THE TERMS PROVIDED FOR IN THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO CAUSE THE
FIVE PERCENT SHAREHOLDER TO NO LONGER BE IN VIOLATION OF THE TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.
THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE HOLDER OF RECORD OF THIS
CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, CONTAINING THE ABOVE-REFERENCED
TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST TO THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL
PLACE OF BUSINESS.
The Board of Directors may also require that any certificates issued by the Corporation evidencing
ownership of shares of Stock that are subject to conditions imposed by the Board of Directors under
section (c) of this Section 4.06 also bear a conspicuous legend referencing the applicable
restrictions.
(l)
Authority of Board of Directors. (1) The Board of Directors shall have the
power to determine all matters necessary for assessing compliance with this Section 4.06,
including, without limitation, (A) the identification of 5-percent Shareholders, (B) whether a
Transfer is a 5-percent Transaction or a Prohibited Transfer, (C) the Percentage Stock Ownership in
the Corporation of any 5-percent Shareholder, (D) whether an instrument constitutes a Corporation
Security, (E) the amount (or fair market value) due to a Purported Transferee pursuant to
section (f), and (F) any other matters which the Board of Directors determines to be relevant. The
good faith determination of the Board of Directors on such matters shall be conclusive and binding
for all the purposes of this Section 4.06. In addition, the Board of Directors may, to the extent
permitted by law, from time to time establish, modify, amend or rescind bylaws, regulations and
procedures of the Corporation not inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 4.06 for
purposes of determining whether any Transfer of Corporation Securities would jeopardize the
Corporations ability to preserve and use the Tax Benefits and for the orderly application,
administration and implementation of this Section 4.06.
(2) Nothing contained in this Section 4.06 shall limit the authority of the Board
of Directors to take such other action to the extent permitted by law as it deems necessary or
advisable to protect the Corporation and its shareholders in preserving the Tax Benefits. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event of a change in law making one or more of the
following actions necessary or desirable, the Board of Directors may, by adopting a written
resolution, (i) accelerate the Expiration Date, (ii) modify the ownership interest percentage in
the Corporation or the Persons or groups covered by this Section 4.06, (iii) modify the definitions
of any terms set forth in this Section 4.06 or (iv) modify the terms of this Section 4.06 as
appropriate, in each case, in order to prevent an ownership change for purposes of Section 382 of
the Code as a result of any changes in applicable Treasury Regulations or otherwise; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors shall not cause there to be such acceleration or modification
unless it determines, in its sole discretion, that such action is reasonably necessary or advisable
to preserve the Tax Benefits or that the continuation of these restrictions is no longer reasonably
necessary for the preservation of the Tax Benefits. Shareholders of the Corporation shall be
notified of such determination through a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or such
other method of notice as the Secretary of the Corporation shall deem appropriate.
(3) In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of
this Section 4.06, including any definition used herein, the Board of Directors shall have the
power to determine the application of such provisions with respect to any situation based on its
reasonable belief, understanding or knowledge of the circumstances. In the event this Section 4.06
requires an action by the Board of Directors but fails to provide specific guidance with respect to
such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so
long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of this Section 4.06. All such actions,
calculations, interpretations and determinations which are done or made by the Board of Directors
in good faith shall be conclusive and binding on the Corporation, the Agent and all other parties
for all other purposes of this Section 4.06. The Board of Directors may delegate all or any portion
of its duties and powers under this Section 4.06 to a committee of the Board of Directors as it
deems necessary or advisable and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, may exercise the
authority granted by this Section 4.06 through duly authorized officers or agents of the
Corporation. Nothing in this Section 4.06 shall be construed to limit or restrict the Board of
Directors in the exercise of its fiduciary duties under applicable law.
(m)
Reliance. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Corporation and the directors
shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the information, opinions, reports or
statements of the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the chief accounting
officer or the corporate controller of the Corporation or of the Corporations legal counsel,
independent auditors, transfer agent, investment bankers or other employees and agents in making
the determinations and findings contemplated by this Section 4.06, and the members of the Board of
Directors shall not be responsible for any good faith errors made in connection therewith. For
purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of any Corporation Securities
owned by any shareholder, the Corporation is entitled to rely on the existence and absence of
filings of Schedule 13D or 13G under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or
similar filings), as of any date, subject to its actual knowledge of the ownership of Corporation
Securities.
(n)
Benefits of This Section 4.06. Nothing in this Section 4.06 shall be
construed to give to any Person other than the Corporation or the Agent any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Section 4.06. This Section 4.06 shall be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Corporation and the Agent.
(o)
Severability. The purpose of this Section 4.06 is to facilitate the
Corporations ability to maintain or preserve its Tax Benefits. If any provision of this Section
4.06 or the application of any such provision to any Person or under any circumstance shall be held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this Section
4.06.
(p)
Waiver. With regard to any power, remedy or right provided herein or
otherwise available to the Corporation or the Agent under this Section 4.06, (1) no waiver will be
effective unless expressly contained in a writing signed by the waiving party and (2) no
alteration, modification or impairment will be implied by reason of any previous waiver, extension
of time, delay or omission in exercise, or other indulgence.
SEACOAST BANKING CORPORATION OF FLORIDA