UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No.  3)

HARVARD ILLINOIS BANCORP, INC.

(Name of Issuer)

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

417429107

(CUSIP Number)

 

Mr. Joseph Stilwell

111 Broadway, 12^th Floor

New York, New York 10006

Telephone:  (212) 269-5800

 

with a copy to:

Spencer L. Schneider, Esq.

111 Broadway, 12^th Floor

New York, New York 10006

Telephone:  (212) 267-6900

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

February 6, 2012
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box. [   ]

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.  Security and Issuer

This is the third amendment (this "Third Amendment") to the original Schedule 13D, which was filed on April 1, 2011 (the "Original Schedule 13D"), amended on April 7, 2011 (the "First Amendment"), and on February 2, 2012 (the "Second Amendment").  This Third Amendment is being filed jointly by Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Value Partners II"); Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Value Partners VII"); Stilwell Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Partners"); Stilwell Value LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Stilwell Value LLC"), and the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII; and Joseph Stilwell, the managing member of and owner of more than 99% of the equity in Stilwell Value LLC and the general partner of Stilwell Partners.  All the filers of this statement are collectively referred to herein as the "Group."

This statement relates to the common stock, par value $0.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. (the "Issuer").  The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 58 North Ayer Street, Harvard, Illinois 60033.  The joint filing agreement of the members of the Group is attached as Exhibit 1 to the Original Schedule 13D.

Item 2.  Identity and Background

(a)-(c)  This statement is filed by Joseph Stilwell with respect to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Joseph Stilwell, including shares of Common Stock held in the names of Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII and Stilwell Partners in Joseph Stilwell's capacities as the general partner of Stilwell Partners and the managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII.

The business address of Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII, Stilwell Partners, Stilwell Value LLC, and Joseph Stilwell is 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, New York 10006.

The principal employment of Joseph Stilwell is investment management. Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII and Stilwell Partners are private investment partnerships engaged in the purchase and sale of securities for their own accounts.  Stilwell Value LLC is in the business of serving as the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII and related partnerships.

(d)  During the past five years, no member of the Group has been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)  During the past five years, no member of the Group has been a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and, as a result of such proceeding, was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, Federal or State securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)  Joseph Stilwell is a citizen of the United States.

 

 

Item 3.  Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration

The amount of funds expended by Stilwell Value Partners II to acquire the 24,930 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $243,983.  Such funds were provided from Stilwell Value Partners II's working capital and, from time to time, in part by margin account loans from subsidiaries of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC extended in the ordinary course of business.

The amount of funds expended by Stilwell Value Partners VII to acquire the 15,070 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name is $151,944.  Such funds were provided from Stilwell Value Partners VII's working capital and, from time to time, in part by margin account loans from subsidiaries of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC extended in the ordinary course of business.

The amount of funds expended to date by Stilwell Partners to acquire the 40,000 shares of Common Stock it holds in its name, which were acquired by Stilwell Partners and a related entity in connection with the Issuer's public offering in April 2010, is $401,000.  Such funds were provided from Stilwell Partners' working capital and, from time to time, in part by margin account loans from subsidiaries of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC extended in the ordinary course of business.

All purchases of shares of Common Stock made by the Group using funds borrowed from Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, if any, were made in margin transactions on their usual terms and conditions.  All or part of the shares of Common Stock owned by members of the Group may from time to time be pledged with one or more banking institutions or brokerage firms as collateral for loans made by such entities to members of the Group.  Such loans generally bear interest at a rate based on the broker's call rate from time to time in effect.  Such indebtedness, if any, may be refinanced with other banks or broker-dealers.

Item 4.  Purpose of Transaction

We are filing this Third Amendment to announce our intent to gain board representation.  As the Issuer has been unable to earn normalized return on equity within a reasonable timeframe, we now believe the institution should be sold. 

 

We believe that management has failed to take the steps necessary to maximize shareholder value.  The Issuer has reported negative overall returns this year.  The Issuer continues to operate under a regulatory memorandum of understanding while management collects substantial salaries and the board of directors approves annual salary increases.  We believe this is a clear indication that management’s interests are not aligned with those of the stockholders.  While we had hoped to work with management and the board, we have now decided to run an independent director nominee at the Issuer's upcoming annual meeting.

 

Copies of  nominee agreements with our nominee and alternate nominee are attached as Exhibits 2 and 3 to this Third Amendment.  Copies of stock option agreements with our nominee and alternate nominee are attached as Exhibits 4 and 5 to this Third Amendment.  

 

THIS THIRD AMENDMENT MAY BE DEEMED TO BE SOLICITATION MATERIAL IN RESPECT OF THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY THE GROUP FROM THE ISSUER'S STOCKHOLDERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUER'S 2012 ANNUAL MEETING.  SECURITY  HOLDERS  ARE  ADVISED  TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES BY JOSEPH STILWELL AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS FROM THE ISSUER'S STOCKHOLDERS FOR USE AT THE ISSUER'S 2012 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION, INCLUDING INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION.  WHEN COMPLETED, A DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND A FORM OF PROXY WILL BE MAILED TO STOCKHOLDERS OF THE ISSUER AND WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT NO CHARGE AT THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.  INFORMATION RELATING TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN SUCH PROXY SOLICITATION IS INCLUDED IN APPENDIX A HERETO AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN.

 

 

Since 2000, affiliates of the Group have filed Schedule 13Ds to report greater than five percent positions in 37 other publicly traded companies.  For simplicity, these affiliates are referred to as the "Group", "we", "us", or "our."  In each instance, our purpose has been to profit from the appreciation in the market price of the shares we held by asserting shareholder rights.  In each situation, we believed that the values of the companies' assets were not adequately reflected in the market prices of their shares.  The filings are described below.

On May 1, 2000, we filed a Schedule 13D to report a position in Security of Pennsylvania Financial Corp. ("SPN").  We scheduled a meeting with senior management to discuss ways to maximize the value of SPN's assets.  On June 2, 2000, prior to the scheduled meeting, SPN and Northeast Pennsylvania Financial Corp. announced SPN's acquisition.  We then sold our shares on the open market.

On July 7, 2000, we filed a Schedule 13D to report a position in Cameron Financial Corporation ("Cameron").  We exercised our shareholder rights by, among other things, requesting that Cameron management hire an investment banker, demanding Cameron's list of shareholders, meeting with Cameron's management, demanding that Cameron invite our representatives to join the board, writing to other Cameron shareholders to express our dismay with management's inability to maximize shareholder value and publishing that letter in the local press.  On October 6, 2000, Cameron announced its sale to Dickinson Financial Corp., and we sold our shares on the open market.

On January 4, 2001, following the announcement by Community Financial Corp. ("CFIC") of the sale of two of its four subsidiary banks and its intention to sell one or more of its remaining subsidiaries, we filed a Schedule 13D to report our position.  We reported that we acquired CFIC stock for investment purposes.  On January 25, 2001, CFIC announced the sale of one of its remaining subsidiaries.  We then announced our intention to run an alternate slate of directors at the 2001 annual meeting if CFIC did not sell the remaining subsidiary by then.  On March 27, 2001, we wrote to CFIC confirming that CFIC had agreed to meet with one of our proposed nominees to the board.  On March 30, 2001, before our meeting took place, CFIC announced its merger with First Financial Corporation, and we sold our shares on the open market.

On February 23, 2001, we filed a Schedule 13D to report a position in Montgomery Financial Corporation ("Montgomery").  On April 20, 2001, we met with Montgomery's management, and suggested that they maximize shareholder value by selling the institution.  We also informed management that we would run an alternate slate of directors at the 2001 annual meeting unless Montgomery were sold.  Eleven days after we filed our Schedule 13D, however, Montgomery's board amended its bylaws to make it more difficult for us to run an alternate slate by limiting the pool of potential nominees to local persons with a banking relation and shortening the deadline to nominate an alternate slate.  We located qualified nominees under the restrictive bylaw provisions and noticed our slate within the deadline.  On June 5, 2001, Montgomery announced that it had hired a banker to explore a sale.  On July 24, 2001, Montgomery announced its merger with Union Community Bancorp.

 

On June 14, 2001, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in HCB Bancshares, Inc. ("HCBB").  On September 4, 2001, we reported that we had entered into a standstill agreement with HCBB, under which HCBB agreed to: (a) add a director selected by us, (b) consider conducting a Dutch tender auction, (c) institute annual financial targets, and (d) retain an investment banker to explore alternatives if it did not achieve the financial targets.  On October 22, 2001, our nominee, John G. Rich, Esq., was named to the board.  On January 31, 2002, HCBB announced a modified Dutch tender auction to repurchase 20% of its shares.  Although HCBB's outstanding share count decreased by 33% between the filing of our original Schedule 13D and August 2003, HCBB did not achieve the financial target.  On August 12, 2003, HCBB announced it had hired a banker to assist in exploring alternatives for maximizing shareholder value, including a sale.  On January 14, 2004, HCBB announced its sale to Rock Bancshares Inc. and we sold our shares on the open market.

On December 15, 2000, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Oregon Trail Financial Corp. ("OTFC").  In January 2001, we met with the management of OTFC to discuss our concerns that management was not maximizing shareholder value, and we proposed that OTFC voluntarily place our nominees on the board.  OTFC rejected our proposal, and we announced our intention to solicit proxies to elect a board nominee.  We demanded OTFC's shareholder list, but it refused.  We sued OTFC in Baker County, Oregon, and the court ruled in our favor and sanctioned it.  We also sued two OTFC directors alleging that one had violated OTFC's residency requirement and that the other had committed perjury.  Both suits were dismissed pre-trial but we filed an appeal in one suit and were permitted to re-file the other suit in state court.  On August 16, 2001, we started soliciting proxies to elect Kevin D. Padrick, Esq. to the board.  We argued in our proxy materials that OTFC should have repurchased its shares at prices below book value.  OTFC announced the hiring of an investment banker.  Then, the day after the 9/11 attacks, OTFC sued us in Portland, Oregon and moved to invalidate our proxies; the court denied the motion and the election proceeded.

On October 12, 2001, OTFC's shareholders elected our candidate by a 2-1 margin.  In the five months after the filing of our first proxy statement (i.e., from August 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001), OTFC repurchased approximately 15% of its shares.  On March 12, 2002, we entered into a standstill agreement with OTFC.  OTFC agreed to:  (a) achieve annual targets for return on equity, (b) reduce their current capital ratio, (c) obtain advice from an investment banker regarding annual 10% stock repurchases, (d) re-elect our director to the board, (e) reimburse a portion of our expenses, and (f) withdraw their lawsuit.  On February 24, 2003, OTFC and FirstBank NW Corp. announced their merger, and we sold substantially all of our shares on the open market.

On November 25, 2002, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in American Physicians Capital, Inc. ("ACAP").  The Schedule 13D disclosed that on January 18, 2002, Michigan's insurance department had approved our request to solicit proxies to elect two directors to ACAP's board.  On January 29, 2002, we noticed our intention to nominate two directors at the 2002 annual meeting.  On February 20, 2002, we entered into a three-year standstill agreement with ACAP, providing for ACAP to add our nominee, Spencer L. Schneider, Esq., to its board.  ACAP also agreed to consider using a portion of its excess capital to repurchase ACAP's shares in each of the fiscal years 2002 and 2003 so that its outstanding share count would decrease by 15% for each of those years.  In its 2002 fiscal year, ACAP repurchased 15% of its outstanding shares; these repurchases were highly accretive to per-share book value.  On November 6, 2003, ACAP announced a reserve charge and that it would explore options to maximize shareholder value.  It also announced that it would exit the healthcare and workers' compensation insurance businesses.  ACAP then announced that it had retained Sandler O'Neill & Partners, L.P., to assist the board.  On December 2, 2003, ACAP announced the early retirement of its President and CEO.  On December 23, 2003, ACAP named R. Kevin Clinton its new President and CEO.  On June 24, 2004, ACAP announced that it had decided that the best means to maximize shareholder value would be to shed non-core businesses and focus on its core business line in its core markets.  We increased our holdings in ACAP, and we announced that we intended to seek additional board representation.  On November 10, 2004, ACAP invited Mr. Stilwell to sit on the board, and we entered into a new standstill agreement.  This agreement was terminated in November 2007, with our nominees remaining on ACAP's board.  On May 8, 2008, our nominees were re-elected to three-year terms expiring in 2011.  On passage of federal healthcare legislation in 2010, ACAP became concerned about the fundamentals of its business and promptly acted to assess its strategic alternatives.  On October 22, 2010, ACAP was acquired by The Doctors Company.

 

On June 30, 2003, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. ("FPIC").  On August 12, 2003, Florida's insurance department approved our request to hold more than 5% of FPIC's shares, to solicit proxies to hold board seats, and to exercise shareholder rights.  On November 10, 2003, FPIC invited our nominee, John G. Rich, Esq., to join the board and we signed a confidentiality agreement.  On June 7, 2004, we disclosed that because FPIC's management had taken steps to increase shareholder value and because its market price increased and reflected fair value in our estimation, we sold our shares on the open market, decreasing our holdings below five percent.  Our nominee was invited to remain on the board after we sold our stake.

On March 29, 2004, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Community Bancshares, Inc. ("COMB").  We disclosed our intention to meet with COMB's management and evaluate management's progress in resolving its regulatory issues, lawsuits, problem loans, and non-performing assets, and that we would likely support management if it effectively addressed COMB's challenges.  On November 21, 2005, we amended our Schedule 13D and stated that although we believed that COMB's management had made good progress, COMB's return on equity would likely remain below average for the foreseeable future, and it should therefore be sold.  On November 21, 2005, we also stated that if COMB did not announce a sale before our deadline to solicit proxies for the next annual meeting, we would solicit proxies to elect our own slate.  On January 6, 2006, we disclosed the names of our three board nominees.  On May 1, 2006, COMB announced its sale to The Banc Corporation, and we sold our shares on the open market.

On June 20, 2005, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Prudential Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania ("PBIP").  Most of PBIP's shares are held by the Prudential Mutual Holding Company (the "MHC"), which is controlled by PBIP's board.  The MHC controls most corporate decisions coming up for a shareholder vote, such as the election of directors.  But regulations promulgated by the FDIC previously barred the MHC from voting on PBIP's management stock benefit plans, and PBIP's IPO prospectus indicated that the MHC would not vote on the plans.  We announced in August 2005 that we would solicit proxies to oppose adoption of the plans as a referendum to place Mr. Stilwell on the board.  PBIP decided not to put the plans up for a vote at the 2006 annual meeting. 

 

In December 2005, we solicited proxies to withhold votes on the election of directors as a referendum to place Mr. Stilwell on the board.  At the 2006 annual meeting, 71% of PBIP's voting public shares were withheld from voting on management's nominees.

On April 6, 2006, PBIP announced that just after we had filed our Schedule 13D, it had secretly solicited a letter from an FDIC staffer (which it concealed from the public) that the MHC would be allowed to vote in favor of the plans.  PBIP also announced a special meeting to vote on the plans.  We alerted the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Fed") about this announcement, and PBIP was directed to seek Fed approval before adopting the plans.  On April 19, 2006, PBIP postponed the special meeting.  The Fed subsequently followed the FDIC's position in September 2006.  In December 2006, we solicited proxies to withhold votes on the election of PBIP's directors at the 2007 annual meeting.  At the meeting, 75% of PBIP's voting public shares were withheld.  Also during the annual meeting, PBIP's President and Chief Executive Officer, in response to a question posed by Mr. Stilwell, was unable to state the meaning of per share return on equity.  On March 7, 2007, we disclosed that we were publicizing the results of PBIP's elections and its directors' unwillingness to hold a democratic vote on the stock plans by placing billboard advertisements throughout Philadelphia.

In December 2007, we filed proxy materials for the solicitation of proxies to withhold votes on the election of PBIP's directors at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.  At the February 4, 2008 annual meeting, an average of 77% of PBIP's voting public shares withheld their votes.  Excluding shares held in PBIP's ESOP, an average of 88% of the voting public shares withheld their votes in this election.

On October 4, 2006, we sued PBIP, the MHC, and the directors of PBIP and the MHC in federal court in Philadelphia seeking an order to prevent the MHC from voting in favor of the plans.  On August 15, 2007, the court dismissed some claims, but sustained our cause of action against the MHC as majority shareholder of PBIP for breach of fiduciary duties.  Discovery proceeded and all the directors were deposed.  Both sides moved for summary judgment, but the court ordered the case to trial which was scheduled for June 2008.  On May 22, 2008, we voluntarily discontinued the lawsuit after determining that it would be more effective and appropriate to pursue the directors on a personal basis in a derivative action.  On June 11, 2008, we filed a notice to appeal certain portions of the lower court's August 15, 2007 order dismissing portions of the lawsuit.

We entered into a settlement agreement and an expense agreement with PBIP in November 2008 under which we agreed to support PBIP's stock benefit plans, drop our litigation and withdraw our shareholder demand, and generally support management, and, in exchange, PBIP agreed, subject to certain conditions, to repurchase up to 3 million of its shares (including shares previously purchased), reimburse a portion of our expenses, and either adopt a second step conversion or add our nominee who meets certain qualification requirements to its board if the repurchases were not completed by a specified time.

 

On March 5, 2010, we reported that our ownership in PBIP had dropped below 5 percent as a result of open market sales and sales of common stock to PBIP.

On January 19, 2006, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in SCPIE Holdings Inc. ("SKP").  We announced we would run our slate of directors at the 2006 annual meeting and demanded SKP's shareholder list.  SKP initially refused to timely produce the list, but did so after we sued it in Delaware Chancery Court.  We engaged in a proxy contest at the 2006 annual meeting, but SKP's directors were elected.  On December 14, 2006, SKP agreed to place Mr. Stilwell on the board.  On October 16, 2007, Mr. Stilwell resigned from SKP's board after it approved a sale of SKP that Mr. Stilwell believed was an inferior offer.  We solicited shareholder proxies in opposition to the proposed sale; however, the sale was approved.

On July 27, 2006, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Roma Financial Corp. ("ROMA").  Nearly 70% of ROMA's shares are held by a mutual holding company (like PBIP, NECB, WMPN and MLVF) controlled by ROMA's board.  In April 2007, we engaged in a proxy solicitation at ROMA's first annual meeting, urging shareholders to withhold their vote from management's slate.  ROMA did not put their stock benefit plans up for a vote at that meeting.  We then met with ROMA management.  In the four months after ROMA became eligible to repurchase its shares, it promptly announced and substantially completed repurchases of 15% of its publicly held shares, which were accretive to shareholder value.  In our judgment, management came to understand the importance of proper capital allocation.  Based on ROMA management's prompt implementation of shareholder-friendly capital allocation plans, we supported management's adoption of stock benefit plans at the 2008 shareholder meeting, and we sold our shares in the open market.

On November 5, 2007, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in NorthEast Community Bancorp, Inc. (“NECB”).  A majority of NECB’s shares are held by a mutual holding company (like PBIP, ROMA, WMPN, and MLVF) controlled by NECB’s board. We presented a model stock benefit plan to management that we would support based on a vesting schedule that more closely aligns management’s interests to shareholder returns. NECB’s management responded to the proposal with a form letter. On July 1, 2010, we delivered a written demand to NECB demanding to inspect its shareholder list.  On July 22, 2010, NECB announced its first ever share repurchase plan. NECB, however, refused to supply us with the shareholder list.  Therefore, on July 23, 2010, we sued NECB in federal court in New York seeking an order compelling compliance.  On August 31, 2010, NECB produced the list of shareholders to us and we dismissed the lawsuit. We have written to shareholders expressing our belief that NECB’s directors have not properly overseen management.  On October 3, 2011, we sent a letter to NECB’s board of directors demanding that NECB expand the board with disinterested directors to consider a second step conversion.  On November 2, 2011, we filed a lawsuit against NECB's board of directors, personally and derivatively, for abuse of a federal bank charter to perpetuate nepotism.  On November 16, 2011, we sent a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission arguing that Part II, Item 1 of NECB's Form 10-Q, filed on November 14, 2011, is misleading in regards to our lawsuit.

On May 23, 2008, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in William Penn Bancorp, Inc. ("WMPN").  A majority of WMPN's shares are held by a mutual holding company (like PBIP, NECB, ROMA, and MLVF) controlled by WMPN's board.  We hope to work with management in maximizing shareholder value.  We provided a PowerPoint presentation to management regarding our views on capital allocation.

 

On May 30, 2008, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Malvern Federal Bancorp, Inc. ("MLVF").  A majority of MLVF's shares are currently held by a mutual holding company (like PBIP, NECB, ROMA, and WMPN) controlled by MLVF's board.  We hope to work with management in maximizing shareholder value.  On October 26, 2010, we mailed a letter to MLVF demanding that it pursue a derivative action against its directors for breach of their fiduciary duties.  MLVF failed to pursue the action and, on June 3, 2011, we sued MLVF's directors demanding that the court, among other things, order the directors to properly consider pursuing a second step conversion.  On November 9, 2011, The Honorable Judge Howard F. Riley, Jr., overruled the director defendants' preliminary objections to the derivative lawsuit.   On January 17, 2012, MLVF announced its intention to undertake a second step conversion and we since have withdrawn the lawsuit.

On November 7, 2008, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Kingsway Financial Services Inc. ("KFS").  We requested a meeting with its CEO and chairman to discuss ways to maximize shareholder value and minimize both operational and balance sheet risks, but the CEO was unresponsive.  We then requisitioned a special shareholder meeting to remove the CEO and chairman from the KFS board and replace them with our two nominees.  On January 7, 2009, we entered into a settlement agreement with KFS whereby, among other things, the CEO resigned from the KFS board and KFS expanded its board from nine to ten seats and appointed our nominees to fill the two vacant seats on the board.  By April 23, 2009, the board was reconstituted with just three of the original ten legacy directors remaining.  Also, Joseph Stilwell was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of one of our nominees, Larry G. Swets, Jr., and our other nominee, Spencer L. Schneider, was elected chairman of the board.  In addition, the CEO and CFO were fired for incompetence and insubordination.  By November 3, 2009, all of the legacy directors had resigned from the board.  On May 27, 2010, Mr. Stilwell and Mr. Schneider were re-elected to the board.  On June 1, 2010, Mr. Swets was appointed CEO.  During the time the Group has had board representation, KFS has sold non-core assets, repurchased public debt at a discount to face value, sold a credit sensitive asset, disposed of its subsidiary Lincoln General, substantially reduced its expenses, and reduced other balance sheet and operations risks.

On December 29, 2008, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in First Savings Financial Group, Inc. ("FSFG").  We met with management in New York.  FSFG announced a stock repurchase plan and began repurchasing its shares.  In December 2009, we reported that our beneficial ownership in the outstanding FSFG common stock had fallen below 5 percent.

On March 12, 2009, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Alliance Bancorp, Inc. of Pennsylvania ("ALLB").  When we announced our reporting position, a majority of ALLB's shares were held by a mutual holding company (like PBIP, NECB, ROMA, WMPN, and MLVF) controlled by ALLB's board.  However, on August 11, 2010, ALLB announced its intention to undertake a second step offering, selling all shares to the public.  The plan of conversion and reorganization was approved by depositors at a special meeting held December 29, 2010.  We strongly supported ALLB's action.  Following completion of the conversion of Alliance Bank from the mutual holding company structure to the stock holding company structure, we increased our stake with the belief that shareholders and ALLB will do well if management focuses on profitability.

 

On September 24, 2010, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in FedFirst Financial Corporation ("FFCO").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On October 8, 2010, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Wayne Savings Bancshares, Inc. ("WAYN").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On October 18, 2010, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Standard Financial Corp. ("STND").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On January 3, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Home Federal Bancorp, Inc. of Louisiana ("HFBL").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On February 7, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Wolverine Bancorp, Inc. ("WBKC").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On February 28, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in SP Bancorp, Inc. ("SPBC").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On March 28, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Eureka Financial Corp. ("EKFC").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On April 11, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Fraternity Community Bancorp, Inc. ("FRTR").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On April 18, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Sunshine Financial, Inc. ("SSNF"). We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On July 5, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Jacksonville Bancorp, Inc. ("JSXB"). We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On July 11, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Naugatuck Valley Financial Corporation ("NVSL").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On August 24, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Colonial Financial Services, Inc. ("COBK").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On September 12, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in First Financial Northwest, Inc. ("FFNW").  On January 11, 2012, FFNW appointed our general counsel, Spencer Schneider, as a director of FFNW and its banking subsidiary.  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

 

On September 23, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Poage Bankshares, Inc. ("PBSK").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On September 29, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in United Insurance Holdings Corp. ("UIHC").  We hope to work with UIHC to maximize shareholder value.

On October 7, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Provident Financial Holdings, Inc. (“PROV”).  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On October 24, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in ASB Bancorp, Inc. ("ASBB").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On November 21, 2011, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in Sound Financial, Inc. ("SNFL").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

On January 19, 2012, we filed a Schedule 13D reporting a position in West End Indiana Bancshares, Inc. ("WEIN").  We hope to work with management and the board to maximize shareholder value.

Members of the Group may seek to make additional purchases or sales of shares of Common Stock. Except as described in this filing, no member of the Group has any plans or proposals which relate to, or could result in, any of the matters referred to in paragraphs (a) through (j), inclusive, of Item 4 of Schedule 13D. Members of the Group may, at any time and from time to time, review or reconsider their positions and formulate plans or proposals with respect thereto.

Item 5.  Interest in Securities of the Issuer

The percentages used in this filing are calculated based on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, 816,076, reported as the number of outstanding shares as of November 14, 2011, in the Issuer's Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2011.

(A)  Stilwell Value Partners II

(a)      Aggregate number of shares beneficially owned:  80,000

Percentage: 9.8%

 

(b)     1.  Sole power to vote or to direct vote:  0

2.  Shared power to vote or to direct vote:  80,000

3.  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:  0

4.  Shared power to dispose or to direct disposition:  80,000

 

(c)      Stilwell Value Partners II has not purchased or sold any shares of Common Stock since the filing of the Second Amendment.

 

 

(d)     Because he is the managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Value Partners II, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Stilwell Value Partners II.  Therefore, Joseph Stilwell is deemed to share voting and disposition power with Stilwell Value Partners II with regard to those shares of Common Stock.

(B)  Stilwell Value Partners VII

(a)      Aggregate number of shares beneficially owned:  80,000

Percentage: 9.8%

 

(b)     1.  Sole power to vote or to direct vote:  0

2.  Shared power to vote or to direct vote:  80,000

3.  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:  0

4.  Shared power to dispose or to direct disposition:  80,000

 

(c)      Stilwell Value Partners VII has not purchased or sold any shares of Common Stock since the filing of the Second Amendment.

 

(d)     Because he is the managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners VII, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Value Partners VII, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Stilwell Value Partners VII.  Therefore, Joseph Stilwell is deemed to share voting and disposition power with Stilwell Value Partners VII with regard to those shares of Common Stock.

 

(C)  Stilwell Partners

(a)      Aggregate number of shares beneficially owned:  80,000

Percentage:  9.8%

 

(b)     1.  Sole power to vote or to direct vote:  0

2.  Shared power to vote or to direct vote:  80,000

3.  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:  0

4.  Shared power to dispose or to direct disposition:  80,000

 

(c)      Stilwell Partners has not purchased or sold any shares of Common Stock since the filing of the Original Schedule 13D.

 

(d)     Because he is the general partner of Stilwell Partners, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Partners, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Stilwell Partners.  Therefore, Joseph Stilwell is deemed to share voting and disposition power with Stilwell Partners with regard to those shares of Common Stock.

 

(D)  Joseph Stilwell

(a)      Aggregate number of shares beneficially owned:  80,000

Percentage:  9.8%

 

(b)     1.  Sole power to vote or to direct vote:  0

2.  Shared power to vote or to direct vote:  80,000

3.  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:  0

4.  Shared power to dispose or to direct disposition:  80,000

 

(c)      Joseph Stilwell has made no purchases of shares of Common Stock.

 

(E)     Stilwell Value LLC

 

(a)      Aggregate number of shares beneficially owned:  80,000

Percentage:  9.8%

 

(b)     1.  Sole power to vote or to direct vote:  0

2.  Shared power to vote or to direct vote:  80,000

3.  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition:  0

4.  Shared power to dispose or to direct disposition:  80,000

 

(c)      Stilwell Value LLC has made no purchases of shares of Common Stock.

(d)     Because he is the managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Value LLC.  Stilwell Value LLC is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII.  Therefore, Stilwell Value LLC may be deemed to share with Joseph Stilwell voting and disposition power with regard to the shares of Common Stock held by Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII.

 

Item 6.  Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer

Other than the Joint Filing Agreement filed as Exhibit 1 to the Original Schedule 13D and the Stock Option Agreements filed with this Third Amendment as Exhibits 4 and 5, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 hereof and between such persons and any person with respect to any securities of the Issuer, including but not limited to transfer or voting of any of the securities, finders' fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of profits, divisions of profits or losses, or the giving or withholding of proxies, except for sharing of profits.  Stilwell Value LLC, in its capacity as general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII, and Joseph Stilwell, in his capacity as the general partner of Stilwell Partners and managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, are entitled to an allocation of a portion of profits.

See Items 1 and 2 above regarding disclosure of the relationships between members of the Group, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.  Material to be Filed as Exhibits

 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of our knowledge and belief, we certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date:    February 7, 2012

 

 

APPENDIX A

 

IDENTITY OF PARTICIPANTS

 

The participants in this solicitation include Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Value Partners II"); Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Value Partners VII"); Stilwell Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Stilwell Partners"); Stilwell Value LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Stilwell Value LLC"), and Joseph Stilwell (collectively, the "Beneficial Owners"), as well as Mark S. Saladin and Peter Wilson (together, the "Nominees," and collectively with the Beneficial Owners, the "Participants").

 

With  respect  to each Participant, other than as disclosed in this Appendix A, such Participant is not, and, within the past year, was not a party to any contract, arrangement or  understanding with any person with respect to any securities of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. (the  "Issuer"),  including, but not limited to, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or  calls, guarantees against loss or guarantees of profit, division of losses or profits, or the giving or withholding of proxies, except for sharing of profits.  Stilwell Value LLC, in its capacity as general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII, and Joseph Stilwell, in his capacity as the general partner of Stilwell Partners and managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, are entitled to an allocation of a portion of profits.  With respect to each Participant, other than as disclosed in the Appendix A, neither such Participant nor any of such Participant's associates has any arrangement or  understanding  with  any person with respect to (A) any future employment by the Issuer or its affiliates or (B) any future transactions to which the Issuer or  any of its affiliates will or may be a party.

 

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF RECORD HOLDERS

 

 

(1) The percentages used in this filing are calculated based on the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, 816,076, reported as the number of outstanding shares as of November 14, 2011, in the Issuer's Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2011.

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS

 

Joseph Stilwell is the general partner of Stilwell Partners and the managing member of and owner of more than 99% of the equity in Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII.

 

 

The business address of Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII, Stilwell Partners, Stilwell Value LLC, and Joseph Stilwell is 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, New York 10006.

The principal employment of Joseph Stilwell is investment management. Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII and Stilwell Partners are private investment partnerships engaged in the purchase and sale of securities for their own accounts.  Stilwell Value LLC is in the business of serving as the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II, Stilwell Value Partners VII and related partnerships.

 

Because he is the general partner of Stilwell Partners, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Partners, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Stilwell Partners.  Therefore, Joseph Stilwell is deemed to share voting and disposition power with Stilwell Partners with regard to those shares of Common Stock.  

 

Because he is the managing member and 99% owner of Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII, Joseph Stilwell has the power to direct the affairs of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII, including the voting and disposition of shares of Common Stock held in the name of Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII.  Therefore, Joseph Stilwell is deemed to share voting and disposition power with Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII with regard to those shares of Common Stock.

 

The Beneficial Owners may be deemed to beneficially own, in the aggregate, 80,000 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 9.8% of the Issuer's outstanding shares of Common Stock (based upon the 816,076 shares of Common Stock reported as the number of outstanding shares as of November 14, 2011, in the Issuer's Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2011).  The Beneficial Owners have an interest in the election of directors at the Issuer's annual meeting as shareholders.

 

TWO YEAR SUMMARY TABLE

 

The following table indicates the date of each purchase and sale of shares of Common Stock by Mr. Stilwell and entities affiliated with Mr. Stilwell within the past two years and the number of shares of Common Stock in each purchase and sale.

 

 

 

(1) These shares of Common Stock were acquired in connection with the Issuer's public offering in April 2010.

 

(2) Stilwell Value Partners I sold these shares to Stilwell Partners at the over-the-counter market price on the date of sale.

 

(3) Such funds were provided from time to time, in part by margin account loans from subsidiaries of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC extended in the ordinary course of business.  All purchases of shares of Common Stock made by the Group using funds borrowed from Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, if any, were made in margin transactions on their usual terms and conditions.  All or part of the shares of Common Stock owned by members of the Group may from time to time be pledged with one or more banking institutions or brokerage firms as collateral for loans made by such entities to members of the Group.  Such loans generally bear interest at a rate based on the broker's call rate from time to time in effect.  Such indebtedness, if any, may be refinanced with other banks or broker-dealers.

 

(4)  Mr. Stilwell is the managing member of and owner of more than 99% of the equity in Stilwell Value LLC, which is the general partner of Stilwell Value Partners I.  The business address of Stilwell Value Partners I is 111 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, New York 10006.  Stilwell Value Partners I no longer owns, beneficially, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock.

 

 

INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES

 

With  respect  to  each  Nominee,  such  Nominee  is  independent under the independence standards applicable to the Issuer under (i) paragraph (a)(1) of  Item  407  of  Regulation  S-K  and  (ii)  NASDAQ  Listing  Rule  5605.

 

 

Mr. Wilson is a trial attorney who has been practicing for over 20 years.  Since 2005, he has been the principal of Peter Wilson Law Office specializing in criminal and family law.  Mr. Wilson served as a municipal court judge in Fontana, Wisconsin for 16 years.  Mr. Wilson received a BA from Washington University and his JD from The John Marshall School of Law.

 

Mr. Wilson has an interest in the election of directors at the Issuer's annual meeting pursuant to the Nominee Agreement attached as Exhibit 2 and the Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit 4 to this Third Amendment.  Under the Stock Option Agreement dated as of February 6, 2012, Mr. Wilson was granted the option to purchase an aggregate of 20,000 shares of the Common Stock owned by Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII at a purchase price of $13.00 per share ("Option Shares").  Of these, 5,000 Option Shares will vest the day after the Issuer's 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (provided that Mr. Wilson has not withdrawn from and remains eligible for election as a director of Issuer through that date) and the remaining 15,000 Option Shares will vest if and when Mr. Wilson is seated on the Issuer's board of directors by reason of solicitation of proxies by the Participants or at the invitation of the Issuer with the grantor's consent. The option will become exercisable upon the occurrence of certain transactions specified in the Stock Option Agreement and will expire three years after the first 5,000 Option Shares vest, unless terminated earlier.  Mr. Wilson does not, and his associates do not, own, beneficially or of record, any shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.

 

 

 

Mr. Saladin is a Partner at the law firm of Zanck, Coen & Wright, P.C.  His areas of practice include general business and corporate law, real estate, and real estate development.  Mr. Saladin has been a Woodstock, Illinois City Council member since November 2010 and is currently serving a four year term ending in April 2015.  He is the Vice President of McHenry County Youth Sports Association ("MCYSA"), a nonprofit organization which runs youth baseball events, and serves on the MCYSA board of directors.  Mr. Saladin has a BA in Business-Economics from Illinois Benedictine College and received his JD from The John Marshall School of Law.  Mr. Saladin has extensive management and business experience and experience advising and providing legal guidance to boards of directors and officers.

 

Mr. Saladin has an interest in the election of directors at the Issuer's annual meeting pursuant to the Nominee Agreement attached as Exhibit 3 and the Stock Option Agreement attached as Exhibit 5 to this Third Amendment.  Under the Stock Option Agreement dated as of February 6, 2012, Mr. Saladin was granted the option to purchase an aggregate of 20,000 shares of the Common Stock owned by Stilwell Value Partners II and Stilwell Value Partners VII at a purchase price of $13.00 per share ("Option Shares").  Of these, 5,000 Option Shares will vest the day after the Issuer's 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (provided that Mr. Saladin has not withdrawn from and remains eligible for election as a director of Issuer through that date) and the remaining 15,000 Option Shares will vest if and when Mr. Saladin is seated on the Issuer's board of directors by reason of solicitation of proxies by the Participants or at the invitation of the Issuer with the grantor's consent.  The option will become exercisable upon the occurrence of certain transactions specified in the Stock Option Agreement and will expire three years after the first 5,000 Option Shares vest, unless terminated earlier.  Mr. Saladin does not, and his associates do not, own, beneficially or of record, any shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.

 

 

NOMINEE AGREEMENT

This Nominee Agreement is made this 6^th day of February, 2012 among Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P. and Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P. (collectively referred to as "SVP"), having their offices at 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10006, and Peter Wilson, an individual residing at 813 Vanslyke Drive, Fontana, WI 53125 ("Nominee"). 

WHEREAS, SVP and affiliated entities are the beneficial owners of approximately 71,300 shares of common stock of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. ("HARI") and may solicit proxies in order to nominate one nominee and one alternate nominee to HARI's Board of Directors at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting, such nomination being in opposition to HARI's management's slate of nominees;

WHEREAS, the bylaws of HARI provide in pertinent part that, “No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of Directors: (a) if such person has been the subject of supervisory action by a financial regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist order or an agreement or other written statement subject to public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. §1818(u), or any successor provision; (b) if such person has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under state or federal law; (c) if such person is currently charged in any information, indictment, or other complaint with the commission of or participation in such a crime; or (d) if such person did not maintain his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date of his purported election or appointment to the Board of Directors, provided that this Section (d) shall not apply to full time employees of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. No person may serve on the Board of Directors and at the same time be a director or officer of a co-operative bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, trust company, bank holding company or banking association (in each case whether chartered by a state, the federal government or any other jurisdiction), other than of a subsidiary of the Corporation, that engages in business activities in the same market area as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.";

WHEREAS, Nominee (a) has maintained his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of HARI or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date hereof, (b) is otherwise eligible to sit as a director of HARI pursuant to each of the other bylaw eligibility requirements of HARI quoted above in the second Whereas clause, and (c) agrees to be nominated for and sit on the Board of Directors of HARI (the "Board") if elected at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting for a term to expire at the 2015 annual stockholders meeting;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.         Nominee hereby agrees to have his name placed in nomination by SVP as its nominee or alternate nominee to sit as a member of the Board, and for that purpose, understands and agrees that SVP will solicit proxies from shareholders to cause Nominee to be elected. Simultaneous with the execution of this Agreement, Nominee shall deliver his written consent to be named in an SVP proxy statement and to serve as a director of the Board if elected, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Nominee understands that SVP retains the right to determine whether Nominee will be its alternate or actual nominee and will so advise Nominee of same prior to the solicitation of proxies. Nominee understands that an alternate nominee may become the actual nominee if the actual nominee does not stand for election.

 

2.         (a) Nominee hereby represents and warrants to SVP that he has maintained his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of HARI or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date hereof and is otherwise eligible to sit as a director of HARI pursuant to each of the other bylaw eligibility requirements of HARI quoted above in the second Whereas clause.  Nominee has executed and delivered to SVP a Director Questionnaire and hereby certifies that the contents thereof are true.

 (b)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Stock Option Agreement, defined below, Nominee hereby agrees that in the event of any breach or misrepresentation by Nominee of any of his or her obligations or representations contained herein (i) the Option (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement) granted in the Stock Option Agreement shall be null and void, and (ii) Nominee shall not be entitled to exercise the Option or be entitled to any payments hereunder or under the Stock Option Agreement.

3.         SVP shall reimburse all of Nominee's actual out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with the nomination process, including telephone, postage, and travel; it being understood, however, that should Nominee be elected as a director, he will request that HARI reimburse his expenses for attending board and committee meetings.

4.         SVP shall grant Nominee an option to purchase up to twenty thousand (20,000) shares of Common Stock, on the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Stock Option Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the parties hereto, annexed hereto as Exhibit B (the "Stock Option Agreement"). 

5.         SVP hereby indemnifies and holds Nominee harmless for all damages and expenses incurred in connection with agreeing to have his name placed in nomination and to have proxies solicited in order to elect him to the Board of Directors of HARI.  Nominee shall give SVP notice of the occurrence of an event requiring indemnification no later than 20 days after nominee has knowledge of such an event. SVP retains the sole right to select and retain counsel for Nominee. This indemnification shall not apply to any claims or damages arising out of Nominee being a member of the Board of Directors of HARI.

 

 

 

6.         Nominee understands that this Agreement will be publicly disclosed by SVP.

 

 

EXHIBIT A

CONSENT OF PROPOSED NOMINEE

I, Peter Wilson, hereby consent to be named in the proxy statement of Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P., Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P and their affiliates to be used in connection with their solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. for use in voting at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc., and I hereby consent and agree to serve a director of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. if elected at such Annual Meeting.

___________________________________

Dated:  January __, 2012

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Omitted

 

NOMINEE AGREEMENT

This Nominee Agreement is made this 6^th day of February, 2012 among Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P. and Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P. (collectively referred to as "SVP"), having their offices at 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10006, and Mark Saladin, an individual residing at 1267 Amber Court, Woodstock, IL 60098 ("Nominee"). 

WHEREAS, SVP and affiliated entities are the beneficial owners of approximately 71,300 shares of common stock of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. ("HARI") and may solicit proxies in order to nominate one nominee and one alternate nominee to HARI's Board of Directors at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting, such nomination being in opposition to HARI's management's slate of nominees;

WHEREAS, the bylaws of HARI provide in pertinent part that, “No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of Directors: (a) if such person has been the subject of supervisory action by a financial regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist order or an agreement or other written statement subject to public disclosure under 12 U.S.C. §1818(u), or any successor provision; (b) if such person has been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under state or federal law; (c) if such person is currently charged in any information, indictment, or other complaint with the commission of or participation in such a crime; or (d) if such person did not maintain his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of the Corporation or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date of his purported election or appointment to the Board of Directors, provided that this Section (d) shall not apply to full time employees of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. No person may serve on the Board of Directors and at the same time be a director or officer of a co-operative bank, credit union, savings bank, savings and loan association, trust company, bank holding company or banking association (in each case whether chartered by a state, the federal government or any other jurisdiction), other than of a subsidiary of the Corporation, that engages in business activities in the same market area as the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries.";

WHEREAS, Nominee (a) has maintained his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of HARI or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date hereof, (b) is otherwise eligible to sit as a director of HARI pursuant to each of the other bylaw eligibility requirements of HARI quoted above in the second Whereas clause, and (c) agrees to be nominated for and sit on the Board of Directors of HARI (the "Board") if elected at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting for a term to expire at the 2015 annual stockholders meeting;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.         Nominee hereby agrees to have his name placed in nomination by SVP as its nominee or alternate nominee to sit as a member of the Board, and for that purpose, understands and agrees that SVP will solicit proxies from shareholders to cause Nominee to be elected. Simultaneous with the execution of this Agreement, Nominee shall deliver his written consent to be named in an SVP proxy statement and to serve as a director of the Board if elected, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Nominee understands that SVP retains the right to determine whether Nominee will be its alternate or actual nominee and will so advise Nominee of same prior to the solicitation of proxies. Nominee understands that an alternate nominee may become the actual nominee if the actual nominee does not stand for election.

 

2.         (a) Nominee hereby represents and warrants to SVP that he has maintained his principal residence within 15 miles of an office of HARI or any subsidiary thereof for a period of at least one year prior to the date hereof and is otherwise eligible to sit as a director of HARI pursuant to each of the other bylaw eligibility requirements of HARI quoted above in the second Whereas clause.  Nominee has executed and delivered to SVP a Director Questionnaire and hereby certifies that the contents thereof are true.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein or in the Stock Option Agreement, defined below, Nominee hereby agrees that in the event of any breach or misrepresentation by Nominee of any of his or her obligations or representations contained herein (i) the Option (as defined in the Stock Option Agreement) granted in the Stock Option Agreement shall be null and void, and (ii) Nominee shall not be entitled to exercise the Option or be entitled to any payments hereunder or under the Stock Option Agreement.

3.         SVP shall reimburse all of Nominee's actual out of pocket expenses incurred in connection with the nomination process, including telephone, postage, and travel; it being understood, however, that should Nominee be elected as a director, he will request that HARI reimburse his expenses for attending board and committee meetings.

4.         SVP shall grant Nominee an option to purchase up to twenty thousand (20,000) shares of Common Stock, on the terms and conditions set forth in that certain Stock Option Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between the parties hereto, annexed hereto as Exhibit B (the "Stock Option Agreement"). 

5.         SVP hereby indemnifies and holds Nominee harmless for all damages and expenses incurred in connection with agreeing to have his name placed in nomination and to have proxies solicited in order to elect him to the Board of Directors of HARI.  Nominee shall give SVP notice of the occurrence of an event requiring indemnification no later than 20 days after nominee has knowledge of such an event. SVP retains the sole right to select and retain counsel for Nominee. This indemnification shall not apply to any claims or damages arising out of Nominee being a member of the Board of Directors of HARI.

 

 

 

6.         Nominee understands that this Agreement will be publicly disclosed by SVP.

 

EXHIBIT A

CONSENT OF PROPOSED NOMINEE

I, Mark Saladin, hereby consent to be named in the proxy statement of Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P., Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P and their affiliates to be used in connection with their solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. for use in voting at the 2012 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc., and I hereby consent and agree to serve a director of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc. if elected at such Annual Meeting.

 

Dated:  February 6, 2012

 

EXHIBIT B

 

Omitted

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of February 6, 2012, by and between Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P. and Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P. (collectively referred to as "SVP"), having their offices at 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10006, and Peter Wilson, an individual residing at 813 Vanslyke Drive, Fontana, WI 53125 (the "Optionee"). 

WHEREAS, SVP beneficially owns approximately 71,300 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("HARI"); 

WHEREAS, SVP and certain other parties, acting as a group (the "Stilwell Group"), may solicit proxies for one nominee and one alternate nominee for election to the Board of Directors of HARI (the "Board") at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting;

WHEREAS, Optionee has consented to his nomination by the Stilwell Group to the Board as a nominee or an alternate nominee and has concurrently entered into a Nominee Agreement with the Stilwell Group (the "Nominee Agreement"); and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the agreements of Optionee in the Nominee Agreement to stand for election to the Board and to serve if elected, SVP considers it desirable and in its best interests that the Optionee be granted the option to purchase up to an aggregate of Twenty Thousand (20,000) shares of the Common Stock owned by SVP (the "Option Shares") upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.                   Grant of Option.  SVP hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the "Option") to purchase all or any part of the Option Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Option shall vest and become exercisable as set forth in Section 4.

2.                   Purchase Price.  The purchase price per share of the Option Shares covered by the Option shall be equal to $13.00 per Option Share (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 below) (the "Purchase Price").

3.                  Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)                "Change-in-Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)               the sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of HARI and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any person or entity; or

 

 

(2)               HARI consolidates with, or merges with or into, any entity pursuant to a transaction in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for cash.

(b)               "Expiration Date" shall mean the date which is three years after the First Vesting Date, or such other date as the parties mutually agree in writing.

(c)                "First Vesting Date" shall mean the day after the 2012 annual meeting of HARI's stockholders is held.

(d)               "Second Vesting Date" shall mean the date on which the Optionee is first seated on the Board by reason of the solicitation of proxies by SVP.

(e)                "Threshold Event" shall mean either of the following: (i) Optionee's name has been publicly disclosed in writing by the Stilwell Group as a nominee or potential nominee for the Board or (ii) the Stilwell Group has sent HARI a notice in accordance with the advance notice provisions of the HARI By-laws advising HARI of the Stilwell Group's intention to place Optionee's name in nomination.

(f)                 "Transaction Date" shall mean the date on which a transaction resulting in a Change-in-Control has occurred and has been consummated.

(g)                "Transaction Price" means the dollar amount received by shareholders of HARI with respect to each share of Common Stock in connection with any transaction resulting in a Change-in-Control.

4.                   Vesting and Exercisability of the Option.  The Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows:

(a)                the Option shall vest with respect to Five Thousand (5,000) Option Shares (the "First Option") on the First Vesting Date, provided that prior to the First Vesting Date at least one of the Threshold Events shall have occurred, and shall be exercisable on or after the Transaction Date, in whole or in part, until the earlier of (x) ten business days following the Transaction Date or (y) the Expiration Date.  If a Threshold Event does not occur prior to the First Vesting Date, then the First Option shall be terminated and shall not become exercisable.

(b)               the Option shall vest with respect to the remaining Fifteen Thousand (15,000) Option Shares (the "Second Option") on the Second Vesting Date, and shall be exercisable on or after the Transaction Date, in whole or in part, until the earlier of (x) ten business days following the Transaction Date or (y) the Expiration Date.

(c)                Alternatively, the First Option and the Second Option shall vest if (a) the Optionee is seated on the Board by invitation of HARI, and (b) SVP consents in writing to Optionee being invited to sit on the Board, provided, however, that the First and Second Options in no event shall be exercisable prior to the Transaction Date.

5.                   Method of Exercising Option. 

 

 

(a)                The Optionee may exercise the Option in whole or in part (to the extent that it is exercisable in accordance with its terms) by giving written notice to SVP, specifying therein the number of Option Shares which the Optionee then elects to purchase or with respect to which the Option is being exercised, accompanied by payment of the full Purchase Price for the Option Shares being purchased. The notice of exercise, accompanied by such payment, shall be delivered to SVP at its principal business office. The date on which the notice is given to SVP is hereinafter referred to as the "Date of Exercise." In no event may the Option granted hereunder be exercised for a fraction of an Option Share.

(b)               As soon as practicable after receipt by SVP of a notice of exercise and of payment in full of the Purchase Price of all the Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been exercised, SVP shall, subject to 5(c) below, transfer the Option Shares being purchased to the Optionee.

6.                   Termination of Option.  Except as otherwise stated herein, the Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall terminate on the Expiration Date or, if earlier, upon the first of the occurrence of any of the following events, unless SVP otherwise elects in writing:

(a)                In the event of Optionee's withdrawal from the election for the Board prior to the First Vesting Date;

(b)               In the event of Optionee becoming ineligible to be elected to the Board for any reason; or

(c)                In the event of Optionee's resignation or removal from the Board.

7.                   Adjustments.  If prior to the exercise of any portion of the Option HARI shall have effected one or more stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations or similar events, the number of Option Shares subject to this Option and the Purchase Price shall be equitably adjusted as determined by SVP in good faith. SVP shall give notice of each adjustment or readjustment of the Purchase Price or the number of Option Shares to the Optionee. If prior to the exercise of any portion of the Option, the Nominee is granted any options or restricted shares by HARI, the number of Options hereunder shall be reduced by one (1) share for every two (2) shares granted by HARI.

8.                   Restrictions.  The holder of this Option, by acceptance hereof, represents, warrants and covenants that this Option and the right to purchase the Option Shares is personal to the holder and shall not be transferred to any other person, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may, at any time and from time to time, transfer all or any part of his rights under this Option and the right to purchase the Option Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to his spouse or children, or to a trust created by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee or his immediate family or to a corporation or other entity controlled by the Optionee and in which the Optionee or members of his immediate family beneficially own all of the economic interests.

9.                   No Rights as Optionee.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to confer upon the Optionee any right to be nominated by the Stilwell Group to the Board or, if elected, to continue to serve on the Board.

 

 

10.               Withholding.  In the event that the Optionee elects to exercise this Option or any part thereof, and if SVP shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state or local tax laws, rules or regulations in respect of the issuance of Option Shares to the Optionee pursuant to the Option, SVP shall be entitled to deduct and withhold such amounts from any payments to be made to the Optionee. In any event, the Optionee shall make available to SVP promptly when requested by SVP sufficient funds to meet the requirements of such withholding and SVP shall be entitled to take and authorize such steps as it may deem advisable in order to have such funds available to SVP out of any funds or property due or to become due to the Optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may request SVP not to withhold any or all of the amounts otherwise required to be withheld; provided  that the Optionee provides SVP with sufficient documentation as may be required by federal, state or local tax laws, rules or regulations supporting his request that such amount is not required to be withheld, in which case SVP may, in its reasonable discretion, reduce such withholding amounts to the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

11.               Validity and Construction.  This Option shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

12.               Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only in a writing signed on behalf of SVP and the Optionee.

13.               Notices.  Any notice which either party hereto may be required or permitted to give to the other shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier, addressed as follows: if to SVP, at its office address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement, Attention: Mr. Joseph Stilwell, or at such other address as SVP by notice to the Optionee may designate in writing from time to time; and if to the Optionee, at his address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement, or at such other address as the Optionee by notice to SVP may designate in writing from time to time. Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

14.              Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

15.               Reservation and Ownership of Option Shares.  At all times during the period the Option is exercisable SVP shall own and make available for transfer on exercise of the Option a

 

number of shares of Common Stock necessary to satisfy its obligations under the terms of this  Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.

 

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

THIS STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of February 6, 2012, by and between Stilwell Value Partners II, L.P. and Stilwell Value Partners VII, L.P. (collectively referred to as "SVP"), having their offices at 111 Broadway, 12^th Floor, New York, NY 10006, and Mark Saladin, an individual residing at 1267 Amber Court, Woodstock, IL 60098 (the "Optionee"). 

WHEREAS, SVP beneficially owns approximately 71,300 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Harvard Illinois Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("HARI"); 

WHEREAS, SVP and certain other parties, acting as a group (the "Stilwell Group"), may solicit proxies for one nominee and one alternate nominee for election to the Board of Directors of HARI (the "Board") at the 2012 annual stockholders meeting;

WHEREAS, Optionee has consented to his nomination by the Stilwell Group to the Board as a nominee or an alternate nominee and has concurrently entered into a Nominee Agreement with the Stilwell Group (the "Nominee Agreement"); and

WHEREAS, in consideration of the agreements of Optionee in the Nominee Agreement to stand for election to the Board and to serve if elected, SVP considers it desirable and in its best interests that the Optionee be granted the option to purchase up to an aggregate of Twenty Thousand (20,000) shares of the Common Stock owned by SVP (the "Option Shares") upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

1.                   Grant of Option.  SVP hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the "Option") to purchase all or any part of the Option Shares on the terms and conditions set forth herein. The Option shall vest and become exercisable as set forth in Section 4.

2.                  Purchase Price.  The purchase price per share of the Option Shares covered by the Option shall be equal to $13.00 per Option Share (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 6 below) (the "Purchase Price").

3.                  Certain Defined Terms.  As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(a)                "Change-in-Control" means the occurrence of any of the following:

(1)               the sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of HARI and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any person or entity; or

 

 

(2)               HARI consolidates with, or merges with or into, any entity pursuant to a transaction in which the Common Stock is converted into or exchanged for cash.

(b)               "Expiration Date" shall mean the date which is three years after the First Vesting Date, or such other date as the parties mutually agree in writing.

(c)                "First Vesting Date" shall mean the day after the 2012 annual meeting of HARI's stockholders is held.

(d)               "Second Vesting Date" shall mean the date on which the Optionee is first seated on the Board by reason of the solicitation of proxies by SVP.

(e)                "Threshold Event" shall mean either of the following: (i) Optionee's name has been publicly disclosed in writing by the Stilwell Group as a nominee or potential nominee for the Board or (ii) the Stilwell Group has sent HARI a notice in accordance with the advance notice provisions of the HARI By-laws advising HARI of the Stilwell Group's intention to place Optionee's name in nomination.

(f)                 "Transaction Date" shall mean the date on which a transaction resulting in a Change-in-Control has occurred and has been consummated.

(g)                "Transaction Price" means the dollar amount received by shareholders of HARI with respect to each share of Common Stock in connection with any transaction resulting in a Change-in-Control.

4.                   Vesting and Exercisability of the Option.  The Option shall vest and become exercisable as follows:

(a)                the Option shall vest with respect to Five Thousand (5,000) Option Shares (the "First Option") on the First Vesting Date, provided that prior to the First Vesting Date at least one of the Threshold Events shall have occurred, and shall be exercisable on or after the Transaction Date, in whole or in part, until the earlier of (x) ten business days following the Transaction Date or (y) the Expiration Date.  If a Threshold Event does not occur prior to the First Vesting Date, then the First Option shall be terminated and shall not become exercisable.

(b)               the Option shall vest with respect to the remaining Fifteen Thousand (15,000) Option Shares (the "Second Option") on the Second Vesting Date, and shall be exercisable on or after the Transaction Date, in whole or in part, until the earlier of (x) ten business days following the Transaction Date or (y) the Expiration Date.

(c)                Alternatively, the First Option and the Second Option shall vest if (a) the Optionee is seated on the Board by invitation of HARI, and (b) SVP consents in writing to Optionee being invited to sit on the Board, provided, however, that the First and Second Options in no event shall be exercisable prior to the Transaction Date.

 

 

5.                   Method of Exercising Option. 

(a)                The Optionee may exercise the Option in whole or in part (to the extent that it is exercisable in accordance with its terms) by giving written notice to SVP, specifying therein the number of Option Shares which the Optionee then elects to purchase or with respect to which the Option is being exercised, accompanied by payment of the full Purchase Price for the Option Shares being purchased. The notice of exercise, accompanied by such payment, shall be delivered to SVP at its principal business office. The date on which the notice is given to SVP is hereinafter referred to as the "Date of Exercise." In no event may the Option granted hereunder be exercised for a fraction of an Option Share.

(b)               As soon as practicable after receipt by SVP of a notice of exercise and of payment in full of the Purchase Price of all the Option Shares with respect to which the Option has been exercised, SVP shall, subject to 5(c) below, transfer the Option Shares being purchased to the Optionee.

6.                   Termination of Option.  Except as otherwise stated herein, the Option, to the extent not theretofore exercised, shall terminate on the Expiration Date or, if earlier, upon the first of the occurrence of any of the following events, unless SVP otherwise elects in writing:

(a)                In the event of Optionee's withdrawal from the election for the Board prior to the First Vesting Date;

(b)               In the event of Optionee becoming ineligible to be elected to the Board for any reason; or

(c)                In the event of Optionee's resignation or removal from the Board.

7.                   Adjustments.  If prior to the exercise of any portion of the Option HARI shall have effected one or more stock splits, reverse stock splits, stock dividends, stock combinations, reclassifications, recapitalizations or similar events, the number of Option Shares subject to this Option and the Purchase Price shall be equitably adjusted as determined by SVP in good faith. SVP shall give notice of each adjustment or readjustment of the Purchase Price or the number of Option Shares to the Optionee. If prior to the exercise of any portion of the Option, the Nominee is granted any options or restricted shares by HARI, the number of Options hereunder shall be reduced by one (1) share for every two (2) shares granted by HARI.

8.                   Restrictions.  The holder of this Option, by acceptance hereof, represents, warrants and covenants that this Option and the right to purchase the Option Shares is personal to the holder and shall not be transferred to any other person, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may, at any time and from time to time, transfer all or any part of his rights under this Option and the right to purchase the Option Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to his spouse or children, or to a trust created by the Optionee for the benefit of the Optionee or his immediate family or to a corporation or other entity controlled by the Optionee and in which the Optionee or members of his immediate family beneficially own all of the economic interests.

 

 

9.                   No Rights as Optionee.  Nothing contained herein shall be construed to confer upon the Optionee any right to be nominated by the Stilwell Group to the Board or, if elected, to continue to serve on the Board.

10.               Withholding.  In the event that the Optionee elects to exercise this Option or any part thereof, and if SVP shall be required to withhold any amounts by reason of any federal, state or local tax laws, rules or regulations in respect of the issuance of Option Shares to the Optionee pursuant to the Option, SVP shall be entitled to deduct and withhold such amounts from any payments to be made to the Optionee. In any event, the Optionee shall make available to SVP promptly when requested by SVP sufficient funds to meet the requirements of such withholding and SVP shall be entitled to take and authorize such steps as it may deem advisable in order to have such funds available to SVP out of any funds or property due or to become due to the Optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may request SVP not to withhold any or all of the amounts otherwise required to be withheld; provided  that the Optionee provides SVP with sufficient documentation as may be required by federal, state or local tax laws, rules or regulations supporting his request that such amount is not required to be withheld, in which case SVP may, in its reasonable discretion, reduce such withholding amounts to the extent permitted by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

11.               Validity and Construction.  This Option shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

12.               Amendment.  This Agreement may be amended only in a writing signed on behalf of SVP and the Optionee.

13.               Notices.  Any notice which either party hereto may be required or permitted to give to the other shall be in writing, and may be delivered personally or by mail, postage prepaid, or overnight courier, addressed as follows: if to SVP, at its office address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement, Attention: Mr. Joseph Stilwell, or at such other address as SVP by notice to the Optionee may designate in writing from time to time; and if to the Optionee, at his address set forth at the beginning of this Agreement, or at such other address as the Optionee by notice to SVP may designate in writing from time to time. Notices shall be effective upon receipt.

14.               Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the extent not prohibited herein, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives. Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer on any person other than the parties hereto and as provided above, their respective heirs, successors, assigns and representatives any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.               Reservation and Ownership of Option Shares.  At all times during the period the Option is exercisable SVP shall own and make available for transfer on exercise of the Option a number of shares of Common Stock necessary to satisfy its obligations under the terms of this  Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date set forth above.