§ 17601. Change in control
(a) The applicant in any acquisition application filed under the federal Bank Change in
Control Act, the federal Savings and Loan Holding Company Act, or the Bank Holding
Company Act by a holding company that controls a Vermont financial institution or
by a person that intends to acquire a Vermont financial institution or financial institution
holding company shall file a copy of the application with the Commissioner at the
time the application is filed with the appropriate federal supervisory agency. The
applicant shall notify the Commissioner of any amendments to the application by filing
with the Commissioner a copy of any amendments that are required to be filed with
the appropriate federal supervisory agency. A copy of any acquisition approval issued
by the appropriate federal supervisory agency shall be filed with the Commissioner
by the applicant within 30 days of its issuance. The Commissioner shall not disclose
any information obtained pursuant to this section that is treated as confidential
under federal law.
(b) Any other acquisition of a Vermont financial institution, or acquisition of 25 percent
or more of the equity interests of a Vermont financial institution or a holding company
controlling a Vermont financial institution subsidiary that is not included in subsection
(a) of this section, shall be considered a change in control and subject to subsections
(c), (d), and (e) of this section.
(c) Any person seeking to obtain control of a Vermont financial institution or financial
institution holding company controlling a Vermont financial institution subsidiary
shall be required to file an application with the Commissioner on a form prescribed
by the Commissioner containing the following information:
(1) The name and address of each person by whom or on whose behalf the acquisition of
control is to be effected, referred to in this section as the “acquiring party,” and:
(A) if such person is an individual, his or her principal occupation and all offices and
positions held during the past five years and any crime conviction during the past
ten years;
(B) if such person is not an individual, a report of the nature of its business operations
during the past five years or for such lesser period as such person and any predecessors
thereof shall have been in existence; an informative description of the business intended
to be done by such person and such person’s subsidiaries; and a list of all individuals
who are or who have been selected to become directors or executive officers of such
person or who perform or will perform functions appropriate to such positions. Such
list shall include for each such individual the information required by subdivision
(1)(A) of this subsection.
(2) The source, nature, and amount of the consideration used or to be used in effecting
the acquisition of control, a description of any transaction in which funds were or
are to be obtained for any such purpose, and the identity of persons furnishing such
consideration; provided, however, that where a source of such consideration is a loan
made in the lender’s ordinary course of business, the identity of the lender shall
remain confidential if the person filing such statement so requests.
(3) Fully audited financial information as to the earnings and financial condition of
each acquiring party for the preceding five fiscal years of each such acquiring party,
or for such lesser period as such acquiring party and any predecessors thereof shall
have been in existence, and similar unaudited information as of a date not earlier
than 90 days prior to the filing of the statement.
(4) Any plans or proposals that each acquiring party may have to liquidate such financial
institution, to sell its assets, or merge or consolidate it with any person or to
make any other material change in its business or organizational structure or management.
(5) The number of shares of equity interests that each acquiring party proposes to acquire,
and the terms of the acquisition, and a statement as to the method by which the fairness
of the proposal was determined.
(6) The amount of each class of any equity interest that is beneficially owned or concerning
that there is a right to acquire beneficial ownership by each acquiring party.
(7) A full description of any contracts, arrangements, or understandings with respect
to any equity interest in which any acquiring party is involved. Such description
shall identify the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements or understandings
have been entered.
(8) A description of the purchase of any equity interest during the 12 calendar months
preceding the filing of the statement, by any acquiring party, including the dates
of purchase, names of the purchasers, and consideration paid or agreed to be paid.
(9) Copies of all agreements to acquire or exchange any equity interests.
(10) The terms of any agreement made with any broker-dealer and the amount of any fees,
commissions, or other compensation to be paid to any broker-dealer.
(11) Such additional information as the Commissioner may prescribe.
(d) The Commissioner, in his or her discretion, may accept all or part of a copy of an
application filed with another supervisory agency that contains the information required
by subsection (c) of this section.
(e) The application shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 201, subchapter 7 of
this title. (Added 1999, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 2001; amended 2021, No. 105 (Adj. Sess.), § 303, eff. July 1, 2022.)