Exhibit
4.1

     

     

    WARRANT
TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK

     

    THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY
NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR
SUCH LAWS. THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND
OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE
SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH
THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT. ANY SALE OR
OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.

     

    WARRANT

    to
purchase

    


    930,233

    Shares
of Common Stock

     

    of
First Financial Bancorp.

     

    Issue
Date: December 23, 2008

     

    1. Definitions. Unless
the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated.

     

    “Affiliate”
has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.

     

    “Appraisal
Procedure” means a procedure whereby two independent appraisers, one
chosen by the Company and one by the Original Warrantholder, shall mutually
agree upon the determinations then the subject of appraisal. Each party shall
deliver a notice to the other appointing its appraiser within 15 days after the
Appraisal Procedure is invoked. If within 30 days after appointment of the two
appraisers they are unable to agree upon the amount in question, a third
independent appraiser shall be chosen within 10 days thereafter by the mutual
consent of such first two appraisers. The decision of the third appraiser so
appointed and chosen shall be given within 30 days after the selection of such
third appraiser. If three appraisers shall be appointed and the determination of
one appraiser is disparate from the middle determination by more than twice the
amount by which the other determination is disparate from the middle
determination, then the determination of such appraiser shall be excluded, the
remaining two determinations shall be averaged and such average shall be binding
and conclusive upon the Company and the Original Warrantholder; otherwise, the
average of all three determinations shall be binding upon the Company and the
Original Warrantholder. The costs of conducting any Appraisal Procedure shall be
borne by the Company.

     

    
      
         

      

      
         

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    “Board of
Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, including any
duly authorized committee thereof.

     

    “Business
Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or
similar transaction that requires the approval of the Company’s
stockholders.

     

    “business
day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking
institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by
law or other governmental actions to close.

     

    “Capital
Stock” means (A) with respect to any Person that is a corporation or
company, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents
(however designated) of capital or capital stock of such Person and (B) with
respect to any Person that is not a corporation or company, any and all
partnership or other equity interests of such Person.

     

    “Charter”
means, with respect to any Person, its certificate or articles of incorporation,
articles of association, or similar organizational document.

     

    “Common
Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase
Agreement.

     

    “Company”
means the Person whose name, corporate or other organizational form and
jurisdiction of organization is set forth in Item 1 of Schedule A
hereto.

     

    “conversion”
has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).

     

    “convertible
securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).

     

    “CPP”
has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.

     

    “Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any
successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.

     

    “Exercise
Price” means the amount set forth in Item 2 of Schedule A
hereto.

     

    “Expiration
Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.

     

    “Fair
Market Value” means, with respect to any security or other property, the
fair market value of such security or other property as determined by the Board
of Directors, acting in good faith or, with respect to Section 14, as determined
by the Original Warrantholder acting in good faith. For so long as the Original
Warrantholder holds this Warrant or any portion thereof, it may object in
writing to the Board of Director’s calculation of fair market value within 10
days of receipt of written notice thereof. If the Original Warrantholder and the
Company are unable to agree on fair market value during the 10-day period
following the delivery of the Original Warrantholder’s objection, the Appraisal
Procedure may be invoked by either party to determine Fair Market Value by
delivering written notification thereof not later than the 30th day after
delivery of the Original Warrantholder’s objection.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    “Governmental
Entities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase
Agreement.

     

    “Initial
Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).

     

    “Issue
Date” means the date set forth in Item 3 of Schedule A
hereto.

     

    “Market
Price” means, with respect to a particular security, on any given day,
the last reported sale price regular way or, in case no such reported sale takes
place on such day, the average of the last closing bid and ask prices regular
way, in either case on the principal national securities exchange on which the
applicable securities are listed or admitted to trading, or if not listed or
admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the
closing bid and ask prices as furnished by two members of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. selected from time to time by the Company for that
purpose. “Market Price” shall be determined without reference to after hours or
extended hours trading. If such security is not listed and traded in a manner
that the quotations referred to above are available for the period required
hereunder, the Market Price per share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be (i)
in the event that any portion of the Warrant is held by the Original
Warrantholder, the fair market value per share of such security as determined in
good faith by the Original Warrantholder or (ii) in all other circumstances, the
fair market value per share of such security as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors in reliance on an opinion of a nationally recognized
independent investment banking corporation retained by the Company for this
purpose and certified in a resolution to the Warrantholder. For the purposes of
determining the Market Price of the Common Stock on the "trading day" preceding,
on or following the occurrence of an event, (i) that trading day shall be deemed
to commence immediately after the regular scheduled closing time of trading on
the New York Stock Exchange or, if trading is closed at an earlier time, such
earlier time and (ii) that trading day shall end at the next regular scheduled
closing time, or if trading is closed at an earlier time, such earlier time (for
the avoidance of doubt, and as an example, if the Market Price is to be
determined as of the last trading day preceding a specified event and the
closing time of trading on a particular day is 4:00 p.m. and the specified event
occurs at 5:00 p.m. on that day, the Market Price would be determined by
reference to such 4:00 p.m. closing price).

     

    “Ordinary
Cash Dividends” means a regular quarterly cash dividend on shares of
Common Stock out of surplus or net profits legally available therefor
(determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in
effect from time to time), provided that Ordinary Cash Dividends shall not
include any cash dividends paid subsequent to the Issue Date to the extent the
aggregate per share dividends paid on the outstanding Common Stock in any
quarter exceed the amount set forth in Item 4 of Schedule A hereto, as adjusted
for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or
similar transaction.

     

    “Original
Warrantholder” means the United States Department of the Treasury. Any
actions specified to be taken by the Original Warrantholder hereunder may only
be taken by such Person and not by any other Warrantholder.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    “Permitted
Transactions” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).

     

    “Person”
has the meaning given to it in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used
in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.

     

    “Per
Share Fair Market Value” has the meaning set forth in Section
13(C).

     

    “Preferred
Shares” means the perpetual preferred stock issued to the Original
Warrantholder on the Issue Date pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

     

    “Pro Rata
Repurchases” means any purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company
or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to (A) any tender offer or exchange offer
subject to Section 13(e) or 14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E
promulgated thereunder or (B) any other offer available to substantially all
holders of Common Stock, in the case of both (A) or (B), whether for cash,
shares of Capital Stock of the Company, other securities of the Company,
evidences of indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other
property (including, without limitation, shares of Capital Stock, other
securities or evidences of indebtedness of a subsidiary), or any combination
thereof, effected while this Warrant is outstanding. The “Effective Date” of a
Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of acceptance of shares for purchase or
exchange by the Company under any tender or exchange offer which is a Pro Rata
Repurchase or the date of purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase that
is not a tender or exchange offer.

     

    “Purchase
Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms
incorporated into the Letter Agreement, dated as of the date set forth in Item 5
of Schedule A hereto, as amended from time to time, between the Company and the
United States Department of the Treasury (the “Letter Agreement”), including all
annexes and schedules thereto.

     

    “Qualified
Equity Offering” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase
Agreement.

     

    “Regulatory
Approvals” with respect to the Warrantholder, means, to the extent
applicable and required to permit the Warrantholder to exercise this Warrant for
shares of Common Stock and to own such Common Stock without the Warrantholder
being in violation of applicable law, rule or regulation, the receipt of any
necessary approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with,
notifications to, or expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period
under, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder.

     

    “SEC”
means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

     

    “Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor
statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

     

    “Shares”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

     

    “trading
day” means (A) if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on any
national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter
market, a business day or (B) if the shares of Common Stock are traded on any
national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter
market, a business day on which such relevant exchange or quotation system is
scheduled to be open for business and on which the shares of Common Stock (i)
are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange
or association or over-the-counter market for any period or periods aggregating
one half hour or longer; and (ii) have traded at least once on the national or
regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is
the primary market for the trading of the shares of Common Stock.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    “U.S.
GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting
principles.

     

    “Warrantholder”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

     

    “Warrant”
means this Warrant, issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

     

    2. Number of Shares; Exercise
Price. This certifies that, for value received, the United States
Department of the Treasury or its permitted assigns (the “Warrantholder”)
is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth,
to acquire from the Company, in whole or in part, after the receipt of all
applicable Regulatory Approvals, if any, up to an aggregate of the number of
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock set forth in Item 6 of
Schedule A hereto, at a purchase price per share of Common Stock equal to the
Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”)
and the Exercise Price are subject to adjustment as provided herein, and all
references to “Common Stock,” “Shares” and “Exercise Price” herein shall be
deemed to include any such adjustment or series of adjustments.

     

    3. Exercise of Warrant;
Term. Subject to Section 2, to the extent permitted by applicable laws
and regulations, the right to purchase the Shares represented by this Warrant is
exercisable, in whole or in part by the Warrantholder, at any time or from time
to time after the execution and delivery of this Warrant by the Company on the
date hereof, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the
tenth anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Time”), by (A) the
surrender of this Warrant and Notice of Exercise annexed hereto, duly completed
and executed on behalf of the Warrantholder, at the principal executive office
of the Company located at the address set forth in Item 7 of Schedule A hereto
(or such other office or agency of the Company in the United States as it may
designate by notice in writing to the Warrantholder at the address of the
Warrantholder appearing on the books of the Company), and (B) payment of the
Exercise Price for the Shares thereby purchased:

     

    (i) by having
the Company withhold, from the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be
delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, shares of Common stock
issuable upon exercise of the Warrant equal in value to the aggregate Exercise
Price as to which this Warrant is so exercised based on the Market Price of the
Common Stock on the trading day on which this Warrant is exercised and the
Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company pursuant to this Section 3,
or

     

    (ii) with the
consent of both the Company and the Warrantholder, by tendering in cash, by
certified or cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company, or by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the
Company.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    If the
Warrantholder does not exercise this Warrant in its entirety, the Warrantholder
will be entitled to receive from the Company within a reasonable time, and in
any event not exceeding three business days, a new warrant in substantially
identical form for the purchase of that number of Shares equal to the difference
between the number of Shares subject to this Warrant and the number of Shares as
to which this Warrant is so exercised.Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant
to the contrary, the Warrantholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that its
exercise of this Warrant for Shares is subject to the condition that the
Warrantholder will have first received any applicable Regulatory
Approvals.

     

    4. Issuance of Shares;
Authorization; Listing. Certificates for Shares issued upon exercise of
this Warrant will be issued in such name or names as the Warrantholder may
designate and will be delivered to such named Person or Persons within a
reasonable time, not to exceed three business days after the date on which this
Warrant has been duly exercised in accordance with the terms of this Warrant.
The Company hereby represents and warrants that any Shares issued upon the
exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of Section 3
will be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
free from all taxes, liens and charges (other than liens or charges created by
the Warrantholder, income and franchise taxes incurred in connection with the
exercise of the Warrant or taxes in respect of any transfer occurring
contemporaneously therewith). The Company agrees that the Shares so issued will
be deemed to have been issued to the Warrantholder as of the close of business
on the date on which this Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price are
delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Warrant,
notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the Company may then be closed
or certificates representing such Shares may not be actually delivered on such
date. The Company will at all times reserve and keep available, out of its
authorized but unissued Common Stock, solely for the purpose of providing for
the exercise of this Warrant, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock
then issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at any time. The Company will (A)
procure, at its sole expense, the listing of the Shares issuable upon exercise
of this Warrant at any time, subject to issuance or notice of issuance, on all
principal stock exchanges on which the Common Stock is then listed or traded and
(B) maintain such listings of such Shares at all times after issuance. The
Company will use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Shares may be issued
without violation of any applicable law or regulation or of any requirement of
any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded.

     

    5. No Fractional Shares or
Scrip. No fractional Shares or scrip representing fractional Shares shall
be issued upon any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional Share to
which the Warrantholder would otherwise be entitled, the Warrantholder shall be
entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the Market Price of the Common Stock
on the last trading day preceding the date of exercise less the pro-rated
Exercise Price for such fractional share.

     

    6. No Rights as Stockholders;
Transfer Books. This Warrant does not entitle the Warrantholder to any
voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date
of exercise hereof. The Company will at no time close its transfer books against
transfer of this Warrant in any manner which interferes with the timely exercise
of this Warrant.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    7. Charges, Taxes and
Expenses. Issuance of certificates for Shares to the Warrantholder upon
the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Warrantholder
for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the
issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by
the Company.

     

    8. Transfer/Assignment.

     

    (A) Subject
to compliance with clause (B) of this Section 8, this Warrant and all rights
hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company
by the registered holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, and a
new warrant shall be made and delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and
date as this Warrant but registered in the name of one or more transferees, upon
surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of the Company
described in Section 3. All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other
charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of
the new warrants pursuant to this Section 8 shall be paid by the
Company.

     

    (B) The
transfer of the Warrant and the Shares issued upon exercise of the Warrant are
subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.4 of the Purchase Agreement.
If and for so long as required by the Purchase Agreement, this Warrant shall
contain the legends as set forth in Sections 4.2(a) and 4.2(b) of the Purchase
Agreement.

     

    9. Exchange and Registry of
Warrant. This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the
Warrantholder to the Company, for a new warrant or warrants of like tenor and
representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Shares. The
Company shall maintain a registry showing the name and address of the
Warrantholder as the registered holder of this Warrant. This Warrant may be
surrendered for exchange or exercise in accordance with its terms, at the office
of the Company, and the Company shall be entitled to rely in all respects, prior
to written notice to the contrary, upon such registry.

     

    10. Loss, Theft, Destruction or
Mutilation of Warrant. Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably
satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this
Warrant, and in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of
a bond, indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or, in the
case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant,
the Company shall make and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated Warrant, a new Warrant of like tenor and representing the right to
purchase the same aggregate number of Shares as provided for in such lost,
stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant.

     

    11. Saturdays, Sundays,
Holidays, etc. If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action
or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a
business day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on
the next succeeding day that is a business day.

     

    12. Rule 144 Information.
The Company covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to timely
file all reports and other documents required to be filed by it under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by
the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it
will, upon the request of any Warrantholder, make publicly available such
information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the
Securities Act), and it will use reasonable best efforts to take such further
action as any Warrantholder may reasonably request, in each case to the extent
required from time to time to enable such holder to, if permitted by the terms
of this Warrant and the Purchase Agreement, sell this Warrant without
registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions
provided by (A) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended
from time to time, or (B) any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by
the SEC. Upon the written request of any Warrantholder, the Company will deliver
to such Warrantholder a written statement that it has complied with such
requirements.

     

    13. Adjustments and Other
Rights. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares issuable upon
exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
follows; provided, that if more than one subsection of this Section 13 is
applicable to a single event, the subsection shall be applied that produces the
largest adjustment and no single event shall cause an adjustment under more than
one subsection of this Section 13 so as to result in duplication:

     

    (A) Stock Splits, Subdivisions,
Reclassifications or Combinations. If the Company shall (i) declare and
pay a dividend or make a distribution on its Common Stock in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide or reclassify the outstanding shares of Common Stock into
a greater number of shares, or (iii) combine or reclassify the outstanding
shares of Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, the number of Shares
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at the time of the record date for such
dividend or distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, combination
or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Warrantholder
after such date shall be entitled to purchase the number of shares of Common
Stock which such holder would have owned or been entitled to receive in respect
of the shares of Common Stock subject to this Warrant after such date had this
Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such date. In such event, the
Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or
reclassification shall be adjusted to the number obtained by dividing (x) the
product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant
before such adjustment and (2) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
the record or effective date, as the case may be, for the dividend,
distribution, subdivision, combination or reclassification giving rise to this
adjustment by (y) the new number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant
determined pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence.

     

    (B) Certain Issuances of Common
Shares or Convertible Securities. Until the earlier of (i) the date on
which the Original Warrantholder no longer holds this Warrant or any portion
thereof and (ii) the third anniversary of the Issue Date, if the Company shall
issue shares of Common Stock (or rights or warrants or other securities
exercisable or convertible into or exchangeable (collectively, a “conversion”)
for shares of Common Stock) (collectively, “convertible securities”) (other than
in Permitted Transactions (as defined below) or a transaction to which
subsection (A) of this Section 13 is applicable) without consideration or at a
consideration per share (or having a conversion price per share) that is less
than 90% of the Market Price on the last trading day preceding the date of the
agreement on pricing such shares (or such convertible securities) then, in such
event:

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (A) the
number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to
the date of the agreement on pricing of such shares (or of such convertible
securities) (the “Initial
Number”) shall be increased to the number obtained by multiplying the
Initial Number by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be the sum of (x)
the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding on such date and
(y) the number of additional shares of Common Stock issued (or into which
convertible securities may be exercised or convert) and (B) the denominator of
which shall be the sum of (I) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
on such date and (II) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate
consideration receivable by the Company for the total number of shares of Common
Stock so issued (or into which convertible securities may be exercised or
convert) would purchase at the Market Price on the last trading day preceding
the date of the agreement on pricing such shares (or such convertible
securities); and

     

    (B) the
Exercise Price payable upon exercise of the Warrant shall be adjusted by
multiplying such Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the date of the
agreement on pricing of such shares (or of such convertible securities) by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant prior to such date and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
this Warrant immediately after the adjustment described in clause (A)
above.

     

    For
purposes of the foregoing, the aggregate consideration receivable by the Company
in connection with the issuance of such shares of Common Stock or convertible
securities shall be deemed to be equal to the sum of the net offering price
(including the Fair Market Value of any non-cash consideration and after
deduction of any related expenses payable to third parties) of all such
securities plus the minimum aggregate amount, if any, payable upon exercise or
conversion of any such convertible securities into shares of Common Stock; and
“Permitted Transactions” shall mean issuances (i) as consideration for or to
fund the acquisition of businesses and/or related assets, (ii) in connection
with employee benefit plans and compensation related arrangements in the
ordinary course and consistent with past practice approved by the Board of
Directors, (iii) in connection with a public or broadly marketed offering and
sale of Common Stock or convertible securities for cash conducted by the Company
or its affiliates pursuant to registration under the Securities Act or Rule 144A
thereunder on a basis consistent with capital raising transactions by comparable
financial institutions and (iv) in connection with the exercise of preemptive
rights on terms existing as of the Issue Date. Any adjustment made pursuant to
this Section 13(B) shall become effective immediately upon the date of such
issuance.

     

    (C) Other Distributions.
In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making of a distribution to
all holders of shares of its Common Stock of securities, evidences of
indebtedness, assets, cash, rights or warrants (excluding Ordinary Cash
Dividends, dividends of its Common Stock and other dividends or distributions
referred to in Section 13(A)), in each such case, the Exercise Price in effect
prior to such record date shall be reduced immediately thereafter to the price
determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the
reduction by the quotient of (x) the Market Price of the Common Stock on the
last trading day preceding the first date on which the Common Stock trades
regular way on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common
Stock is listed or admitted to trading without the right to receive such
distribution, minus the amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of the
securities, evidences of indebtedness, assets, rights or warrants to be so
distributed in respect of one share of Common Stock (such amount and/or Fair
Market Value, the “Per
Share Fair Market Value”) divided by (y) such Market Price on such date
specified in clause (x); such adjustment shall be made successively whenever
such a record date is fixed. In such event, the number of Shares issuable upon
the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number obtained by
dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise
of this Warrant before such adjustment, and (2) the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to the distribution giving rise to this adjustment by (y) the
new Exercise Price determined in accordance with the immediately preceding
sentence. In the case of adjustment for a cash dividend that is, or is
coincident with, a regular quarterly cash dividend, the Per Share Fair Market
Value would be reduced by the per share amount of the portion of the cash
dividend that would constitute an Ordinary Cash Dividend. In the event that such
distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price and the number of Shares
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant then in effect shall be readjusted,
effective as of the date when the Board of Directors determines not to
distribute such shares, evidences of indebtedness, assets, rights, cash or
warrants, as the case may be, to the Exercise Price that would then be in effect
and the number of Shares that would then be issuable upon exercise of this
Warrant if such record date had not been fixed.

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (D) Certain Repurchases of
Common Stock. In case the Company effects a Pro Rata Repurchase of Common
Stock, then the Exercise Price shall be reduced to the price determined by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date
of such Pro Rata Repurchase by a fraction of which the numerator shall be (i)
the product of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
before such Pro Rata Repurchase and (y) the Market Price of a share of Common
Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public announcement by
the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata
Repurchase, minus (ii) the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase,
and of which the denominator shall be the product of (i) the number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase minus the
number of shares of Common Stock so repurchased and (ii) the Market Price per
share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public
announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect
such Pro Rata Repurchase. In such event, the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number
obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon
the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment, and (2) the Exercise Price
in effect immediately prior to the Pro Rata Repurchase giving rise to this
adjustment by (y) the new Exercise Price determined in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, no increase to the
Exercise Price or decrease in the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of
this Warrant shall be made pursuant to this Section 13(D).

     

    (E) Business
Combinations. In case of any Business Combination or reclassification of
Common Stock (other than a reclassification of Common Stock referred to in
Section 13(A)), the Warrantholder’s right to receive Shares upon exercise of
this Warrant shall be converted into the right to exercise this Warrant to
acquire the number of shares of stock or other securities or property (including
cash) which the Common Stock issuable (at the time of such Business Combination
or reclassification) upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such
Business Combination or reclassification would have been entitled to receive
upon consummation of such Business Combination or reclassification; and in any
such case, if necessary, the provisions set forth herein with respect to the
rights and interests thereafter of the Warrantholder shall be appropriately
adjusted so as to be applicable, as nearly as may reasonably be, to the
Warrantholder’s right to exercise this Warrant in exchange for any shares of
stock or other securities or property pursuant to this paragraph. In determining
the kind and amount of stock, securities or the property receivable upon
exercise of this Warrant following the consummation of such Business
Combination, if the holders of Common Stock have the right to elect the kind or
amount of consideration receivable upon consummation of such Business
Combination, then the consideration that the Warrantholder shall be entitled to
receive upon exercise shall be deemed to be the types and amounts of
consideration received by the majority of all holders of the shares of common
stock that affirmatively make an election (or of all such holders if none make
an election).

     

    (F) Rounding of Calculations;
Minimum Adjustments. All calculations under this Section 13 shall be made
to the nearest one-tenth (1/10th) of a cent or to the nearest onehundredth
(1/100th) of a share, as the case may be. Any provision of this Section 13 to
the contrary notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Exercise Price or the number
of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be made if the amount of
such adjustment would be less than $0.01 or one-tenth (1/10th) of a share of
Common Stock, but any such amount shall be carried forward and an adjustment
with respect thereto shall be made at the time of and together with any
subsequent adjustment which, together with such amount and any other amount or
amounts so carried forward, shall aggregate $0.01 or 1/10th of a share of Common
Stock, or more.

     

    (G) Timing of Issuance of
Additional Common Stock Upon Certain Adjustments. In any case in which
the provisions of this Section 13 shall require that an adjustment shall become
effective immediately after a record date for an event, the Company may defer
until the occurrence of such event (i) issuing to the Warrantholder of this
Warrant exercised after such record date and before the occurrence of such event
the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise by reason of
the adjustment required by such event over and above the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon such exercise before giving effect to such adjustment and (ii)
paying to such Warrantholder any amount of cash in lieu of a fractional share of
Common Stock; provided, however, that the Company upon request shall deliver to
such Warrantholder a due bill or other appropriate instrument evidencing such
Warrantholder’s right to receive such additional shares, and such cash, upon the
occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.

     

    (H) Completion of Qualified
Equity Offering. In the event the Company (or any successor by Business
Combination) completes one or more Qualified Equity Offerings on or prior to
December 31, 2009 that result in the Company (or any such successor) receiving
aggregate gross proceeds of not less than 100% of the aggregate liquidation
preference of the Preferred Shares (and any preferred stock issued by any such
successor to the Original Warrantholder under the CPP), the number of shares of
Common Stock underlying the portion of this Warrant then held by the Original
Warrantholder shall be thereafter reduced by a number of shares of Common Stock
equal to the product of (i) 0.5 and (ii) the number of shares underlying the
Warrant on the Issue Date (adjusted to take into account all other theretofore
made adjustments pursuant to this Section 13).

     

    
      
         

      

      
        8

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    (I) Other Events. For so
long as the Original Warrantholder holds this Warrant or any portion thereof, if
any event occurs as to which the provisions of this Section 13 are not strictly
applicable or, if strictly applicable, would not, in the good faith judgment of
the Board of Directors of the Company, fairly and adequately protect the
purchase rights of the Warrants in accordance with the essential intent and
principles of such provisions, then the Board of Directors shall make such
adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such
essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the good
faith opinion of the Board of Directors, to protect such purchase rights as
aforesaid. The Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is
exercisable shall not be adjusted in the event of a change in the par value of
the Common Stock or a change in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the
Company.

     

    (J) Statement Regarding
Adjustments. Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Shares into
which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in Section 13,
the Company shall forthwith file at the principal office of the Company a
statement showing in reasonable detail the facts requiring such adjustment and
the Exercise Price that shall be in effect and the number of Shares into which
this Warrant shall be exercisable after such adjustment, and the Company shall
also cause a copy of such statement to be sent by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to each Warrantholder at the address appearing in the Company’s
records.

     

    (K) Notice of Adjustment
Event. In the event that the Company shall propose to take any action of
the type described in this Section 13 (but only if the action of the type
described in this Section 13 would result in an adjustment in the Exercise Price
or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable or a change in
the type of securities or property to be delivered upon exercise of this
Warrant), the Company shall give notice to the Warrantholder, in the manner set
forth in Section 13(J), which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with
respect to any such action and the approximate date on which such action is to
take place. Such notice shall also set forth the facts with respect thereto as
shall be reasonably necessary to indicate the effect on the Exercise Price and
the number, kind or class of shares or other securities or property which shall
be deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant. In the case of any action which
would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least
10 days prior to the date so fixed, and in case of all other action, such notice
shall be given at least 15 days prior to the taking of such proposed action.
Failure to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not affect the
legality or validity of any such action.

     

    (L) Proceedings Prior to Any
Action Requiring Adjustment. As a condition precedent to the taking of
any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 13, the
Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining
regulatory, New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ Stock Market or other applicable
national securities exchange or stockholder approvals or exemptions, in order
that the Company may thereafter validly and legally issue as fully paid and
nonassessable all shares of Common Stock that the Warrantholder is entitled to
receive upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 13.

     

     

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        9

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    (M) Adjustment Rules. Any
adjustments pursuant to this Section 13 shall be made successively whenever an
event referred to herein shall occur. If an adjustment in Exercise Price made
hereunder would reduce the Exercise Price to an amount below par value of the
Common Stock, then such adjustment in Exercise Price made hereunder shall reduce
the Exercise Price to the par value of the Common Stock.

     

    14. Exchange. At any time
following the date on which the shares of Common Stock of the Company are no
longer listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange (other
than in connection with any Business Combination), the Original Warrantholder
may cause the Company to exchange all or a portion of this Warrant for an
economic interest (to be determined by the Original Warrantholder after
consultation with the Company) of the Company classified as permanent equity
under U.S. GAAP having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the portion of
the Warrant so exchanged. The Original Warrantholder shall calculate any Fair
Market Value required to be calculated pursuant to this Section 14, which shall
not be subject to the Appraisal Procedure.

     

    15. No Impairment. The
Company will not, by amendment of its Charter or through any reorganization,
transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of
securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance
or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the
Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all
the provisions of this Warrant and in taking of all such action as may be
necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the
Warrantholder.

     

    16. Governing Law. This
Warrant will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of
the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within such State. Each of the Company and the
Warrantholder agrees (a) to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of
the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for any civil
action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the
transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) that notice may be served upon the
Company at the address in Section 20 below and upon the Warrantholder at the
address for the Warrantholder set forth in the registry maintained by the
Company pursuant to Section 9 hereof. To the extent permitted by applicable law,
each of the Company and the Warrantholder hereby unconditionally waives trial by
jury in any civil legal action or proceeding relating to the Warrant or the
transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

     

    17. Binding Effect. This
Warrant shall be binding upon any successors or assigns of the
Company.

     

    18. Amendments. This
Warrant may be amended and the observance of any term of this Warrant may be
waived only with the written consent of the Company and the
Warrantholder.

     

    19. Prohibited Actions.
The Company agrees that it will not take any action which would entitle the
Warrantholder to an adjustment of the Exercise Price if the total number of
shares of Common Stock issuable after such action upon exercise of this Warrant,
together with all shares of Common Stock then outstanding and all shares of
Common Stock then issuable upon the exercise of all outstanding options,
warrants, conversion and other rights, would exceed the total number of shares
of Common Stock then authorized by its Charter.

     

    
      
         

      

      
        10

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    20. Notices. Any notice,
request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the
other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the
date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile, upon confirmation of
receipt, or (b) on the second business day following the date of dispatch if
delivered by a recognized next day courier service. All notices hereunder shall
be delivered as set forth in Item 8 of Schedule A hereto, or pursuant to such
other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such
notice.

     

    21. Entire Agreement.
This Warrant, the forms attached hereto and Schedule A hereto (the terms of
which are incorporated by reference herein), and the Letter Agreement (including
all documents incorporated therein), contain the entire agreement between the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and
contemporaneous arrangements or undertakings with respect thereto.

     

    [Remainder of page intentionally left
blank.]

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        11

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    [Form
of Notice of Exercise]

    Date:
_________

    


     

     

    TO:           First
Financial Bancorp.

    


    RE:           Election
to Purchase Common Stock

    


    The
undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant,
hereby agrees to subscribe for and purchase the number of shares of the Common
Stock set forth below covered by such Warrant. The undersigned, in accordance
with Section 3 of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay the aggregate Exercise Price
for such shares of Common Stock in the manner set forth below. A new warrant
evidencing the remaining shares of Common Stock covered by such Warrant, but not
yet subscribed for and purchased, if any, should be issued in the name set forth
below.

     

    Number of
Shares of Common Stock _________________

    


    Method of
Payment of Exercise Price (note if cashless exercise pursuant to Section 3(i) of
the Warrant or cash exercise pursuant to Section 3(ii) of the Warrant, with
consent of the Company and the Warrantholder) ___________________

    


    Aggregate
Exercise Price:_________________

    


    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    	 
      	 
      	
                            Holder:

                          	  
      
	 
      	 
      	
                            By:

                          	  
      
	 
      	 
      	
                            Name:

                          	  
      
	 
      	 
      	
                            Title:

                          	  
      


                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

    

                                                               

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        12

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by a
duly authorized officer.

     

    Dated:
December 23,
2008

     

    
      
        
          	 	FIRST
      FINANCIAL BANCORP.	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
                   

                	
                  By:
      

                	/s/ Claude
      E. Davis	 
	 	 	Name:
      Claude E. Davis	 
	 	 	Title:
      President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer	 
	 	 	 	 


        

      

    

     

    
      
        
          	 	Attest:	 
	 	 	 
	 	 	 	 
	
                   

                	
                  By:
      

                	/s/ Gregory
      A. Gehlmann	 
	 	 	Name:
      Gregory A. Gehlmann	 
	 	 	Title:
      Senior Vice President and General Counsel	 
	 	 	 	 


        

      

    

    


    


     

    


    [Signature
Page to Warrant]

     

     

     

     

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
        13

        
          

        

      

      
         

      

    

     

    SCHEDULE
A

     

     

    
      
        
          
            
              
                
                  
                    
                      
                        
                          
                            
                              
                                
                                  
                                    
                                      
                                        
                                          
                                            
                                              
                                                
                                                  
                                                    
                                                      
                                                        
                                                          
                                                            
                                                              
                                                                
                                                                  
                                                                    
                                                                      
                                                                        
                                                                          
                                                                            
                                                                              
                                                                                
                                                                                  
                                                                                    
                                                                                      
                                                                                        
                                                                                          	
                                                                                                  Name:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  First
      Financial Bancorp.

                                                                                                
	
                                                                                                  Corporate
      or other organizational form:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  Corporation

                                                                                                
	
                                                                                                  Jurisdiction
      of organization:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  Ohio

                                                                                                
	 	 
	
                                                                                                  Item 2

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Exercise
      Price1:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  $12.90

                                                                                                
	 	 
	
                                                                                                  Item 3

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Issue
      Date:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  December
      23, 2008

                                                                                                
	 	 
	
                                                                                                  Item 4

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Amount
      of last dividend declared prior to the Issue
      Date:

                                                                                                	      
                                                                                                  $0.17 per common
      share, as of September
      30, 2008 (quarterly
  dividend)

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                   

                                                                                                
	
                                                                                                  Item 5

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Date of Letter
      Agreement between the Company and
      the United States Department of the
      Treasury:

                                                                                                	      
                                                                                                  December
      23, 2008

                                                                                                
	 	 
	
                                                                                                  Item 6

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Number
      of shares of Common Stock:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  930,233

                                                                                                
	 	 
	
                                                                                                  Item 7

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Company’s
      address:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  First
      Financial Bancorp.

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  4000
      Smith Road, Suite 400

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  Cincinnati,
      Ohio 45209

                                                                                                
	 
      	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Item 8

                                                                                                	 
      
	
                                                                                                  Notice
      information:

                                                                                                	
                                                                                                  First
      Financial Bancorp.

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  4000
      Smith Road, Suite 400

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  Cincinnati,
      Ohio 45209

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  Attn:
      Gregory A. Gehlmann,

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  Senior
      Vice President and General Counsel

                                                                                                
	 
      	
                                                                                                  Facsimile:
      (513)
979-5780

                                                                                                


                                                                                        

                                                                                      

                                                                                    

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                            

                                                                          

                                                                        

                                                                      

                                                                    

                                                                  

                                                                

                                                              

                                                            

                                                          

                                                        

                                                      

                                                    

                                                  

                                                

                                              

                                            

                                          

                                        

                                      

                                    

                                  

                                

                              

                            

                          

                        

                      

                    

                  

                

              

            

          

        

      

       

      
        

      

      
      

      
1 Initial exercise price to
be calculated based on the average of closing prices of the Common Stock on the
20 trading days ending on the last trading day prior to the date the Company’s
application for participation in the Capital Purchase Program was approved by
the United States Department of the Treasury.

       

       

      
        
           

        

        
          A-1