SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

This Securities Purchase Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of December 21, 2012, by and among First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), and each purchaser identified on the signature pages hereto (each, including its successors and assigns, a “ Purchaser ” and collectively, the “ Purchasers ”).

RECITALS

A.     The Company and each Purchaser are executing and delivering this Agreement in reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and Rule 506 of Regulation D (“ Regulation D ”) as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act.

B.     Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly, wishes to purchase, and the Company wishes to sell to each Purchaser concurrently, upon the terms and conditions stated in this Agreement, (i) that aggregate number of shares of common stock, no par value per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), and (ii) that aggregate number of shares of the Company’s Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the “ Preferred Stock ”), set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement (which aggregate amount for all Purchasers together shall be 2,656,294 shares of Common Stock and 728,706 shares of Preferred Stock, and such shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall be collectively referred to herein as the “ Shares ”). When purchased, the Preferred Stock will have the terms set forth in the articles of amendment for the Preferred Stock to be issued to the Purchasers in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (the “ Articles of Amendment ”) which is made a part of the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “ Articles of Incorporation ”), by the filing of the Articles of Amendment with the North Carolina Secretary of the State (the “ Secretary of State ”). The Preferred Stock will be convertible into shares of the Company’s Common Stock subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Articles of Amendment. The shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock are convertible are referred to herein as the “ Underlying Shares ” and the Underlying Shares and the Shares are referred to herein, collectively, as the “ Securities .”

C.     Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties hereto are executing and delivering a Registration Rights Agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “ Registration Rights Agreement ”), pursuant to which, among other things, the Company will agree to provide certain registration rights with respect to the Securities under the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and applicable state securities laws.

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and the Purchasers hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

1.1      Definitions . In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated in this Section 1.1:

“ Action ” means any action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding (including any partial proceeding such as a deposition) or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened in writing against the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or any officer, director or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary acting in his or her capacity as an officer, director or employee before or by any federal, state, county, local or foreign court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency, regulatory authority, stock market, stock exchange or trading facility.

“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person.

“ Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the Preamble.

“ Articles of Amendment ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Articles of Incorporation ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Bank ” means First Bank, a North Carolina banking corporation and wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company.

“ BHC Act ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“ Board ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(v).

“ Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in the City of New York are open for the general transaction of business.

“ Castle Creek” means Castle Creek Capital Partners IV, L.P. Castle Creek is also a Purchaser as such term is used in this Agreement.

“ CIBC Act ” means the Change in Bank Control Act of 1978, as amended.

“ Closing ” means the closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares on the date hereof pursuant to this Agreement.

“ Closing Date ” means the date hereof.

“ Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.

“ Commission ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals, and also includes any securities into which the Common Stock may hereafter be reclassified or changed.

“ Company Counsel ” means Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.

“ Company Deliverables ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

“ Company Reports ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(kk).

“ Company’s Knowledge ” means with respect to any statement made to the knowledge of the Company, that the statement is based upon the actual knowledge of the executive officers of the Company having responsibility for the matter or matters that are the subject of the statement after reasonable investigation.

“ Control ” (including the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” or “under common control with”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise for purposes of the BHC Act or the CIBC Act.

“ DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company.

“ Effective Date ” means the date on which the initial Registration Statement required by Section 2(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement is first declared effective by the Commission.

“ Environmental Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(l).

“ ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.

“ ERISA Affiliate ”, as applied to the Company, means any Person under common control with the Company, who together with the Company, is treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

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

“ FDIC ” means the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

“ Federal Reserve ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

“ GAAP ” means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as applied by the Company.

“ Indemnified Person ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).

“ Intellectual Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(r).

“ Lien ” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, conditional sale agreement, restriction on transfer, charge, claim, encumbrance, security interest, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction of any kind.

“ Legend Removal Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(c).

“Loss Share Agreements” means each of the single family shared-loss agreements and commercial shared-loss agreements entered into by and between the Bank, on the one hand, and the FDIC, acting both in its receiver and corporate capacities, on the other hand, dated June 19, 2009 and January 21, 2011, respectively, and any such similar agreement entered into with the FDIC pursuant to the purchase of assets and assumption of liabilities of a failed insured depository institution.

“ Material Adverse Effect ” means any event, circumstance, change or occurrence that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, (i) a material and adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Articles of Amendment, (ii) a material and adverse effect on the operations, results of operations, assets, liabilities, properties, business, condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (iii) any adverse impairment to the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement or the Articles of Amendment; provided, that in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any effect to the extent resulting from the following: (A) changes, after the date hereof, in U.S. GAAP or regulatory accounting principles generally applicable to banks, savings associations or their holding companies, (B) changes, after the date hereof, in applicable laws, rules and regulations or interpretations thereof by any court, administrative agency or other governmental authority, whether federal, state, local or foreign, or any applicable industry self-regulatory organization, (C) actions or omissions of the Company expressly required by the terms of this Agreement or taken with the prior written consent of an affected Purchaser, (D) changes, after the date hereof, in general economic, monetary or financial conditions, (E) changes in the market price or trading volumes of the Common Stock (but not the underlying causes of such changes), (F) changes in global or national political conditions, including the outbreak or escalation of war or acts of terrorism and (G) the public disclosure of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; except, with respect to clauses (A), (B), (D) and (F), to the extent that the effects of such changes have a disproportionate effect on the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated banks, savings associations or their holding companies generally.

“ Material Contract ” means any contract of the Company that is, or was required to be, filed as an exhibit to the SEC Reports pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K.

“ Material Permits ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(p).

“ Money Laundering Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(jj).

“ New York Courts ” means the state and federal courts sitting in the State of New York.

“ NCCOB ” means the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks.

“ OFAC ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(ii).

“ Pension Plan ” means any employee pension benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA, other than a Multiemployer Plan, which is subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and which (i) is maintained for employees of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates or (ii) has at any time during the last six (6) years been maintained for the employees of the Company or any current or former ERISA Affiliate.

“ Person ” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust, business trust, association, joint stock company, joint venture, sole proprietorship, unincorporated organization or governmental authority.

“ Preferred Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Principal Trading Market ” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, shall be the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

“ Proceeding ” means a civil, criminal or administrative action, claim, suit or other proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

“ Purchase Price ” means $10.00 per Share of Common Stock and $10.00 per Share of Preferred Stock.

“ Purchaser Deliverables ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b).

“Qualifying Ownership Interest” for purposes of Section 4.13 shall mean 4.9% of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock (provided that, in making such calculation, all shares of Common Stock into or for which shares of any securities owned by a Purchaser are directly or indirectly convertible or exercisable, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include those shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of shares of the Preferred Stock to be issued hereunder shall be included in both the numerator and denominator.

“ Registration Rights Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Registration Statement ” means a registration statement meeting the requirements set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and covering the resale by the Purchasers of the Registrable Securities (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement).

“ Regulation D ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Regulatory Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(nn).

“ Required Approvals ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

“ Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

“ SEC Reports ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(h).

“ Secretary’s Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(v).

“ Securities ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“ Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Significant Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

“ Subscription Amount ” means with respect to each Purchaser, the aggregate amount to be paid for the Shares purchased hereunder at the Closing as indicated on such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement next to the heading, “Aggregate Purchase Price (Subscription Amount)”.

“ Subsidiary ” means those corporations, banks, savings banks, associations and other entities of which such person owns or controls 25% or more of the outstanding equity securities either directly or indirectly through an unbroken chain of entities as to each of which 25% or more of the outstanding equity securities is owned directly or indirectly by its parent or otherwise controlled by such parent and any entity that would be a “subsidiary” for purposes of the BHC Act; provided , however , that there shall not be included any such entity to the extent that the equity securities of such entity were acquired in satisfaction of a debt previously contracted in good faith or are owned or controlled in a bona fide fiduciary capacity.

“ Tax ” or “ Taxes ” means (i) any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or add on minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, imposed by any governmental authority and (ii) any liability in respect of any items described in clause (i) above payable by reason of contract, assumption, transferee or successor liability, operation of law, Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof or analogous or similar provisions of law) or otherwise.

“ Tax Return ” means any return, declaration, report or similar statement required to be filed with respect to any Tax (including any attached schedules), including, without limitation, any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax.

“ Trading Day ” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided, that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

“ Trading Market ” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE Amex, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or the OTC Bulletin Board on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

“ Transaction Documents ” means this Agreement, the schedules and exhibits attached hereto, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Articles of Amendment, the VCOC Letter Agreement and any other documents or agreements executed in connection with the transactions contemplated hereunder.

“ Transfer Agent ” means Registrar and Transfer Company, or any successor transfer agent for the Company.

“ Underlying Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE

2.1      Closing .

(a)      Purchase of Shares . Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing the Company shall issue and sell to each Purchaser, and each Purchaser shall, severally and not jointly, purchase from the Company, the number of Shares set forth below such Purchaser’s name on the signature page of this Agreement at a per Share price equal to the Purchase Price.

(b)      Closing . The Closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares shall take place at the offices of Company Counsel on the Closing Date or at such other locations or remotely by facsimile transmission or other electronic means as the parties may mutually agree.

(c)      Form of Payment . Unless otherwise agreed to by the Company and a Purchaser (as to itself only), on the Closing Date, (1) the Company shall deliver to each Purchaser one or more stock certificates, evidencing the type and number of Shares set forth on such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement and (2) upon receipt thereof, each Purchaser shall wire its Subscription Amount with respect to its Shares being purchased at the Closing in United States dollars and in immediately available funds, in accordance with the Company’s written wire transfer instructions. For purposes of clarity, a Purchaser shall not be required to wire its Subscription Amount until it (or its designated custodian per its delivery instructions) confirms receipt of its Shares.

2.2      Closing Deliveries .

(a)     On or prior to the Closing, the Company shall issue, deliver or cause to be delivered to each Purchaser (unless otherwise indicated) the following (the “ Company Deliverables ”):

(i)     this Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

(ii)     one or more stock certificates, free and clear of all restrictive and other legends (except as expressly provided in Section 4.1(b)), evidencing the Shares subscribed for by each Purchaser hereunder which are deliverable at the Closing, registered in the name of such Purchaser or as otherwise set forth on such Purchaser’s Stock Certificate Questionnaire included as Exhibit C-2 hereto (the “ Stock Certificates ”);

(iii)     a legal opinion of Company Counsel, dated as of the Closing Date and substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D , executed by such counsel and addressed to the Purchasers;

(iv)     the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Company;

(v)     a certificate of the Secretary of the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit E (the “ Secretary’s Certificate ”), dated as of the Closing Date, (a) certifying the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”) or a duly authorized committee thereof approving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Transaction Documents and the issuance of the Securities, (b) certifying the current versions of the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws, as amended, of the Company and (c) certifying as to the signatures and authority of persons signing the Transaction Documents and related documents on behalf of the Company;

(vi)     a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer, President or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F , dated as of the Closing Date, certifying to the fulfillment of the conditions specified in Sections 5.1(a) and 5.1(b) ; and

(vii)     a Certificate of Good Standing for the Company from the North Carolina Secretary of State as of a recent date.

(viii)     a letter agreement to Castle Creek in form and substance satisfactory to Castle Creek regarding the status of Castle Creek’s investment in the Shares as a “venture capital investment” for purposes of the U.S. Department of Labor Regulation published at 29 C.F.R. Section 2510.3–101(d)(3)(i) (the “ VCOC Letter Agreement ”).

(b)     On or prior to the Closing, each Purchaser shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company the following (the “ Purchaser Deliverables ”):

(i)     this Agreement, duly executed by such Purchaser;

(ii)     its Subscription Amount with respect to such Shares being purchased at the Closing, in U.S. dollars and in immediately available funds, by wire transfer in accordance with the Company’s written instructions;

(iii)     the Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by such Purchaser;

(iv)     a fully completed and duly executed Accredited Investor Questionnaire reasonably satisfactory to the Company, and Stock Certificate Questionnaire in the forms attached hereto as Exhibits C-1 and C-2 , respectively; and

(v)     with respect to Castle Creek, the VCOC Letter Agreement.

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

3.1      Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company hereby represents and warrants as of the Closing Date (except for the representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date, which shall be made as of such date) to each of the Purchasers that:

(a)      Subsidiaries . The Company has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries other than those listed in Schedule 3.1(a) hereto. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock (except for any preferred securities issued by Subsidiaries that are trusts) or comparable equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any and all Liens, and all the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or comparable equity interest of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable (to the extent such concept is applicable to an equity interest of a Subsidiary) and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

(b)      Organization and Qualification . The Company and each of its “Significant Subsidiaries” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (“ Significant Subsidiaries ”) is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (as applicable), with the requisite power and authority to own or lease and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is in violation of any of the provisions of its respective articles or certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, has not had or would not in the reasonable judgment of the Company be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “ BHC Act ”). The Bank is the sole depository institution Subsidiary of the Company and is duly organized and validly existing as a bank chartered under the laws of the state of North Carolina. The Bank’s deposit accounts are fully insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due (after giving effect to any applicable extensions). No proceedings for the revocation or termination of such deposit insurance are pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened. The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with all applicable federal, state and foreign laws, orders, judgments, decrees, rules, regulations and applicable stock exchange requirements, including all laws and regulations restricting activities of bank holding companies and insured depository institutions, except for any noncompliance that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(c)      Authorization; Enforcement; Validity . The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder, including, without limitation, to issue the Shares in accordance with the terms hereof. The Company’s execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (including, but not limited to, the sale and delivery of the Shares) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, and no further corporate action is required by the Company, its Board or its shareholders in connection therewith. Each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party has been (or upon delivery will have been) duly executed by the Company and is, or when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law. There are no shareholder agreements, voting agreements, or similar arrangements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the Company’s Knowledge, between or among any of the Company’s shareholders.

(d)      No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares) do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provisions of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or otherwise result in a violation of the organizational documents of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would result in a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any Material Contract, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, ordinance, law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree, agency requirement, legal requirement or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject (including federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, assuming the correctness of the representations and warranties made by the Purchasers herein, of any self-regulatory organization to which the Company or its securities are subject, including the Principal Trading Market), or by which any property or asset of the Company is bound or affected, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) such as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(e)      Filings, Consents and Approvals . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority, self-regulatory organization (including the Principal Trading Market) or other Person in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, the issuance of the Shares and the Underlying Shares), other than (i) the filing of the Articles of Amendment with the Secretary of State; (ii) the filing with the Commission of one or more Registration Statements in accordance with the requirements of the Registration Rights Agreement, (iii) filings required by applicable state securities laws, (iv) the filing of a Notice of Exempt Offering of Securities on Form D with the Commission under Regulation D of the Securities Act, (v) the filing of any requisite notices and/or application(s) to the Principal Trading Market for the issuance and sale of the Securities and the listing of the Securities for trading or quotation, as the case may be, thereon in the time and manner required hereby and thereby; (vi) the filings required in accordance with Section 4.6 of this Agreement; and (viii) those that have been made or obtained prior to the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “ Required Approvals ”).

(f)      Issuance of the Shares . The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and the Shares, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Transaction Documents, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. The issuance of the Underlying Shares has been duly authorized and the Underlying Shares, if and when issued in accordance with the terms of the Articles of Amendment, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions on transfer imposed by applicable securities laws, and shall not be subject to preemptive or similar rights. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchasers in this Agreement, the Shares will be issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.

(g)      Capitalization . (1) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 40,000,000 shares of common stock, of which 17,015,481 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 65,000 shares were designated as Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (“ Series A Preferred Stock ”), of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, 63,500 shares were designated as Senior Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B (“ Series B Preferred Stock ”), of which 63,500 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date hereof, and, upon effectiveness of the Articles of Amendment, 728,706 of which will be designated as Preferred Stock. The number of shares and type of all authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities of the Company (whether or not presently convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company) has been set forth in the SEC Reports and has changed since the date of such SEC Reports only due to stock grants or

other equity awards or stock option and warrant exercises that do not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on the issued and outstanding capital stock, options and other securities. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company. Except as specified in the SEC Reports: (i) no shares of the Company’s outstanding capital stock are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights; (ii) there are no outstanding options or other equity-based rights, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for, purchase or receive any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or options or other equity-based awards, warrants, scrip, rights to subscribe to, calls, agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities or rights convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary; (iii) there are no material outstanding debt securities, notes, credit agreements, credit facilities or other agreements, arrangements, commitments, documents or instruments evidencing indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary or by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound; (iv) except for the Registration Rights Agreement, there are no agreements, commitments, understandings or arrangements under which the Company or any Subsidiary is obligated to register the sale of any of its securities under the Securities Act; (v) there are no outstanding securities or instruments, agreements, commitments, understandings or arrangements of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to sell, transfer, dispose of, repurchase or redeem a security of the Company or any Subsidiary; (vi) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement; and (vii) neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has liabilities or obligations required to be disclosed in the SEC Reports but not so disclosed in the SEC Reports, which, individually or in the aggregate, will have or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There are no securities or instruments of the Company containing anti-dilution or similar provisions that will be triggered by the issuance of the Securities. Each option to purchase shares of Common Stock was granted with an exercise price per share equal to or greater than the per share fair market value (as such term is used in Code Section 409A and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder) of the Common Stock underlying such option on the grant date thereof and was otherwise issued in compliance with the requirements of the Code and applicable laws. Each option to purchase shares of Common Stock that was issued as an “incentive stock option” pursuant to Section 422 of the Code complied at the time of its grant and continues to comply with all of the requirements of the Code and the regulations thereunder pertaining to “incentive stock options.”

(2)     Immediately following the Closing, (i) 19,671,775 shares of Common Stock, (ii) no shares of Series A Preferred Stock, (iii) 63,500 shares of Series B Preferred Stock and (iv) 728,706 shares of Preferred Stock will be outstanding.

(h)      SEC Reports . The Company has filed all reports, registrations, certifications, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it under the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the eighteen (18) months preceding the date hereof (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being collectively referred to herein as the “ SEC Reports ”), on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective filing dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no outstanding or unresolved comments in comments letters received from the Commission. To the Company’s Knowledge, as of the date hereof, none of the SEC Reports is the subject of ongoing Commission review. No Subsidiary is required to file any form, report, registration, statement or other document with the Commission.

(i)      Financial Statements . The financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries included in the SEC Reports (including the related notes thereto) comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the balance sheet and statement of stockholders’ equity of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries taken as a whole as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, year-end audit adjustments, which would not be material, either individually or in the aggregate.

(j)      Tax Matters . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has (i) timely filed all material foreign, U.S. federal, state and local Tax Returns that are or were required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects (ii) paid all material Taxes required to be paid by it and any other material assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, whether or not shown or determined to be due on such Tax Returns, other than any such amounts (x) currently payable without penalty or interest, or (y) being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; (iii) is not subject to any outstanding audit, assessment, dispute or claim concerning any material Tax liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries either within the Company’s Knowledge or claimed, pending or raised by an authority in writing; (iv) is not a party to, bound by or otherwise subject to any obligation under any Tax sharing or Tax indemnity agreement or similar contract or arrangement; (v) has not participated in a “listed transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011- 4(b)(2); (vi) does not have any liability for Taxes of any Person arising from the application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign law, or as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise; (vii) has timely withheld, collected or deposited as the case may be all material Taxes (determined both individually and in the aggregate) required to be withheld, collected or deposited by it, and to the extent required, have been paid to the relevant taxing authority in accordance with applicable law; and (viii) have complied with all applicable information reporting requirements in all material respects.

(k)      Material Changes . Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as disclosed in subsequent SEC Reports filed prior to the date hereof, (i) there have been no events, circumstances, changes, occurrences or developments that have had or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any material liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or required to be disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered materially its method of accounting or the manner in which it keeps its accounting books and records, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its shareholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except Common Stock issued pursuant to existing Company stock option or equity based plans disclosed in the SEC Reports, and (vi) there has not been any material change or amendment to, or any waiver of any material right by the Company under, any Material Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or subject. Except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability or development has occurred or exists with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective business, properties, operations or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

(l)      Environmental Matters . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (ii) is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, (iii) owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is in violation of any Environmental Laws or (iv) is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws; in each case, which violation, contamination, liability or claim has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened investigation that might lead to such a claim. To the Company’s Knowledge, except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, there are no circumstances or conditions (including the presence of asbestos, underground storage tanks, lead products, polychlorinated biphenyls, prior manufacturing operations, dry-cleaning or automotive services) involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any currently or formerly owned or operated property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, that could reasonably be expected to result in any claim, liability, investigation, cost or restriction against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or result in any restriction on the ownership, use, or transfer of any property pursuant to any Environmental Law, or adversely affect the value of any currently owned property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

(m)      Litigation . There is no Action which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of the Transaction Documents (or the transactions contemplated thereby), the issuance of the Shares or the conversion of the Shares into the applicable Underlying Shares or (ii) except as disclosed in the SEC Reports, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate, if there were an unfavorable decision. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the Company’s Knowledge there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act. There are no outstanding orders, judgments, injunctions, awards or decrees of any court, arbitrator or governmental or regulatory body against the Company or any executive officers or directors of the Company in their capacities as such, which individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)      Employment Matters . No labor dispute exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary which would have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and each Subsidiary believes that its relationship with its employees is good. To the Company’s Knowledge, there is no activity involving any of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary seeking to certify a collective bargaining unit or similar organization. To the Company’s Knowledge, no executive officer is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of a third party, and to the Company’s Knowledge, the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any Subsidiary to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries are in compliance with all U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, immigration, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. As of the date of this Agreement, except as otherwise disclosed to the Purchasers, no material employee has given notice to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of his or her intent to terminate his or her employment or service relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all laws concerning the classification of employees and independent contractors and have properly classified all such individuals for purposes of participation in employee benefit plans.

(o)      Compliance . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under), nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries received written notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any Material Contract (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any order of which the Company has been made aware in writing of any court, arbitrator or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets, or (iii) is in violation of, or in receipt of written notice that it is in violation of, any statute, rule, regulation or policy of any governmental authority, self-regulatory organization (including the Principal Trading Market) applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or which would have the effect of revoking or limiting FDIC deposit insurance, except in each case set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) of this paragraph as would not have or reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

(p)      Regulatory Permits . The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess or have applied for all certificates, authorizations, consents, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders, approvals and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and that are material to the business of the Company or such of its Subsidiaries, except where the failure to possess such certificates, authorizations or permits, individually or in the aggregate, has not and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (“ Material Permits ”), and (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice in writing of proceedings relating to the revocation or material adverse modification of any such Material Permits and (ii) the Company is unaware of any facts or circumstances that would give rise to the suspension, revocation or material adverse modification of any Material Permits.

(q)      Title to Assets . The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real property and tangible personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all Liens except such as do not materially affect the value of such property or do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and any of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and facilities by the Company and its Subsidiaries. No notice of a claim of default by any party to any lease entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been delivered to either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or is now pending, and there does not exist any event or circumstance that with notice or passing of time, or both, would constitute a default or excuse performance by any party thereto. None of the owned or leased premises or properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any current or potential interests of third parties or other restrictions or limitations that would impair or be inconsistent in any material respect with the current use of such property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be.

(r)      Patents and Trademarks . The Company and its Subsidiaries own, possess, license, or can acquire on reasonable terms, or have other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, inventions, trade secrets, technology, Internet domain names, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted, except where the failure to own, possess, license or have such rights would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports and except where such violations or infringements would not have or reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, (a) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property; (b) there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (c) there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights in or to any such Intellectual Property; (d) there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; and (e) there is no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company and/or any Subsidiary infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, or other proprietary rights of others.

(s)      Insurance . The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as the Company believes to be prudent and customary in the businesses and locations in which and where the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged. All premiums due and payable under all such policies and bonds have been timely paid, and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with the terms of such policies and bonds. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of cancellation of any such insurance, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, will it or any Subsidiary be unable to renew their respective existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t)      Transactions With Affiliates and Employees . Except as set forth in the SEC Reports or as otherwise disclosed to the Purchasers, and other than the grant of stock options or other equity awards that are not individually or in the aggregate material in amount, none of the officers or directors of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, none of the employees or Affiliates of the Company, is presently a party to any contract, arrangement or transaction with the Company or to a presently contemplated contract, arrangement or transaction (other than for services as employees, officers and directors) that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act.

(u)      Internal Control Over Financial Reporting . The Company maintains internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and such internal control over financial reporting was effective as of the Company’s most recently filed SEC Report on Form 10-Q. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, the Company has not been advised of any material deficiencies in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting or any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, no material weakness in internal control over financial reporting has been identified by the Company’s auditors; and since the date of the most recent evaluation thereof, there have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting that could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect internal control over financial reporting.

(v)      Sarbanes-Oxley; Disclosure Controls . The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all of the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 which are applicable to it. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act), and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

(w)      Certain Fees . No Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or a Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Company. The Company shall indemnify, pay, and hold each Purchaser harmless against, any liability, loss or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses) arising in connection with any such right, interest or claim.

(x)      Private Placement . Assuming the accuracy of the Purchasers’ representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.2

of this Agreement and the accuracy of the information disclosed in the Accredited Investor Questionnaires, no registration under the Securities Act is required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company to the Purchasers under the Transaction Documents. The issuance and sale of the Shares hereunder does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Principal Trading Market.

(y)      Registration Rights . Other than each of the Purchasers, no Person has any right to cause the Company or any Subsidiary to effect the registration under the Securities Act of any securities of the Company or any Subsidiary.

(z)     [Intentionally omitted].

(aa)      Listing and Maintenance Requirements . The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to terminate the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received written notice from the Principal Trading Market to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of the Principal Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance in all material respects with the listing and maintenance requirements for continued trading of the Common Stock on the Principal Trading Market.

(bb)      Investment Company . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to be registered as, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately following the Closing will not be required to register as, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary sponsors any person that is such an investment company.

(cc)      Unlawful Payments . None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its directors or officers or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any employees, agents or other Persons acting at the direction of or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries: (a) directly or indirectly, used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to foreign or domestic political activity; (b) made any direct or indirect unlawful payments to any foreign or domestic governmental officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; (c) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (d) made any other unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other material unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee.

(dd)      Application of Takeover Protections; Rights Agreements . The Company has not adopted any shareholder rights plan or similar arrangement relating to accumulations of beneficial ownership of Common Stock or a change in control of the Company. The Company and its Board have taken all necessary action, if any, to render inapplicable Article 9 and Article 9A of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act or any other control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s articles of incorporation or other organizational documents or the laws of North Carolina or otherwise which is or could become applicable to any Purchaser solely as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other Transaction Document, including, without limitation, the Company’s issuance of the Securities and any Purchaser’s ownership of the Securities.

(ee)      Disclosure . The Company confirms that neither it nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its officers or directors nor any other Person acting on its or their behalf has provided, any Purchaser or its respective agents or counsel with any information that it believes constitutes or could reasonably be expected to constitute material, non-public information except (i) insofar as the existence, provisions and terms of the Transaction Documents and the proposed transactions hereunder may constitute such information and (ii) for any such additional information regarding the status of a proposed sale of nonperforming loans and expectations regarding related write-downs and foreclosed property write-downs, all of which information in clauses (i) and (ii) will be disclosed by the Company in the Press Release as contemplated by Section 4.6 hereof. The Company understands and confirms that each of the Purchasers will rely on the representations in this Section 3.1(ee) in effecting transactions in securities of the Company. No event or circumstance has occurred or information exists with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or its or their business, properties, operations or financial conditions, which, under applicable law, rule or regulation, requires public disclosure or announcement by the Company but which has not been so publicly announced or disclosed, except for the announcement of this Agreement and related transactions and/or as may otherwise be disclosed in the Press Release issued pursuant to Section 4.6.

(ff)      Off Balance Sheet Arrangements . There is no agreement, commitment, transaction, arrangement, or other relationship between the Company (or any Subsidiary) and an unconsolidated or other off balance sheet entity that is required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings or the Company’s financial statements and is not so disclosed and would have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(gg)      Acknowledgment Regarding Purchase of Shares . The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Purchasers is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length purchaser with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.  The Company further acknowledges that no Purchaser is acting as a financial advisor or fiduciary of the Company (or in any similar capacity) with respect to the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby and any advice given by any of the Purchasers or any of their respective representatives or agents in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby is merely incidental to the Purchasers’ purchase of the Shares.

(hh)      Absence of Manipulation . The Company has not, and to the Company’s Knowledge, no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the securities of the Company or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company.

(ii)      OFAC . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, Affiliate or Person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not knowingly use the proceeds of the sale of the Shares or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person or entity towards any sales or operations in any country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(jj)      Money Laundering Laws . The operations of each of the Company and any Subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects with the money laundering statutes of applicable jurisdictions (including, but not limited to, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended (the “ Bank Secrecy Act ”)), the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any applicable governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and to the Company’s Knowledge, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company and/or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or threatened.

(kk)      No Additional Agreements . The Company does not have any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any Purchaser with respect to the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents other than as specified in the Transaction Documents.

(ll)      Reports, Registrations and Statements . Since January 1, 2009, the Company and each Subsidiary have timely filed all material reports, registrations, documents, filings, submissions and statements (including, but not limited to, such of the foregoing as may be required under the Loss Share Agreements), together with any required amendments thereto, that it was required to file with the Federal Reserve, the NCCOB and the FDIC and any other applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities, except where the failure to file any such report, registration or statement would not have or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and any other applicable federal or state securities or banking authorities. All such reports and statements filed with any such regulatory body or authority are collectively referred to herein as the “ Company Reports .” All such Company Reports were filed on a timely basis or the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, as applicable, received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such Company Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the Company Reports complied in all material respects with all the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Reserve, the NCCOB and the FDIC and any other applicable foreign, federal or state securities or banking authorities, as the case may be.

(mm)      Regulatory Capitalization . As of September 30, 2012, the Bank meets or exceeds the standards necessary to be considered “well capitalized” under the FDIC’s prompt corrective action regulations.

(nn)      Agreements with Regulatory Agencies; Compliance with Certain Banking Regulations . Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any cease-and-desist or other similar order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any written or other supervisory agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any capital directive by, or since December 31, 2009, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any governmental entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its liquidity and funding policies and practices, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its operations or business (each item in this sentence, a “ Regulatory Agreement ”), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary been advised since December 31, 2009 by any governmental entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement.

The Company has no knowledge of any facts and circumstances, and has no reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, that would cause the Bank: (i) to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977, as amended (“ CRA ”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of less than “satisfactory”; (ii) to be operating in violation, in any material respect, of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by OFAC, or any other anti-money laundering statute, rule or regulation; or (iii) not to be in satisfactory compliance, in any material respect, with all applicable privacy of customer information requirements contained in any applicable federal and state privacy laws and regulations as well as the provisions of all information security programs adopted by the Subsidiary.

Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each Subsidiary has properly administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary, including accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor, in accordance with the terms of the governing documents, applicable federal and state law and regulation and common law. None of the Company, any Subsidiary or any director, officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary has committed any breach of trust or fiduciary duty with respect to any such fiduciary account that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the accountings for each such fiduciary account are true and correct and accurately reflect the assets of such fiduciary account.

(oo)      No General Solicitation or General Advertising . Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any Person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D under the Securities Act) in connection with any offer or sale of the Shares.

(pp)      Risk Management Instruments . Except as has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, since January 1, 2011, all material derivative instruments, including, swaps, caps, floors and option agreements, whether entered into for the Company’s own account, or for the account of one or more of the Company Subsidiaries, were entered into (1) only in the ordinary course of business, (2) in accordance with prudent practices and in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies and (3) with counterparties believed to be financially responsible at the time; and each of them constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company or one of the Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with its terms. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto, is in breach of any of its material obligations under any such agreement or arrangement.

(qq)      ERISA . The Company and each ERISA Affiliate is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of ERISA; no “reportable event” described in Section 4043 of ERISA (other than an event for which the 30-day notice requirement has been waived by applicable regulation) has occurred with respect to any Pension Plan for which the Company would have any liability that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any Pension Plan; or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and each Pension Plan for which the Company would have liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, to the Company’s Knowledge, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.

(rr)     Reservation of Underlying Shares. The Company will reserve, free of any preemptive or similar rights of shareholders of the Company, a number of unissued shares of Common Stock, sufficient to issue and deliver the Underlying Shares into which the Preferred Stock is convertible.

(ss)      Shell Company Status . The Company is not, and has never been, an issuer identified in Rule 144(i)(1).

(tt)      Registration Eligibility . The Company is eligible to register the resale of the Securities by the Purchasers using Form S-3 promulgated under the Securities Act.

(uu)      No Additional Agreements . The Company has no other agreements or understandings (including, without limitation, side letters) with any Purchaser to purchase Shares on terms that are different from those set forth herein.

(vv)      Change in Control . The issuance of the Shares to the Purchasers as contemplated by this Agreement will not trigger any rights under any “change of control” provision in any (i) employment, “change in control,” severance or other compensatory agreements and any benefit plan, which results in payments to the counterparty or the acceleration of vesting of benefits or (ii) in any other agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, other than as would not individually or in the aggregate result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ww)      Nonperforming and Classified Assets . As of the date hereof, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company believes that the amount of reserves and allowances for loan and lease losses and other nonperforming assets established on the financial statements included in the SEC Reports is adequate and such belief is reasonable under all the facts and circumstances to the Company’s Knowledge.

(xx)      Loss Share Agreements . To the Company’s Knowledge, there have been no breaches of the Loss Share Agreements that would result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(yy)      Material Contracts . Each Material Contract is a valid and binding obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable) that is a party thereto and, to the Company’s Knowledge, each other party to such Material Contract, except for such failures to be valid and binding as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such Material Contract is enforceable against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as applicable) that is a party thereto and, to the Company’s Knowledge, each other party to such Material Contract in accordance with its terms (subject in each case to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding of law or at equity), except for such failures to be enforceable as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, or to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to a Material Contract, is in material default or material breach of a Material Contract and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there does not exist any event, condition or omission that would constitute such a default or breach (whether by lapse of time or notice or both), in each case, except as, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.2      Representations and Warranties of the Purchasers . Each Purchaser hereby, for itself and for no other Purchaser, represents and warrants as of the Closing Date to the Company as follows:

(a)      Organization; Authority . If such Purchaser is an entity, it is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization with the requisite corporate, partnership, limited liability company or other power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the applicable Transaction Documents and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. If such Purchaser is an entity, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and performance by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or, if such Purchaser is not a corporation, such partnership, limited liability company or other applicable like action, on the part of such Purchaser. If such Purchaser is an entity, each of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement has been duly executed by such Purchaser, and when delivered by such Purchaser in accordance with the terms hereof (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company), will constitute the valid and legally binding obligation of such Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, liquidation or similar laws relating to, or affecting generally the enforcement of, creditors’ rights and remedies or by other equitable principles of general application.

(b)      No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement and the consummation by such Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the organizational documents of such Purchaser (if such Purchaser is an entity), (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which such Purchaser is a party, or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws) applicable to such Purchaser, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, defaults, rights or violations which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Purchaser to perform its obligations hereunder.

(c)      Investment Intent . Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are “restricted securities” and have not been registered under the Securities Act or any applicable state securities law and is acquiring the Securities as principal for its own account and not with a view to, or for distributing or reselling such Securities or any part thereof in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable state securities laws, provided, however , that by making the representations herein, such Purchaser does not agree to hold any of the Securities for any minimum period of time and reserves the right at all times to sell or otherwise dispose of all or any part of such Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under an exemption from such registration and in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Such Purchaser is acquiring the Securities hereunder in the ordinary course of its business. Such Purchaser does not presently have any agreement, plan or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any Person to distribute or effect any distribution of any of the Securities, or any securities which are derivatives thereof, to or through any Person or entity.

(d)      Purchaser Status . At the time such Purchaser was offered the Securities, it was, and at the date hereof it is, an “accredited investor” as defined in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act. Such Purchaser has provided the information in the Accredited Investor Questionnaire attached hereto as Exhibit C-1.

(e)      Reliance . The Company will be entitled to rely upon this Agreement and is irrevocably authorized to produce this Agreement or a copy hereof to (A) any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company and its affiliates and (B) any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby, in each case, to the extent required by any court or governmental authority to which the Company is subject, provided that the Company provides the Purchaser with prior written notice of such disclosure; provided, however, that the Company may provide to any Person without prior written notice to any Purchaser the form of this Agreement that is filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Form 8-K filed pursuant to Section 4.6.

(f)      General Solicitation . Purchaser: (i) became aware of the offering of the Securities, and the Securities were offered to Purchaser, solely by direct contact between Purchaser and the Company, and not by any other means, including any form of “general solicitation” or “general advertising” (as such terms are used in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act and interpreted by the Commission); (ii) reached its decision to invest in the Company independently from any other Purchaser; (iii) has entered into no agreements with shareholders of the Company or other subscribers for the purpose of controlling the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (iv) has entered into no agreements with shareholders of the Company or other subscribers regarding voting or transferring Purchaser’s interest in the Company.

(g)      Experience of Such Purchaser . Such Purchaser, either alone or together with its representatives, has such knowledge, sophistication and experience in business and financial matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the prospective investment in the Securities, and has so evaluated the merits and risks of such investment. Such Purchaser is able to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Securities and, at the present time, is able to afford a complete loss of such investment.

(h)      Access to Information . Such Purchaser acknowledges that it has been afforded (i) the opportunity to ask such questions as it has deemed necessary of, and to receive answers from, management and other representatives of the Company concerning the terms and conditions of the offering of the Securities and the merits and risks of investing in the Securities; (ii) access to information about the Company and the Subsidiaries and their respective financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, management and prospects sufficient to enable it to evaluate its investment; and (iii) the opportunity to obtain such additional information that the Company possesses or can acquire without unreasonable effort or expense that is necessary to make an informed investment decision with respect to the investment. Neither such inquiries nor any other investigation conducted by or on behalf of such Purchaser or its representatives or counsel shall modify, amend or affect such Purchaser’s right to rely on the truth, accuracy and completeness of the Company’s representations and warranties contained in the Transaction Documents. Such Purchaser has sought such accounting, legal and tax advice as it has considered necessary to make an informed decision with respect to its acquisition of the Securities. Purchaser acknowledges the Company has not made any representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of any available information except, with respect to the Company, as expressly set forth in the SEC Reports or to the extent such information is covered by the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.1.

(i)      Brokers and Finders . To such Purchaser’s knowledge, no Person will have, as a result of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, any valid right, interest or claim against or upon the Company or any Purchaser for any commission, fee or other compensation pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

(j)      Independent Investment Decision . Such Purchaser has independently evaluated the merits of its decision to purchase Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents, and such Purchaser confirms that it has not relied on the advice of any other Purchaser’s business and/or legal counsel in making such decision. Such Purchaser understands that nothing in this Agreement or any other materials presented by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser in connection with the purchase of the Securities constitutes legal, regulatory, tax or investment advice. Such Purchaser has consulted such legal, tax and investment advisors as it, in its sole discretion, has deemed necessary or appropriate in connection with its purchase of the Securities.

(k)      Reliance on Exemptions . Such Purchaser understands that the Securities are being offered and sold to it in reliance on specific exemptions from the registration requirements of U.S. federal and state securities laws and that the Company is relying in part upon the truth and accuracy of, and such Purchaser’s compliance with, the representations, warranties, agreements, acknowledgements and understandings of such Purchaser set forth herein in order to determine the availability of such exemptions and the eligibility of such Purchaser to acquire the Securities.

(l)      No Governmental Review . Such Purchaser understands that no U.S. federal or state agency or any other government or governmental agency has passed on or made any recommendation or endorsement of the Securities or the fairness or suitability of the investment in the Securities nor have such authorities passed upon or endorsed the merits of the offering of the Securities. Purchaser understands that the Securities are not savings accounts, deposits or other obligations of any bank and are not insured by the FDIC, including the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund, or any other governmental agency.

(m)      Consents . Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the other parties to the Transaction Documents, other than passivity and anti-association commitments that may be requested by the Federal Reserve, no approval, consent, exemption, authorization, or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any governmental entity or authority or any other person or entity in respect of any law or regulation is necessary or required, and no lapse of a waiting period under law applicable to such Purchaser is necessary or required, in each case in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by such Purchaser of this Agreement or the purchase of the Securities contemplated hereby.

(n)      Residency . Such Purchaser’s residence (if an individual) or office in which its investment decision with respect to the Securities was made (if an entity) are located at the address immediately below such Purchaser’s name on its signature page hereto.

(o)      Regulatory Matters . Purchaser understands and acknowledges that: (i) the Company is a registered bank holding company under the BHC Act, and is subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve; (ii) acquisitions of interests in bank holding companies are subject to the BHC Act and the CIBC Act and may be reviewed by the Federal Reserve to determine the circumstances under which such acquisitions of interests will result in Purchaser becoming subject to the BHC Act or subject to the prior notice requirements of the CIBC Act. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, Purchaser represents that neither it nor its Affiliates will, as a result of the transactions contemplated herein, be deemed to (i) own or control 10% or more of any class of voting securities of the Company or (ii) otherwise control the Company for purposes of the BHC Act or CIBC Act. Purchaser is not participating and has not participated with any other investor in the offering of the Securities in any joint activity or parallel action towards a common goal between or among such investors of acquiring control of the Company.

(p)      OFAC and Anti-Money Laundering . The Purchaser understands, acknowledges, represents and agrees that (i) the Purchaser is not the target of any sanction, regulation, or law promulgated by OFAC, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network or any other U.S. governmental entity (“ U.S. Sanctions Laws ”) ; (ii) the Purchaser is not owned by, controlled by, under common control with, or acting on behalf of any person that is the target of U.S. Sanctions Laws; (iii) the Purchaser is not a “foreign shell bank” and is not acting on behalf of a “foreign shell bank” under applicable anti-money laundering laws and regulations; (iv) the Purchaser’s entry into this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not contravene U.S. Sanctions Laws or applicable anti-money laundering laws or regulations; (v) the Purchaser will promptly provide to any regulatory or law enforcement authority such information or documentation as may be required to comply with U.S. Sanctions Laws or applicable anti-money laundering laws or regulations; and (vi) the Company may provide to any regulatory or law enforcement authority information or documentation regarding, or provided by, the Purchaser for the purposes of complying with U.S. Sanctions Laws or applicable anti-money laundering laws or regulations.

(q)      No Outside Discussion of Offering . Purchaser has not discussed the offering of the Securities with any other party or potential investors (other than the Company, any other Purchaser and Purchaser’s authorized representatives), except as expressly permitted under the terms of this Agreement or except as expressly permitted under the terms of the confidentiality agreement between Purchaser and the Company.

The Company and each of the Purchasers acknowledge and agree that no party to this Agreement has made or makes any representations or warranties with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby other than those specifically set forth in this Article III and the Transaction Documents.

ARTICLE IV
OTHER AGREEMENTS OF THE PARTIES

4.1      Transfer Restrictions .

(a)      Compliance with Laws . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, each Purchaser covenants that the Securities may be disposed of only pursuant to an effective registration statement under, and in compliance with the requirements of, the Securities Act, or pursuant to an available exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and in compliance with any applicable state, federal or foreign securities laws. In connection with any transfer of the Securities other than (i) pursuant to an effective registration statement, (ii) to the Company or (iii) pursuant to Rule 144 (provided that the transferor provides the Company with reasonable assurances (in the form of a seller representation letter and, if applicable, a broker representation letter) that such securities may be sold pursuant to such rule), the Company may require the transferor thereof to provide to the Company and the Transfer Agent, at the transferor’s expense, an opinion of counsel selected by the transferor and reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Transfer Agent, the form and substance of which opinion shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent, to the effect that such transfer does not require registration of such Securities under the Securities Act. As a condition of transfer (other than pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) of the preceding sentence), any such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and shall have the rights of a Purchaser under this Agreement and the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to such transferred Securities.

(b)      Legends . Certificates evidencing the Securities shall bear any legend as required by the “blue sky” laws of any state and a restrictive legend in substantially the following form (and with respect to any Securities held in book entry form, the Transfer Agent will record such a legend on the share register), until such time as they are not required under Section 4.1(c)

or applicable law:

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE OFFERED FOR SALE, SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ASSIGNED (I) IN THE ABSENCE OF (A) AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR THE SECURITIES UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (B) AN AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR BLUE SKY LAWS AS EVIDENCED BY A LEGAL OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY AND ITS TRANSFER AGENT OR (II) UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO RULE 144 UNDER SAID ACT (PROVIDED THAT THE TRANSFEROR PROVIDES THE COMPANY WITH REASONABLE ASSURANCES (IN THE FORM OF A SELLER REPRESENTATION LETTER AND, IF APPLICABLE, A BROKER REPRESENTATION LETTER) THAT THE SECURITIES MAY BE SOLD PURSUANT TO SUCH RULE). NO REPRESENTATION IS MADE BY THE ISSUER AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE EXEMPTION PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT FOR RESALES OF THESE SECURITIES.

(c)      Removal of Legends . The restrictive legend set forth in Section 4.1(b) above shall be removed and the Company shall issue a certificate without such restrictive legend or any other restrictive legend to the holder of the applicable Securities upon which it is stamped or issue to such holder by electronic delivery at the applicable balance account at DTC, if (i) such Securities are registered for resale under the Securities Act, (ii) such Securities are sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144 (if the transferor is not an Affiliate of the Company), or (iii) such Securities are eligible for sale under Rule 144, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to such securities and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions. Following the earlier of (i) the Effective Date or (ii) Rule 144 becoming available for the resale of Securities, without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) as to the Securities and without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions, the Company shall instruct the Transfer Agent to remove the legend from the Securities and shall cause its counsel to issue any legend removal opinion required by the Transfer Agent. Any fees (with respect to the Transfer Agent, Company counsel or otherwise) associated with the issuance of such opinion or the removal of such legend shall be borne by the Company. If a legend is no longer required pursuant to the foregoing, the Company will no later than three (3) Trading Days following the delivery by a Purchaser to the Transfer Agent (with notice to the Company) of a legended certificate or instrument representing such Securities (endorsed or with stock powers attached, signatures guaranteed, and otherwise in form necessary to affect the reissuance and/or transfer) and a representation letter to the extent required by Section 4.1(a) (such third Trading Day, the “ Legend Removal Date ”), deliver or cause to be delivered to such Purchaser a certificate or instrument (as the case may be) representing such Securities that is free from all restrictive legends. The Company may not make any notation on its records or give instructions to the Transfer Agent that enlarge the restrictions on transfer set forth in this Section 4.1(c). Certificates for Securities free from all restrictive legends may be transmitted by the Transfer Agent to the Purchasers by crediting the account of the Purchaser’s prime broker with DTC as directed by such Purchaser.

(d)      Acknowledgement . Each Purchaser hereunder acknowledges its primary responsibilities under the Securities Act and accordingly will not sell or otherwise transfer the Securities or any interest therein without complying with the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Except as otherwise provided below, while the Registration Statement remains effective, each Purchaser hereunder may sell the Securities in accordance with the plan of distribution contained in the Registration Statement and if it does so it will comply therewith and with the related prospectus delivery requirements unless an exemption therefrom is available or unless the Securities are sold pursuant to Rule 144. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with the other Purchasers, agrees that if it is notified by the Company in writing at any time that the registration statement registering the resale of the Securities is not effective or that the prospectus included in such registration statement no longer complies with the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, the Purchaser will refrain from selling such Securities until such time as the Purchaser is notified by the Company that such registration statement is effective or such prospectus is compliant with Section 10 of the Exchange Act, unless such Purchaser is able to, and does, sell such Securities pursuant to an available exemption from the registration requirements of Section 5 of the Securities Act.

4.2      Acknowledgment of Dilution . The Company acknowledges that the issuance of the Securities may result in dilution of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.  The Company further acknowledges that its obligations under the Transaction Documents, including without limitation its obligation to issue the Securities pursuant to the Transaction Documents, are unconditional and absolute and not subject to any right of set off, counterclaim, delay or reduction, regardless of the effect of any such dilution or any claim the Company may have against any Purchaser and regardless of the dilutive effect that such issuance may have on the ownership of the other shareholders of the Company.

4.3      Furnishing of Information . In order to enable the Purchasers to sell the Securities under Rule 144 of the Securities Act, until the date that the Purchaser may sell all of its Securities without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 (including without limitation the requirement to be in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1)), but not for a period exceeding one year from the Closing, the Company shall maintain the registration of the Common Stock under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act and timely file (or obtain extensions in respect thereof and file within the applicable grace period) all reports required to be filed by the Company after the date hereof pursuant to the Exchange Act. During such one year period, if the Company is not required to file reports pursuant to such laws, it will prepare and furnish to the Purchasers and make publicly available the information described in Rule 144(c)(2), if the provision of such information will allow resales of the Securities pursuant to Rule 144.

4.4      Form D and Blue Sky . The Company agrees to timely file a Form D with respect to the Securities as required under Regulation D. The Company, on or before the Closing Date, shall take such action as the Company shall reasonably determine is necessary in order to obtain an exemption for or to qualify the Securities for sale to the Purchasers at the Closing pursuant to this Agreement under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States (or to obtain an exemption from such qualification). The Company shall make all filings and reports relating to the offer and sale of the Securities required under applicable securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the states of the United States following the Closing Date.

4.5      No Integration . The Company shall not, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that no Affiliate of the Company shall, sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in Section 2 of the Securities Act) that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the sale of the Securities to the Purchasers, or that will be integrated with the offer or sale of the Securities for purposes of the rules and regulations of any Trading Market such that it would require stockholder approval prior to the closing of such other transaction unless stockholder approval is obtained before the closing of such subsequent transaction.

4.6      Securities Laws Disclosure; Publicity . The Company shall, by 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on or before the first (1st) Business Day immediately following the date of this Agreement, issue one or more press releases (collectively, the “ Press Release ”) reasonably acceptable to the Purchasers disclosing all material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby and any other material, nonpublic information that the Company may have provided any Purchaser at any time prior to the issuance of the Press Release, including, without limitation, any other material, nonpublic information relating to the status of a proposed sale of nonperforming loans and expectations regarding related write-downs and foreclosed property write-downs. On or before 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on the fourth (4th) Business Day immediately following the date of this Agreement, the Company will file a Current Report on Form 8-K with the Commission describing the terms of the Transaction Documents (and including as exhibits to such Current Report on Form 8-K the material Transaction Documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Articles of Amendment)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not publicly disclose the name of any Purchaser or any Affiliate or investment adviser of any Purchaser, or include the name of any Purchaser or any Affiliate or investment adviser of any Purchaser in any press release or in any filing with the Commission (other than a Registration Statement) or Trading Market, without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, except (i) as required by the federal securities law in connection with (A) any registration statement contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement and (B) the filing of final Transaction Documents with the Commission and (ii) to the extent such disclosure is required by law, at the request of the staff of the Commission or under Trading Market regulations, in which case the Company shall provide the Purchasers with prior written notice of such disclosure permitted under this subclause (ii). From and after the issuance of the Press Release, except for the Castle Creek Entities (as defined below) pursuant to the rights granted under, and terms of, Section 4.13, no Purchaser shall be in possession of any material, non-public information received from the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective officers, directors or employees. Each Purchaser, severally and not jointly with other Purchasers, covenants that until such time as the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are publicly disclosed by the Company as described in this Section 4.6, such Purchaser will maintain the confidentiality of all disclosures made to it in connection with this transaction (including the existence and terms of this transaction). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if any Purchaser is requested or required by law to disclose the terms of this transaction, then such information may be disclosed without violation of this Agreement.

4.7      Non-Public Information . Except pursuant to and in accordance with Section 4.13 hereof, and except with the express written consent of such Purchaser and unless prior thereto such Purchaser shall have executed a written agreement regarding the confidentiality and use of such information, the Company shall not, and shall cause each Subsidiary and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, not to, and each Purchaser shall not directly solicit the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or agents to provide any Purchaser with any material, non-public information regarding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from and after the filing of the Press Release.

4.8      Indemnification .

(a)      Indemnification of Purchasers . In addition to the indemnity provided in the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will indemnify and hold each Purchaser and its directors, officers, shareholders, members, partners, employees, agents and investment advisors (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title), each Person who controls such Purchaser (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, shareholders, agents, members, partners, employees or investment advisors (and any other Persons with a functionally equivalent role of a Person holding such titles notwithstanding a lack of such title or any other title) of such controlling person (each, an “ Indemnified Person ”) harmless from and against any and all losses, liabilities, obligations, claims, contingencies, damages, costs and expenses, including all judgments, amounts paid in settlements, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs of investigation that any such Indemnified Person may suffer or incur as a result of (i) any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or (ii) any action instituted against an Indemnified Person in any capacity, or any of them or their respective Affiliates, by any shareholder of the Company who is not an Affiliate of such Indemnified Person, with respect to any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company will not be liable to any Indemnified Person under this Agreement to the extent, but only to the extent that a loss, claim, damage or liability is attributable to any Indemnified Person’s breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by such Indemnified Person in this Agreement or in the other Transaction Documents or attributable to the gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of such Indemnified Person. Any indemnification payment made pursuant to this Agreement shall be treated as an adjustment to purchase price for Tax purposes, except as otherwise required by law.

(b)      Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . Promptly after receipt by any Indemnified Person of notice of any demand, claim or circumstances which would or might give rise to a claim or the commencement of any action, proceeding or investigation in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 4.8(a), such Indemnified Person shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, and shall assume the payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however , that the failure of any Indemnified Person so to notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that the Company is actually and materially and adversely prejudiced by such failure to notify (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction, which determination is not subject to appeal or further review). In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless: (i) the Company and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel; (ii) the Company shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person in such proceeding; or (iii) in the reasonable judgment of counsel to such Indemnified Person, representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them; provided, that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified Parties. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Person, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, the Company shall not effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such proceeding.

4.9      Listing of Common Stock . The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list the Shares of Common Stock and the Underlying Shares for quotation on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and maintain the listing of the Common Stock thereon.

4.10      Use of Proceeds . The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares hereunder for general corporate purposes.

4.11      Limitation on Beneficial Ownership . No Purchaser will be entitled to purchase a number of Shares that would result in such Purchaser, together with its Affiliates or any other Persons with which it is acting in concert or whose holdings would otherwise be required to be aggregated with such Purchaser’s holdings for purposes of the BHC Act or the CIBC Act becoming, directly or indirectly (assuming, with respect only to a Purchaser purchasing shares of Preferred Stock, conversion of the Preferred Stock), the beneficial owner (as determined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more than 9.9% of the number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding (based on the number of outstanding shares as of the Closing Date).

4.12      Avoidance of Control . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall take any action (including, without limitation, any redemption, repurchase, rescission or recapitalization of Common Stock, or securities or rights, options or warrants to purchase Common Stock, or securities of any type whatsoever that are, or may become, convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Common Stock in each case, where each Purchaser is not given the right to participate in such redemption, repurchase, rescission or recapitalization to the extent of such Purchaser’s pro rata proportion), that would cause (a) such Purchaser’s equity of the Company (together with equity owned by such Purchaser’s Affiliates (as such term is used under the BHC Act)) to exceed 33.3% of the Company’s total equity (provided that there is no ownership or control in excess of 9.9% of any class of voting securities of the Company by such Purchaser, together with such Purchaser’s Affiliates) or (b) such Purchaser’s ownership of any class of voting securities of the Company (together with the ownership by such Purchaser’s Affiliates (as such term is used under the BHC Act) of voting securities of the Company) to exceed 9.9%, in each case without the prior written consent of such Purchaser, or to increase to an amount that would constitute “control” under the BHC Act, the CIBC Act, any applicable provisions of Chapter 53 of the North Carolina General Statutes, or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (or any successor provisions) or otherwise cause such Purchaser to “control” the Company under and for purposes of the BHC Act, the CIBC Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (or any successor provisions). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no Purchaser (together with its Affiliates (as such term is used under the BHC Act)) shall have the ability to purchase more than 33.3% of the Company’s total equity or exercise any voting rights of any class of securities in excess of 9.9% of the total outstanding voting securities of the Company. In the event either the Company or a Purchaser breaches its obligations under this Section 4.12 or believes that it is reasonably likely to breach such an obligation, it shall promptly notify the other parties hereto and shall cooperate in good faith with such parties to modify ownership or make other arrangements or take any other action, in each case, as is necessary to cure or avoid such breach.

4.13      Governance Rights .

(a)     Within ten (10) Business Days subsequent to the receipt of a written request (the “ Request ”) of Castle Creek to have a Board Representative (as hereinafter defined) appointed to the Board of Directors in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.13, the Company and the Bank will request, to the extent required, the non-objection or approval of the Federal Reserve to the appointment of the Board Representative. The Company further covenants and agrees that within five (5) Business Days of the earlier to occur of (x) the receipt of the Request, if the approval or non-objection of the Federal Reserve is not required, and (y) the receipt of the non-objection or approval of the Federal Reserve, the Board of Directors shall cause one (1) person nominated by Castle Creek to be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors as well as to the board of directors of the Bank (the “ Bank Board ”), subject to satisfaction of the legal, bank regulatory and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (“ Governance Committee ”) (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). After such appointment or election of a Board Representative, so long as Castle Creek, together with its Affiliates, has a Qualifying Ownership Interest, the Company will be required to recommend to its shareholders the election of the Board Representative at the Company’s annual meeting, subject to satisfaction of the legal and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company and to the reasonable approval of the Governance Committee (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If Castle Creek, together with its Affiliates, no longer has a Qualifying Ownership Interest, Castle Creek will have no further rights under Sections 4.13(a) through 4.13(c) and, at the written request of the Board of Directors, shall use all reasonable best efforts to cause its Board Representative to resign from the Board of Directors and the Bank Board as promptly as possible thereafter. Castle Creek shall promptly inform the Company if and when it, together with its Affiliates, ceases to hold a Qualifying Ownership Interest in the Company and the Company shall provide, at its own expense, Castle Creek with all such information as Castle Creek may reasonably request for the calculation of Castle Creek’s Qualifying Ownership Interest.

(b)     The Board Representative shall, subject to applicable law, be one of the nominees of the Company and of the Governance Committee to serve on the Board of Directors. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Board Representative elected as a director of the Company by the shareholders of the Company and the Company shall solicit proxies for the Board Representative to the same extent as it does for any of its other Company nominees to the Board of Directors. The Company shall ensure, and shall cause the Bank to ensure, that each committee of the Board of Directors and any equivalent committees of the Bank to which the Board Representative is appointed shall have at least four (4) members for so long as Castle Creek shall have the right to appoint a Board Representative. Castle Creek covenants and agrees to hold all such information obtained from its Board Representative in confidence pursuant to the confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions of Section 4.13(h) below.

(c)     Subject to Section 4.13(a), upon the death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, or removal from office as a member of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board of the Board Representative, Castle Creek shall have the right to designate the replacement for such Board Representative, which replacement shall satisfy all legal, bank regulatory and governance requirements regarding service as a director of the Company, and shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company. The Board of Directors and the Bank Board shall use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take all action required to fill the vacancy resulting therefrom with such person (including such person, subject to applicable law, being one of the Company’s and the Governance Committee’s nominees to serve on the Board of Directors and the Bank Board), using all reasonable best efforts to have such person elected as director of the Company by the shareholders of the Company and the Company soliciting proxies for such person to the same extent as it does for any of its other nominees to the Board of Directors, as the case may be.

(d)     The Company hereby agrees that, from and after the Closing Date, for so long as Castle Creek, together with its Affiliates (but in no event including for such purpose the Company, the Bank or any other Purchaser), in the aggregate has a Qualifying Ownership Interest, and do not have a Board Representative currently serving on the Board of Directors and the Bank Board (or have a Board Representative whose appointment is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals), the Company shall, subject to applicable law, invite a person designated by Castle Creek and reasonably acceptable to the Board of Directors (the “ Observer ”) to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board (including any meetings of committees thereof which a Board Representative would be permitted to attend) in a nonvoting, non-participating observer capacity. The Observer shall be entitled to attend such meetings only in the event Castle Creek does not have a Board Representative on the Board of Directors and the Bank Board. The Observer shall not have any right to vote on any matter presented to the Board of Directors or the Bank Board or any committee thereof. The Company shall give the Observer written notice of each meeting of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board at the same time and in the same manner as the members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board (as the case may be), shall provide the Observer with all written materials and other information given to members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board (as the case may be) at the same time such materials and information are given to such members and shall permit the Observer to attend as an observer all meetings thereof, and in the event the Company proposes to take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting, the Company shall give written notice thereof to the Observer prior to the effective date of such consent describing the nature and substance of such action and including the proposed text of such written consents; provided, however, that (1) the Observer may be excluded from executive sessions comprised solely of independent directors by the chairman of the Board of Directors (or, if applicable, the lead or presiding independent director) if, on the advice of counsel to the Company, such exclusion is necessary in order for the Company to comply with applicable law, regulation or stock exchange listing standards (it being understood that it is not expected that the Observer would be excluded from routine executive sessions), (2) the Company, the Board of Directors, the Bank and the Bank Board shall have the right to withhold any information and to exclude the Observer from any meeting or portion thereof if doing so is, on the advice of counsel to the Company, (A) necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege between such party and counsel or (B) necessary to avoid a violation of fiduciary requirements under applicable law and (3) Castle Creek shall use reasonable best efforts to cause its Observer to agree to hold in confidence and trust and to act in a fiduciary manner with respect to all information provided to such Observer. Castle Creek covenants and agrees to hold all such information obtained from its Observer as provided in the prior sentence in confidence pursuant to the confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions of Section 4.13(h) below. If Castle Creek and its Affiliates in the aggregate no longer have a Qualifying Ownership Interest, Castle Creek will have no further rights under this Section 4.13(d).

(e)     The Board Representative shall be entitled to compensation, including fees, and indemnification and insurance coverage in connection with his or her role as a director to the same extent as other directors on the Board of Directors or the Bank Board, as applicable, and the Board Representative shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable documented, out-of-pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and the Bank Board, or any committee thereof in accordance with Company policy. The Company shall notify the Board Representative or the Observer, as the case may be, of all regular meetings and special meetings of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board and of all regular and special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors and any committee of the Bank Board. The Company shall provide the Board Representative or the Observer, as the case may be, with copies of all notices, minutes, consents and other material that it provides to all other members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board (as applicable) concurrently as such materials are provided to the other members.

(f)     Each of the Company and the Bank acknowledges that the Board Representative may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Castle Creek and/or certain of its Affiliates (collectively, the “ Castle Creek Indemnitors ”). The Company hereby agrees on behalf of itself and the Bank that with respect to a claim by the Board Representative for indemnification arising out his or her service as a director of the Company and/or the Bank (1) that it is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to the Board Representative with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance (which obligations shall be the same as, but in no event greater than, any such obligations to members of the Board of Directors or the Bank Board, as applicable) are primary and any obligation of the Castle Creek Indemnitors to advance expenses or to provide indemnification for the same expenses or liabilities incurred by the Board Representative are secondary), and (2) the Castle Creek Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of the Board Representative against the Company. The Company agrees that the Purchaser Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 4.13(f).

(g)     For purposes of this Agreement, “ Board Representative ” means such person designated by Castle Creek to be elected or appointed to the Board of Directors and the Bank Board in accordance with all legal, bank regulatory and governance requirements regarding service and election or appointment as a director of the Company, or any individual designated as a replacement Board Representative pursuant to Section 4.13(c) hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall any failure to meet any applicable residency requirement be a valid reason for withholding approval of the Board Representative (or any replacement Board Representation) by the Governance Committee, the Board of Directors, the Bank Board or the Company, as the case may be, under this Section 4.13.

(h)     In consideration of the rights granted under this Section 4.13, Castle Creek agrees that it will hold, will cause its respective subsidiaries and their directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors and affiliates (collectively, the “ Castle Creek Entities ”) to hold, in strict confidence, unless disclosure to a governmental entity is necessary or appropriate in connection with any necessary regulatory approval, or request for information or similar process, or unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or, in the written opinion of its counsel, by other requirement of law or the applicable requirements of any governmental entity (in which case, Castle Creek shall, to the extent legally permissible and reasonably practicable, provide the Company with prior written notice of such permitted disclosure, except to the extent such disclosure is in connection with a routine audit by a governmental authority that does not expressly reference the Company or this Agreement), all nonpublic records, books, contracts, instruments, computer data and other data and information (collectively, “ Information ”) concerning the Company or the Bank furnished to any of the Castle Creek Entities pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with the rights granted hereunder, (except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (1) previously known by such party on a nonconfidential basis, (2) in the public domain through no fault of such party, or (3) later lawfully acquired from other sources by the party to which it was furnished), and the Castle Creek Entities shall not release or disclose such Information to any other person, except its auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, other consultants, and advisors with the express understanding that such parties will maintain the confidentiality of the Information and, to the extent permitted above, to bank regulatory authorities.

(i)     Notwithstanding any terms of this Agreement to the contrary, including without limitation, Sections 4.6 and 4.7, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to prohibit the Company or the Bank from providing material, non-public information to any of the Castle Creek Entities in satisfaction of its obligations under this Section 4.13, subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 4.13(h).

4.14      No Change of Control . The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary irrevocable waivers, adopt any required amendments and make all appropriate determinations so that the issuance of the Shares to the Purchasers will not trigger a “change of control” or other similar provision in any Material Contracts and any employment, “change in control,” severance or other employee or director compensation agreements or any benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which results in payments to the counterparty or the acceleration of vesting of benefits.

4.15      Subscription Rights .

(a)      Sale of New Securities . For a period beginning on the Closing Date and ending on the third anniversary of the Closing Date, for so long as the Purchaser, together with its Affiliates and, for purposes of this Section 4.15, persons who share a common investment advisor with such Purchaser, owns 2.0% or more of all of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (provided that, in making such calculation, all shares of Common Stock into or for which shares of any securities owned by a Purchaser are directly or indirectly convertible or exercisable, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include those shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of shares of the Preferred Stock to be issued hereunder shall be included in both the numerator and denominator), if the Company at any time or from time to time makes any public or non-public offering of any equity (including Common Stock, preferred stock (other than the Preferred Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement) and restricted stock), or any securities, options or debt that are convertible or exchangeable into equity or that include an equity component (such as an “equity kicker”) (including any hybrid security) (any such security a “ New Security ”), each Purchaser shall be afforded the opportunity (provided, in the case of an offering that is not a registered public offering, that such Purchaser satisfied any applicable “accredited investor,” “qualified institutional buyer” or other investor criteria applicable to such offering) to acquire from the Company for the same price and on the same terms (except that such Purchaser may elect to receive such securities in non-voting form) as such securities are proposed to be offered to others, up to the amount of New Securities in the aggregate required to enable it to maintain its proportionate Common Stock-equivalent interest in the Company; provided that such Purchaser shall not be entitled to acquire securities pursuant to this Section 4.15 if such acquisition would cause or would result in such Purchaser and its Affiliates, collectively, being deemed to own, control or have the power to vote, for purposes of the BHC Act or the CIBC Act and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, 10% or more of any class of “voting securities” (as defined in the BHC Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder) of the Company (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that no security shall be included in any such percentage calculation to the extent it cannot by its terms be converted into or exercisable for voting securities by such Purchaser or its Affiliates), or 33.3% of the Company’s total equity, outstanding at such time. Subject to the foregoing proviso, the amount of New Securities that such Purchaser shall be entitled to purchase in the aggregate shall be determined by multiplying (x) the total number of such offered shares of New Securities by (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock held by such Purchaser plus the number of shares of Common Stock represented by any convertible securities held by such Purchaser on an as converted basis, as of such date, and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares of Common Stock represented by any convertible securities held by such Purchaser on an as converted basis, as of such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the subscription rights set forth under this Section 4.15 shall not apply to (1) any offering by the Company pursuant to the granting or exercise of employee stock options or other equity incentives to employees or directors pursuant to the Company’s stock incentive plans or the issuance of stock pursuant to any employee stock purchase plan, in each case in the ordinary course of equity compensation awards and to the extent approved by the Board of Directors, (2) issuances of any securities issued as a result of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or reorganization or similar event, but solely to the extent such issuance is made to all holders of Common Stock, (3) issuances of shares of Common Stock (including the Underlying Shares) issued upon conversion of, or as a dividend on, the Preferred Stock and any convertible securities of the Company issued prior to the date hereof and (4) an offering by the Company for consideration in connection with any bona fide, arm’s length direct or indirect merger or acquisition. For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that the Company complies with its obligations pursuant to this Section 4.15 with respect to any securities that are convertible or exchangeable into (or exercisable for) Common Stock, such Purchaser shall not have an additional right to purchase pursuant to this Section 4.15 additional securities as a result of the issuance of New Securities upon the conversion, exchange or exercise of such earlier issued securities (whether or not such Purchaser exercised its right to purchase such earlier issued securities). A Purchaser may assign the right to exercise the subscription rights set forth in this Section 4.15 to any Affiliate or Person who shares a common discretionary investment adviser with such Purchaser that agrees in writing for the benefit of the Company to be bound by the terms of this Agreement, and any such assignee shall be included in the term “Purchaser” for purposes of this Section 4.15.

(b)      Notice . In the event the Company proposes to offer New Securities, it shall give each Purchaser written notice (or, if such a written notice would be required to be filed with the Commission, oral notice) of its intention, describing, to the extent then known, the price (or range of prices), anticipated amount of securities, timing and other terms upon which the Company proposes to offer the same (including, in the case of a registered public offering and to the extent possible, a copy of the prospectus included in the registration statement filed with respect to such offering) no later than five Business Days, as the case may be, after the initial filing of a registration statement with the Commission with respect to an underwritten public offering, after the commencement of marketing with respect to a Rule 144A offering or after the Company commences the marketing of any other offering; provided that for purposes of this Section 4.15, in addition to providing notice to each Purchaser in accordance with Section 6.3, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect actual notice of the Purchaser as promptly as practicable, including via telephone and/or electronic mail (provided that the Company shall contact only those persons listed in the “Address for Notices” section of such Purchaser’s signature page to this Agreement and shall have no obligation to use electronic mail if such electronic mail would be required to be filed with the Commission). The Company may provide such notice to each Purchaser on a confidential basis (and the Purchaser shall keep the information conveyed by notice confidential) prior to public disclosure of such offering. Each Purchaser shall have ten days from the date of receipt of such notice (or, in the case or a “shelf takedown” from a shelf registration statement, two days from the receipt of such notice) (such ten or two day period, as applicable, the “ Response Period ”) to notify the Company in writing whether it will exercise such subscription rights and as to the amount of New Securities such Purchaser desires to purchase, up to the maximum amount calculated pursuant to Section 4.15(a). Such notice shall constitute a binding commitment by such Purchaser to purchase the amount of New Securities so specified at the price and other terms set forth in the Company’s notice to it and subject to other customary closing conditions and provided, with respect to a registered offering, that such notice shall not be binding unless and until the Company can accept a binding commitment under applicable laws and regulations. The failure of a Purchaser to respond within the Response Period shall be deemed to be a waiver of such Purchaser’s rights under this Section 4.15 only with respect to the offering described in the applicable notice.

(c)      Purchase Mechanism . If a Purchaser exercises its subscription rights provided in this Section 4.15, the closing of the purchase of the New Securities with respect to which such right has been exercised shall take place within 30 days after the giving of notice of such exercise, which period of time shall be extended for a maximum of 120 days in order to comply with applicable laws and regulations (including receipt of any applicable regulatory or shareholder approvals), except that in the case of a registered public offering the closing shall occur in accordance with market convention. Each of the Company and such Purchaser agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to secure any regulatory or shareholder approvals or other consents, and to comply with any law or regulation necessary in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of such New Securities, including calling a meeting of the Company’s shareholders to vote on any matters requiring shareholder approval in connection with the offer, sale and purchase of such New Securities (the “ Subscription Proposals ”), recommending to the Company’s shareholders that such shareholders vote in favor of any Subscription Proposals and soliciting proxies for approval of any Subscription Proposals.

(d)      Failure to Purchase . In the event a Purchaser fails to exercise its subscription rights provided in this Section 4.15 within the Response Period, or, if so exercised, such Purchaser is unable to consummate such purchase within the time period specified in Section 4.15(c) above for any reason, the Company shall thereafter be entitled during the period of 60 days following the conclusion of the applicable period to sell or enter into an agreement (pursuant to which the sale of the New Securities covered thereby shall be consummated, if at all, within 30 days from the date of said agreement) to sell the New Securities not elected to be purchased pursuant to this Section 4.15 or which such Purchaser does not or is unable to purchase, at a price and upon terms no more favorable to purchasers of such securities than were specified in the Company’s notice to such Purchaser. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if such sale is subject to the receipt of any regulatory or shareholder approval or consent or the expiration of any waiting period, the time period during which such sale may be consummated shall be extended until the expiration of five Business Days after all such approvals or consents have been obtained or waiting periods expired, but in no event shall such time period exceed 120 days from the date of the applicable agreement with respect to such sale. In the event the Company has not sold the New Securities or entered into an agreement to sell the New Securities within said 60-day period (or sold and issued New Securities in accordance with the foregoing within 30 days from the date of said agreement (as such period may be extended in the manner described above for a period not to exceed 120 days from the date of said agreement)), the Company shall not thereafter offer, issue or sell such New Securities without first offering such securities to such Purchaser in the manner provided above.

(e)      Non-Cash Consideration . In the case of the offering of securities for a consideration in whole or in part other than cash, including securities acquired in exchange therefor (other than securities by their terms so exchangeable), the consideration other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair value thereof as determined by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that such fair value as determined by the Board of Directors shall not exceed the aggregate market price of the securities being offered as of the date the Board of Directors authorizes the offering of such securities.

(f)      Cooperation . The Company and each participating Purchaser shall cooperate in good faith to facilitate the exercise of such Purchaser’s rights pursuant to this Section 4.15, including securing any required approvals or consents.

(g)      Exception to Time Periods . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.15, in the event that New Securities are to be offered or issued by the Company at the written direction of the applicable federal banking regulator of the Company or the Bank, the Company may proceed to complete such issuance prior to the expiration of such time periods, so long as provision is made in such issuance such that subsequent to the time periods set forth in Section 4.15(b) and Section 4.15(c) either (i) purchasers of such New Securities will be obligated to transfer that portion of such New Securities to any Purchaser properly electing to participate in such issuance pursuant to this Section 4.15 sufficient to satisfy the terms of this Section 4.15 or (ii) the Company shall issue an incremental amount of such New Securities to those Purchasers properly electing to participate in such issuance pursuant to this Section 4.15 sufficient to satisfy the terms of this Section 4.15.

4.16      FDIC Final Statement of Policy on Qualifications for Failed Bank Acquisitions . So long as a Purchaser holds any Securities, the Company will not, without the consent of such Purchaser, take any action, directly or indirectly, through its subsidiaries or otherwise, that the Board of Directors of the Company believes in good faith would reasonably be expected to cause such Purchaser to be subject to transfer restrictions or other covenants of the FDIC Final Statement of Policy on Qualifications for Failed Bank Acquisitions as in effect at the time of taking such action.

4.17      NASDAQ Compliance . The Company will not issue securities in addition to the Securities to the extent that the issuance of such additional securities would require the Company to obtain approval of the Company’s shareholders for the combined issuance of the Securities and such other securities in order to comply with Rule 5635 of the NASDAQ Marketplace Rules.

ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

5.1      Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Purchasers to Purchase Shares . The obligation of each Purchaser to acquire Shares at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment, on or prior to the Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by such Purchaser (as to itself only):

(a)      Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b)      Performance . The Company shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.

(c)      No Injunction . No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(d)      Consents . Other than the Required Approvals contemplated in Sections 3.1(e) (ii), (iv) and (vi), the Company shall have obtained in a timely fashion any and all consents, permits, approvals, registrations and waivers necessary for consummation of the purchase and sale of the Shares, all of which shall be and remain so long as necessary in full force and effect.

(e)      No Suspensions of Trading in Common Stock; Listing . The Common Stock (i) shall be designated for listing and quotation on the Principal Trading Market and (ii) shall not have been suspended, as of the Closing Date, by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market from trading on the Principal Trading Market nor shall suspension by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market have been threatened, as of the Closing Date, either (A) in writing by the Commission or the Principal Trading Market or (B) by falling below the minimum listing maintenance requirements of the Principal Trading Market. The Company shall have obtained approval of the Principal Trading Market to list the Shares.

(f)      Company Deliverables . The Company shall have delivered the Company Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(a).

(g)      Articles of Amendment . The Company shall have filed the Articles of Amendment with the Secretary of State.

(h)      Minimum Gross Proceeds. The Company shall receive at the Closing aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of Shares of at least $33,850,000, at a price per share equal to the Purchase Price, and shall simultaneously issue and deliver at the Closing to the Purchasers hereunder an aggregate number of Shares equal to such gross proceeds divided by the Purchase Price.

(i)      Bank Regulatory Issues . The purchase of Shares by such Purchaser shall not (i) cause such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to violate any banking regulation, (ii) require such Purchaser or any of its affiliates to file a prior notice under the CIBC Act, or otherwise seek prior approval or non-objection of any banking regulator, (iii) require such Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to become a bank holding company or otherwise serve as a source of strength for the Company or any Subsidiary or (iv) cause such Purchaser, together with any other person whose Company securities would be aggregated with such Purchaser’s Company securities for purposes of any bank regulation or law, to collectively be deemed to own, control or have the power to vote securities which (assuming, for this purpose only, full conversion and/or exercise of such securities by the Purchaser and such other Persons) would represent more than 9.9% of any class of voting securities of the Company outstanding at such time.

5.2      Conditions Precedent to the Obligations of the Company to sell Shares . The Company’s obligation to sell and issue the Shares to each Purchaser at the Closing is subject to the fulfillment on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions, any of which may be waived by the Company:

(a)      Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties made by each Purchaser in Section 3.2 hereof shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date, except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date.

(b)      Performance . Such Purchaser shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by such Purchaser at or prior to the Closing Date.

(c)      No Injunction . No statute, rule, regulation, executive order, decree, ruling or injunction shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or endorsed by any court or governmental authority of competent jurisdiction that prohibits the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents.

(d)      Purchasers Deliverables . Such Purchaser shall have delivered its Purchaser Deliverables in accordance with Section 2.2(b).

ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS

6.1      Fees and Expenses . The Company shall pay its own fees and the reasonable legal fees and expenses of (i) Greenberg Traurig, LLP, counsel to certain Purchasers, incurred by such Purchasers in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, up to a maximum amount of $50,000 in the aggregate, and (ii) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, counsel to Castle Creek, incurred by Castle Creek in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, up to a maximum amount of $50,000 in the aggregate, which amounts shall be paid directly by the Company to Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, respectively, at the Closing. Except as set forth above and elsewhere in the Transaction Documents, the parties hereto shall be responsible for the payment of all expenses incurred by them in connection with the preparation and negotiation of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company shall pay all Transfer Agent fees, stamp taxes and other taxes and duties levied in connection with the Company’s sale and issuance of the Securities to the Purchasers.

6.2      Entire Agreement . The Transaction Documents, together with the exhibits and schedules thereto, contain the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, discussions and representations, oral or written, with respect to such matters, which the parties acknowledge have been merged into such documents, exhibits and schedules. At or after the Closing, and without further consideration, the Company and the Purchasers will execute and deliver to the other parties such further documents as may be reasonably requested in order to give practical effect to the intention of the parties under the Transaction Documents.

6.3      Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or e-mail (provided the sender receives a machine-generated confirmation of successful facsimile transmission or e-mail notification or confirmation of receipt of an e-mail transmission) at the facsimile number or e-mail address specified in this Section prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Trading Day, (b) the next Trading Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile at the facsimile number specified in this Section on a day that is not a Trading Day or later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on any Trading Day, (c) the Trading Day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. nationally recognized overnight courier service with next day delivery specified, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

341 North Main Street

Troy, North Carolina 27371

Attention: Richard H. Moore, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 910-576-6171

Fax: 910-576-0662

E-Mail: rmoore@firstbancorp.com

101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1900

Charlotte, North Carolina 28246

Attention: Henry H. Ralston

Telephone: 704-377-2536

Fax: 704-373-3913

E-Mail: hralston@rbh.com

or such other address as may be designated in writing hereafter, in the same manner, by such Person.

6.4      Amendments; Waivers; No Additional Consideration . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective with respect to any party unless made in writing and signed by a duly authorized representative of such party. No consideration shall be offered or paid to any Purchaser to amend or consent to a waiver or modification of any provision of any Transaction Document unless the same consideration is also offered to all Purchasers who then hold Shares.

6.5      Construction . The headings herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or affect any of the provisions hereof. The language used in this Agreement will be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent, and no rules of strict construction will be applied against any party. This Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement or any of the Transaction Documents.

6.6      Successors and Assigns . The provisions of this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement, or any rights or obligations hereunder, may not be assigned by the Company without the prior written consent of the Purchasers. Any Purchaser may assign its rights and obligations hereunder in whole or in part to any Person to whom such Purchaser assigns or transfers any Securities in compliance with the Transaction Documents and applicable law, provided such transferee shall agree in writing to be bound, with respect to the transferred Securities, by the terms and conditions of this Agreement that apply to the “Purchasers”; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the rights granted to Castle Creek and/or its Affiliates under Section 4.13 of this Agreement may not by assigned without the prior written consent of the Company.

6.7      No Third-Party Beneficiaries . This Agreement is intended for the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns and is not for the benefit of, nor may any provision hereof be enforced by, any other Person, other than, solely with respect to the provisions of Section 4.8, the Indemnified Persons.

6.8      Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. Each party agrees that all Proceedings concerning the interpretation, enforcement and defense of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any other Transaction Documents (whether brought against a party hereto or its respective Affiliates, employees or agents) whether in tort or contract or at law or in equity, may be commenced on a non-exclusive basis in the New York Courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Courts for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection herewith or with any transaction contemplated hereby or discussed herein (including with respect to the enforcement of any of the Transaction Documents), and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any Proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such New York Court, or that such Proceeding has been commenced in an improper or inconvenient forum. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such Proceeding by mailing a copy thereof via registered or certified mail or overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

6.9      Survival . Subject to applicable statute of limitations, the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing and the delivery of the Shares; provided, that the representations and warranties of the Company and each Purchaser shall survive the Closing and delivery of the Shares but only for a period of 18 months following the Closing Date (or until final resolution of any claim or action arising from the breach of any such representation and warranty, if notice of such breach was provided prior to the end of such period) and shall thereafter expire and have no further force and effect; provided, that the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b) (except the last two sentences of such Section 3.1(b), which shall be subject only to the general survival period of 18 months following the Closing Date as described above), 3.1(c) (except the third sentence of such Section 3.1(c), which shall be subject only to the general survival period of 18 months following the Closing Date as described above), 3.1(f), 3.1(g) (except the terms of clause (vii) of such Section 3.1(g), which shall be subject only to the general survival period of 18 months following the Closing Date above) and 3.1(w) shall survive indefinitely, and the representations and warranties in Sections 3.1(j), 3.1(l) and 3.1(qq) shall survive until 60 days following the expiration of the applicable statutory statute of limitations.

6.10      Execution . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that the parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission, or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile signature page were an original thereof.

6.11      Severability . If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, the validity and enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and the parties will attempt to agree upon a valid and enforceable provision that is a reasonable substitute therefor, and upon so agreeing, shall incorporate such substitute provision in this Agreement.

6.12      Replacement of Shares . If any certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in exchange and substitution for and upon cancellation thereof, or in lieu of and substitution therefor, a new certificate or instrument, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Transfer Agent of such loss, theft or destruction and the execution by the holder thereof of a customary lost certificate affidavit of that fact and an agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Transfer Agent for any losses in connection therewith or, if required by the Transfer Agent, a bond in such form and amount as is required by the Transfer Agent. The applicants for a new certificate or instrument under such circumstances shall also pay any reasonable third-party costs associated with the issuance of such replacement Shares. If a replacement certificate or instrument evidencing any Shares is requested due to a mutilation thereof, the Company may require delivery of such mutilated certificate or instrument as a condition precedent to any issuance of a replacement.

6.13      Remedies . In addition to being entitled to exercise all rights provided herein or granted by law, including recovery of damages, each of the Purchasers and the Company shall be entitled to specific performance under the Transaction Documents. The parties agree that monetary damages may not be adequate compensation for any loss incurred by reason of any breach of obligations described in the foregoing sentence and hereby agree to waive in any action for specific performance of any such obligation (other than in connection with any action for a temporary restraining order) the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

6.14      Payment Set Aside . To the extent that the Company makes a payment or payments to any Purchaser pursuant to any Transaction Document or a Purchaser enforces or exercises its rights thereunder, and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such enforcement or exercise or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside, recovered from, disgorged by or are required to be refunded, repaid or otherwise restored to the Company, a trustee, receiver or any other person under any law (including, without limitation, any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause of action), then to the extent of any such restoration the obligation or part thereof originally intended to be satisfied shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such enforcement or setoff had not occurred.

6.15      Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights . The obligations of each Purchaser under any Transaction Document are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser under any Transaction Document. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made by such Purchaser independently of any other Purchaser and independently of any information, materials, statements or opinions as to the business, affairs, operations, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company or any Subsidiary which may have been made or given by any other Purchaser or by any agent or employee of any other Purchaser, and no Purchaser and none of its agents or employees shall have any liability to any other Purchaser (or any other Person) relating to or arising from any such information, materials, statements or opinions. Nothing contained herein or in any other Transaction Document, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert or as a group with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with monitoring its investment in the Securities or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to independently protect and enforce its rights, including without limitation the rights arising out of this Agreement or out of the other Transaction Documents, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between the Company and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Company and the Purchasers collectively and not between and among the Purchasers. The Company has elected to provide all Purchasers with the same terms and Transaction Documents for the convenience of the Company and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser.

6.16      Rescission and Withdrawal Right . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (and without limiting any similar provisions of) the Transaction Documents, whenever any Purchaser exercises a right, election, demand or option under a Transaction Document and the Company does not timely perform its related obligations within the periods therein provided, then such Purchaser may rescind or withdraw, in its sole discretion from time to time upon written notice to the Company, any relevant notice, demand or election in whole or in part without prejudice to its future actions and rights.

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[SIGNATURE PAGE FOR COMPANY FOLLOWS]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Securities Purchase Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized signatories as of the date first indicated above.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
[SIGNATURE PAGES FOR PURCHASERS FOLLOW]

[ Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement ]

Delivery Instructions:

(if different than above)

c/o _______________________________

Street: ____________________________

City/State/Zip: ______________________

Attention: __________________________

Telephone No.: ____________________________

[ Signature Page to Securities Purchase Agreement ]

EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A

Articles of Amendment

Exhibit A| Page 1

EXHIBIT B

Form of Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit B| Page 1

EXHIBIT C-1

ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE

(ALL INFORMATION WILL BE TREATED CONFIDENTIALLY)

To:     First Bancorp

This Investor Questionnaire (“ Questionnaire ”) must be completed by each potential investor in connection with the offer and sale of shares of common stock, no par value per share (the “ Common Stock ”) and/or Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock (the “ Preferred Stock ,”) and the underlying shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock is convertible (the “ Underlying Shares ,” and collectively with the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock, the “ Shares ”), of First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”). The Shares are being offered and sold by the Company without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), and the securities laws of certain states, in reliance on the exemptions contained in Section 4(2) of the Securities Act and on Regulation D promulgated thereunder and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. The Company must determine that a potential investor meets certain suitability requirements before offering or selling Shares to such investor. The purpose of this Questionnaire is to assure the Company that each investor will meet the applicable suitability requirements. The information supplied by you will be used in determining whether you meet such criteria, and reliance upon the private offering exemptions from registration is based in part on the information herein supplied.

This Questionnaire does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security. Your answers will be kept strictly confidential. However, by signing this Questionnaire, you will be authorizing the Company to provide a completed copy of this Questionnaire to such parties as the Company deems appropriate in order to ensure that the offer and sale of the Shares will not result in a violation of the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state and that you otherwise satisfy the suitability standards applicable to purchasers of the Shares. All potential investors must answer all applicable questions and complete, date and sign this Questionnaire. Please print or type your responses and attach additional sheets of paper if necessary to complete your answers to any item.

PART A.      BACKGROUND INFORMATION

If a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity:

Were you formed for the purpose of investing in the securities being offered?

Yes ____     No ____

If an individual :

Age: _____________     Citizenship: ____________     Where registered to vote:____________

If an individual, set forth in the space provided below the state in the United States in which you maintain your residence:

If an entity, set forth in the space provided below the state in the United States in which you made your investment decision:

Are you a director or executive officer of the Company?

Yes ____     No ____

Social Security or Taxpayer Identification No.                                                                                                                               

PART B.      ACCREDITED INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE

In order for the Company to offer and sell the Shares in conformance with state and federal securities laws, the following information must be obtained regarding your investor status. Please initial each category applicable to you as a Purchaser of Shares.

Exhibit C-2

Stock Certificate Questionnaire

Pursuant to Section 2.2(b) of the Agreement, please provide us with the following information:

EXHIBIT D

Form of Opinion of Company Counsel*

* The opinion letter of Company Counsel will be subject to customary limitations and carveouts.

EXHIBIT E

Form of Secretary’s Certificate

The undersigned hereby certifies that he is the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary of First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), and that as such he is authorized to execute and deliver this certificate in the name and on behalf of the Company and in connection with the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2012, by and among the Company and the investors party thereto (the “Purchase Agreement” ), and further certifies in his official capacity, in the name and on behalf of the Company, the items set forth below. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto set his hand as of this 21st day of December, 2012.

[_____________]

Secretary

I, [_____________], Chief [______] Officer of the Company, hereby certify that [_____________] is the duly elected, qualified and acting Secretary of the Company and that the signature set forth above is his true signature.

[_____________]

Chief [______] Officer

EXHIBIT F

Form of Officer’s Certificate

The undersigned, the Chief _____ Officer of First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), pursuant to Section 2.2(a)(vi) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 21, 2012, by and among the Company and the investors signatory thereto (the “ Securities Purchase Agreement ”), hereby represents, warrants and certifies as follows (capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement):

1.     The representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date (except for such representations and warranties that speak as of a specific date).

2.     The Company has performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions required by the Transaction Documents to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the undersigned has executed this certificate this 21st day of December, 2012.

[___________]

[___________]

[___________]

[___________]

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”) is made and entered into as of December 21, 2012, by and among First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), and the several purchasers signatory hereto (each a “ Purchaser ” and collectively, the “ Purchasers ”).

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, dated as of the date hereof between the Company and each Purchaser (the “ Purchase Agreement ”).

NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual covenants contained in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the Company and each of the Purchasers agree as follows:

1.               Definitions . Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein that are defined in the Purchase Agreement shall have the meanings given such terms in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

“ Advice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d).

“ Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.

“ Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“ Allowable Grace Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).

“ Availability Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(m).

“ Business Day ” means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which banks in New York City are open for the general transaction of business.

“ Closing ” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

“ Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

“ Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

“ Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Company, no par value per share, and any securities into which such shares of common stock may hereinafter be reclassified.

“ Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“ Effective Date ” means the date that the Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is first declared effective by the Commission.

“ Effectiveness Deadline ” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, the earlier of (i) the 100 ^th calendar day following the Closing Date (or the 130 ^th calendar day following the Closing Date in the event that such registration statement is subject to review by the Commission) and (ii) the 5 ^th Trading Day after the date the Company is notified (orally or in writing, whichever is earlier) by the Commission that such Registration Statement will not be “reviewed” or will not be subject to further review; provided , that if the Effectiveness Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Effectiveness Deadline shall be extended to the next Business Day on which the Commission is open for business.

“ Effectiveness Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

“ Event ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“ Event Date ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

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

“ Filing Deadline ” means, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 2(a), the 40 ^th calendar day following the Closing Date, provided, that if the Filing Deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or other day that the Commission is closed for business, the Filing Deadline shall be extended to the next business day on which the Commission is open for business.

“ FINRA ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(i).

“ Grace Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e).

“ Holder ” or “ Holders ” means the holder or holders, as the case may be, from time to time of Registrable Securities.

“ Indemnified Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

“ Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(c).

“ Initial Registration Statement ” means the initial Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) of this Agreement.

“Liquidated Damages” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(c).

“Losses ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

“ New Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“ Person ” means an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

“ Preferred Stock ” means the Company’s Series C Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share.

“ Principal Market ” means the Trading Market on which the Common Stock is primarily listed on and quoted for trading, which, as of the Closing Date, shall be the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

“ Proceeding ” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

“ Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement, and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

“ Purchase Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

“ Purchaser ” or “ Purchasers ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

“ Registrable Securities ” means all of the Shares and the Underlying Shares any securities issued or issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the Shares or the Underlying Shares, provided , that the Holder has timely completed and delivered to the Company a Selling Shareholder Questionnaire; and provided, further , that Shares or the Underlying Shares shall cease to be Registrable Securities upon the earliest to occur of the following: (A) a sale pursuant to a Registration Statement or Rule 144 under the Securities Act (in which case, only such security sold shall cease to be a Registrable Security); (B) becoming eligible for sale without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information required under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable) and without volume or manner of sale restrictions by Holders who are not Affiliates of the Company; (C) if such Shares or Underlying Shares have ceased to be outstanding; or (D) if such Shares or Underlying Shares have been sold in a private transaction in which the Holder’s rights under this Agreement have not been assigned to the transferee.

“ Registration Statements ” means any one or more registration statements of the Company filed under the Securities Act that covers the resale of any of the Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement (including without limitation the Initial Registration Statement, the New Registration Statement and any Remainder Registration Statements), amendments and supplements to such Registration Statements, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Registration Statements.

“ Remainder Registration Statement ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a).

“ Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

“ Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

“ Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the Commission having substantially the same effect as such Rule.

“ SEC Guidance ” means (i) any publicly-available written or oral guidance, comments, requirements or requests of the Commission staff and (ii) the Securities Act.

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

“ Selling Shareholder Questionnaire ” means a questionnaire in the form attached as Annex B hereto, or such other form of questionnaire as may reasonably be adopted by the Company from time to time.

“ Shares ” means the shares of Common Stock and the shares of Preferred Stock issued or issuable to the Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

“ Trading Day ” means (i) a day on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and traded on its Principal Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), or (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a Trading Market (other than the OTC Bulletin Board), a day on which the Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Common Stock is not quoted on any Trading Market, a day on which the Common Stock is quoted in the over-the-counter market as reported in the “pink sheets” by OTC Markets Group Inc. (or any similar organization or agency succeeding to its functions of reporting prices); provided , that in the event that the Common Stock is not listed or quoted as set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) hereof, then Trading Day shall mean a Business Day.

“ Trading Market ” means whichever of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE MKT, the NASDAQ Global Select Market, the NASDAQ Global Market, the NASDAQ Capital Market or OTC Bulletin Board on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted for trading on the date in question.

“Underlying Shares” means the shares of Common Stock into which the Preferred Stock are convertible.

2.               Registration .

(a)             On or prior to the Filing Deadline, the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement covering the resale of all of the Registrable Securities not already covered by an existing and effective Registration Statement for an offering to be made on a continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 or, if Rule 415 is not available for offers and sales of the Registrable Securities, by such other means of distribution of Registrable Securities as the Company may reasonably determine (the “ Initial Registration Statement ”). The Initial Registration Statement shall be on Form S-3 (except if the Company is then ineligible to register for resale of the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case such registration shall be on such other form available to the Company to register for resale of the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering) subject to the provisions of Section 2(f) and shall contain (except if otherwise required pursuant to (i) written comments received from the Commission upon a review of such Registration Statement or (ii) a change in SEC Guidance) the “Plan of Distribution” section substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex A . Notwithstanding the registration obligations set forth in this Section 2, in the event the Commission informs the Company that all of the Registrable Securities cannot, as a result of the application of Rule 415, be registered for resale as a secondary offering on a single registration statement, the Company agrees to promptly (i) inform each of the Holders thereof and use its commercially reasonable efforts to file amendments to the Initial Registration Statement as required by the Commission and/or (ii) withdraw the Initial Registration Statement and file a new registration statement (a “ New Registration Statement ”), in either case covering the maximum number of Registrable Securities permitted to be registered by the Commission, on Form S-3 or such other form available to the Company to register for resale the Registrable Securities as a secondary offering; provided , that prior to filing such amendment or New Registration Statement, the Company shall be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the SEC Guidance, including without limitation, Securities Act Rules Compliance and Disclosure Interpretation 612.09. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement and subject to the payment of Liquidated Damages in Section 2(c), if any SEC Guidance sets forth a limitation of the number of Registrable Securities or other shares of Common Stock permitted to be registered on a particular Registration Statement as a secondary offering (and notwithstanding that the Company used commercial reasonable efforts to advocate with the Commission for the registration of all or a greater number of Registrable Securities), the number of Registrable Securities or other shares of Common Stock to be registered on such Registration Statement will be reduced on a pro rata basis. In the event the Company amends the Initial Registration Statement or files a New Registration Statement, as the case may be, under clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Commission, as promptly as allowed by Commission or SEC Guidance provided to the Company or to registrants of securities in general, one or more registration statements on Form S-3 or such other form available to the Company to register for resale those Registrable Securities that were not registered for resale on the Initial Registration Statement, as amended, or the New Registration Statement (the “ Remainder Registration Statements ”). No Holder shall be named as an “underwriter” in any Registration Statement without such Holder’s prior written consent.

(b)              The Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause each Registration Statement to be declared effective by the Commission as soon as practicable and, with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, no later than the Effectiveness Deadline, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep each Registration Statement continuously effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (i) such time as all of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been publicly sold by the Holders or (ii) the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement may be sold by non-affiliates of the Company without volume or manner of sale restrictions under Rule 144, and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirements under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and reasonably acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent and the affected Holders (the “ Effectiveness Period ”). The Company shall request effectiveness of a Registration Statement as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Trading Day. The Company shall promptly notify the Holders via facsimile or electronic mail of a “.pdf” format data file of the effectiveness of a Registration Statement within one (1) Business Day of the Effective Date. The Company shall, by 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the first Trading Day after the Effective Date, file a final Prospectus with the Commission, as required by Rule 424(b).

(c)              If: (i) the Initial Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the Filing Deadline, (ii) the Initial Registration Statement or the New Registration Statement, as applicable, is not declared effective by the Commission (or otherwise does not become effective) for any reason on or prior to the Effectiveness Deadline, or (iii) after its Effective Date, (A) such Registration Statement ceases for any reason (including without limitation by reason of a stop order, or the Company’s failure to update the Registration Statement), to remain continuously effective as to all Registrable Securities for which it is required to be effective or (B) the Holders are not permitted to utilize the Prospectus therein to resell such Registrable Securities, in the case of (A) and (B) (other than during an Allowable Grace Period), (iv) a Grace Period exceeds the length of an Allowable Grace Period, or (v) after the date six months following the Closing Date, and only in the event a Registration Statement is not effective or available to sell all Registrable Securities, the Company fails to file with the SEC any required reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act such that it is not in compliance with Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable), as a result of which the Holders who are not affiliates are unable to sell Registrable Securities without restriction under Rule 144 (or any successor thereto) (any such failure or breach in clauses (i) through (v) above being referred to as an “ Event ,” and, for purposes of clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (v), the date on which such Event occurs, or for purposes of clause (iv) the date on which such Allowable Grace Period is exceeded, being referred to as an “ Event Date ”), then in addition to any other rights the Holders may have hereunder or under applicable law, on each such Event Date

and on each monthly anniversary of each such Event Date (if the applicable Event shall not have been cured by such date) until the applicable Event is cured, the Company shall pay to each Holder an amount in cash, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty (“ Liquidated Damages ”), equal to 0.50% of the aggregate purchase price paid by such Holder pursuant to the Purchase Agreement for any Registrable Securities held by such Holder on the Event Date. The parties agree that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein or in the Purchase Agreement, no Liquidated Damages shall be payable (i) if as of the relevant Event Date, the Registrable Securities may be sold by non-affiliates of the Company without volume or manner of sale restrictions under Rule 144 and the Company is in compliance with the current public information requirements under Rule 144(c)(1) (or Rule 144(i)(2), if applicable), as determined by counsel to the Company pursuant to a written opinion letter to such effect, addressed and reasonably acceptable to the Company’s transfer agent, (ii) to a Holder causing an Event that relates to or is caused by any action or inaction taken by such Holder, (iii) to Castle Creek in the event it is unable to lawfully sell any of its Registrable Securities (including, without limitation, in the event a Grace Period exceeds the length of an Allowable Grace Period) because of possession of material non-public information pursuant to the exercise of its rights under Section 4.13 of the Purchase Agreement or (iv) with respect to any period after the expiration of the Effectiveness Period (it being understood that this clause shall not relieve the Company of any Liquidated Damages accruing prior to the expiration of the Effectiveness Period). If the Company fails to pay any Liquidated Damages pursuant to this Section 2(c) in full within ten (10) Business Days after the date payable, the Company will pay interest thereon at a rate of 1.0% per month (or such lesser maximum amount that is permitted to be paid by applicable law) to the Holder, accruing daily from the date such Liquidated Damages are due until such amounts, plus all such interest thereon, are paid in full. The Liquidated Damages pursuant to the terms hereof shall apply on a daily pro-rata basis for any portion of a month prior to the cure of an Event, except in the case of the first Event Date. With respect to a Purchaser, the Effectiveness Deadline for a Registration Statement shall be extended without default or Liquidated Damages hereunder in the event that the Company’s failure to obtain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement on a timely basis results from the failure of such Purchaser to timely provide the Company with information requested by the Company and necessary to complete the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act (in which case the Effectiveness Deadline would be extended with respect to Registrable Securities held by such Purchaser).

(d)             Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company a completed Selling Shareholder Questionnaire not more than ten (10) Trading Days following the date of this Agreement. At least five (5) Trading Days prior to the first anticipated filing date of a Registration Statement for any registration under this Agreement, the Company will notify each Holder of the information the Company requires from that Holder other than the information contained in the Selling Shareholder Questionnaire, if any, which shall be completed and delivered to the Company promptly upon request and, in any event, within two (2) Trading Days prior to the applicable anticipated filing date. Each Holder further agrees that it shall not be entitled to be named as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or use the Prospectus for offers and resales of Registrable Securities at any time, unless such Holder has returned to the Company a completed and signed Selling Shareholder Questionnaire and a response to any requests for further information as described in the previous sentence. If a Holder of Registrable Securities returns a Selling Shareholder Questionnaire or a request for further information, in either case, after its respective deadline, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts at the expense of the Holder who failed to return the Selling Shareholder Questionnaire or to respond for further information to take such actions as are required to name such Holder as a selling security holder in the Registration Statement or any pre-effective or post-effective amendment thereto and to include (to the extent not theretofore included) in the Registration Statement the Registrable Securities identified in such late Selling Shareholder Questionnaire or request for further information. Each Holder acknowledges and agrees that the information in the Selling Shareholder Questionnaire or request for further information as described in this Section 2(d) will be used by the Company in the preparation of the Registration Statement and hereby consents to the inclusion of such information in the Registration Statement.

(e)             Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, at any time after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, the Company may delay the disclosure of material non-public information concerning the Company if the disclosure of such information at the time is not, in the good faith judgment of the Company, in the best interests of the Company (such delay, a “ Grace Period ”); provided , the Company shall promptly (i) notify the Holders in writing of the existence of material non-public information giving rise to a Grace Period (provided that the Company shall not disclose the content of such material non-public information to the Holders) or the need to file a post-effective amendment, as applicable, and the date on which such Grace Period will begin, (ii) use commercially reasonable best efforts to terminate a Grace Period as promptly as practicable and (iii) notify the Holders in writing of the date on which the Grace Period ends; provided, further , that no single Grace Period shall exceed forty-five (45) consecutive days, and during any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period, the aggregate of all Grace Periods shall not exceed an aggregate of ninety (90) days (each Grace Period complying with this provision being an “ Allowable Grace Period ”). For purposes of determining the length of a Grace Period, the Grace Period shall be deemed to begin on and include the date the Holders receive the notice referred to in clause (i) above and shall end on and include the later of the date the Holders receive the notice referred to in clause (iii) above and the date referred to in such notice; provided , that no Grace Period shall be longer than an Allowable Grace Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Transfer Agent to deliver unlegended Common Stock to a transferee of a Holder in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement in connection with any sale of Registrable Securities with respect to which a Holder has entered into an irrevocable contract for sale prior to the Holder’s receipt of the notice of a Grace Period and for which the Holder has not yet settled.

(f)             In the event that Form S-3 is not available for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities hereunder, the Company shall (i) use commercially reasonable efforts to register the resale of the Registrable Securities on another appropriate form and (ii) undertake to use commercially reasonable efforts to register the Registrable Securities on Form S-3 promptly after such form is available, provided that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the Registration Statement then in effect until such time as a Registration Statement on Form S-3 covering the Registrable Securities has been declared effective by the Commission.

3.              Registration Procedures

In connection with the Company’s registration obligations hereunder:

(a)             the Company shall not less than three (3) Trading Days prior to the filing of a Registration Statement and not less than two (2) Trading Day prior to the filing of any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and any similar or successor reports), furnish to the Holder copies of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto, as proposed to be filed, which documents will be subject to the reasonable review of such Holder (it being acknowledged and agreed that if a Holder does not object to or comment on the aforementioned documents within such three (3) Trading Day or two (2) Trading Day period, as the case may be, then the Holder shall be deemed to have consented to and approved the use of such documents). The Company shall not file any Registration Statement or amendment or supplement thereto in a form to which a Holder reasonably objects in good faith, provided that, the Company is notified of such objection in writing within the three (3) Trading Day or two (2) Trading Day period described above, as applicable.

(b)             (i) the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments and supplements, to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective as to the applicable Registrable Securities for its Effectiveness Period (except during an Allowable Grace Period); (ii) the Company shall cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required Prospectus supplement (subject to the terms of this Agreement), and, as so supplemented or amended, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 (except during an Allowable Grace Period); (iii) the Company shall respond as promptly as reasonably practicable to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably possible, provide the Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Shareholders” but not any comments that would result in the disclosure to the Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company; and (iv) the Company shall comply with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by a Registration Statement until such time as all of such Registrable Securities shall have been disposed of (subject to the terms of this Agreement) in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the Holders thereof as set forth in such Registration Statement as so amended or in such Prospectus as so supplemented; provided , that each Purchaser shall be responsible for the delivery of the Prospectus to the Persons to whom such Purchaser sells any of the Registrable Securities (including in accordance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act), and each Purchaser agrees to dispose of Registrable Securities in compliance with the plan of distribution described in the Registration Statement and otherwise in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. In the case of amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement which are required to be filed pursuant to this Agreement (including pursuant to this Section 3(b)) by reason of the Company filing a report on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K or any analogous report under the Exchange Act, the Company shall have incorporated such report by reference into such Registration Statement, if applicable, or shall file such amendments or supplements with the Commission on the same day on which the Exchange Act report which created the requirement for the Company to amend or supplement such Registration Statement was filed.

(c)             the Company shall notify the Holders (which notice shall, pursuant to clauses (iii) through (v) hereof, be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes have been made, but which notice shall not contain any material non-public information regarding the Company other than to the extent such notice itself and instructions the Company is required to provide under this Section 3(c) may constitute material non-public information) as promptly as reasonably practicable (and, in the case of (i)(A) below, not less than two (2) Trading Days prior to such filing, in the case of (iii) and (iv) below, not more than one (1) Trading Day after such issuance or receipt, and in the case of (v) below, not more than one (1) Trading Day after the occurrence or existence of such development) and (if requested by any such Holder) confirm such notice in writing no later than one (1) Trading Day following the day (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement is proposed to be filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of such Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on any Registration Statement (in which case the Company shall provide to each of the Holders true and complete copies of all comments that pertain to the Holders as a “Selling Shareholder” or to the “Plan of Distribution” and all written responses thereto, but not information that the Company believes would constitute material and non-public information); and (C) with respect to each Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment, when the same has become effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other Federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to a Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to the Holders as “Selling Shareholders” or the “Plan of Distribution”; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes the financial statements included in a Registration Statement ineligible for inclusion therein or any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

(d)             the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of, or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, as soon as practicable.

(e)             the Company shall, if requested by a Holder, furnish to such Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Holder (including those previously furnished or incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided , that the Company shall have no obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR or successor system.

(f)             the Company agrees to promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may reasonably request. The Company hereby consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering and sale of Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

(g)             the Company shall, prior to any resale of Registrable Securities by a Holder, use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify or cooperate with the selling Holders in connection with the registration or qualification (or exemption from the registration or qualification) of such Registrable Securities for the resale by the Holder under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions within the United States as any Holder reasonably requests in writing, to keep each registration or qualification (or exemption therefrom) effective during the Effectiveness Period and to do any and all other acts or things reasonably necessary to enable the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement; provided , that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified, subject the Company to any material tax in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or file a general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction.

(h)             the Company shall enter into such customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith or by the managing underwriter(s), if any, in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities; provided , that the Company shall not be required to facilitate an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities unless the expected gross proceeds from such offering exceed $3,000,000. The lead underwriters in any such underwritten offering shall be selected by holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be distributed and reasonably acceptable to the Company. In connection with

any such permitted underwritten offering of Registrable Securities, the Company shall (i) make such representations and warranties to the selling Holders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers in underwritten offerings, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the managing underwriter(s), if any, addressed to each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Registration Statement, addressed to each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with underwritten offerings, (iv) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures customary in such underwritten offerings and (v) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or similar agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder.

(i)             the Company shall make available for inspection by any Holder of Registrable Securities included in such Registration Statement, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or underwriter (collectively, the “ Inspectors ”), all financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries (collectively, the “ Records ”), as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility, and cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement; provided, however, that records that the Company determines, in good faith, to be confidential and which it notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in the Registration Statement, or (ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other order from a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, further, that each Holder of Registrable Securities agrees that it will, upon learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent jurisdiction, give notice to the Company to the extent legally permitted and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action and to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed confidential.

(j)             the Company shall, in the case of an underwritten offering, cause its officers to use their reasonable best efforts to support the marketing of the Registrable Securities covered by the Registration Statement (including, without limitation, by participation in “road shows”) taking into account the Company’s business needs.

(k)             the Company shall, reasonably cooperate with the Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to the Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free, to the extent permitted by the Purchase Agreement and under law, of all restrictive legends, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holders may reasonably request. Certificates for Registrable Securities free from all restrictive legends may be transmitted by the transfer agent to a Holder by crediting the account of such Holder’s prime broker with DTC as directed by such Holder.

(l)             the Company shall following the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(c)(iii)-(v), as promptly as reasonably practicable (taking into account the Company’s good faith assessment of any adverse consequences to the Company and its shareholders of the premature disclosure of such event), prepare and file a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, to the affected Registration Statements or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made), not misleading.

(m)             the Company may require each selling Holder to furnish to the Company a certified statement as to (i) the number of securities of the Company beneficially owned by such Holder and any Affiliate thereof, (ii) any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) affiliations, (iii) any natural persons who have the power to vote or dispose of the Common Stock and (iv) any other information as may be requested by the Commission, FINRA, any state securities commission or any other government or regulatory body with jurisdiction over the Company or its activities. During any periods that the Company is unable to meet its obligations hereunder with respect to the registration of Registrable Securities because any Holder fails to furnish such information within three Trading Days of the Company’s request, any Liquidated Damages that are accruing at such time as to such Holder only shall be tolled and any Event that may otherwise occur solely because of such delay shall be suspended as to such Holder only, until such information is delivered to the Company.

(n)             the Company shall cooperate with any registered broker through which a Holder proposes to resell its Registrable Securities in effecting a filing with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 as requested by any such Holder and the Company shall pay the filing fee required for the first such filing (but not additional filings) within two (2) Business Days of the request therefore.

(o)             the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain eligibility for use of Form S-3 (or any successor form thereto) for the registration of the resale of Registrable Securities.

(p)             if requested by a Holder, the Company shall (i) promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement such information as the Company reasonably agrees (upon advice of counsel) should be included therein and (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment.

(q)              the Company shall otherwise use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, including Rule 172, notify the Holders promptly if the Company no longer satisfies the conditions of Rule 172 and take such other actions as may be reasonably necessary to facilitate the registration of the Registrable Securities hereunder; and make available to its security holders, as soon as reasonably practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve (12) months, beginning after the effective date of each Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act, including Rule 158 promulgated thereunder (for the purpose of this Section 3, “Availability Date” means the 45th day following the end of the fourth fiscal quarter that includes the effective date of such Registration Statement, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter), in each case subject to extensions permissible under applicable law.

4.              Registration Expenses . All fees and expenses incident to the Company’s performance of or compliance with its obligations under this Agreement (excluding any underwriting discounts and selling commissions and all legal fees and expenses of legal counsel for any Holder) shall be borne by the Company whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement. The fees and expenses referred to in the foregoing sentence shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including, without limitation, fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading, (B) with respect to compliance with applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws (including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company in connection with Blue Sky qualifications or exemptions of the Registrable Securities and determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as requested by the Holders) and (C) if not previously paid by the Company in connection with an issuer filing, with respect to any filing that may be required to be made by any broker through which a Holder intends to make sales of Registrable Securities with FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110, so long as the broker is receiving no more than a customary brokerage commission in connection with such sale, (ii) printing expenses (including, without limitation, expenses of printing certificates for Registrable Securities and of printing prospectuses if the printing of prospectuses is reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iii) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses of the Company, (iv) fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (v) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, and (vi) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its internal expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including, without limitation, all salaries and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities exchange as required hereunder. In no event shall the Company be responsible for any underwriting, broker or similar fees or commissions of any Holder or, except to the extent provided for in the Transaction Documents, any legal fees or other costs of the Holders.

5.              Indemnification .

(a)              Indemnification by the Company . The Company shall, notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Holder, the officers, directors, agents, general partners, managing members, managers, Affiliates, employees and investment advisers of each of them, each Person who controls any such Holder (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) and the officers, directors, general partners, managing members, managers, agents, employees and investment advisers of each such controlling Person, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, costs (including, without limitation, reasonable costs of preparation and investigation and reasonable and documented attorneys’ fees) and expenses (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, that arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus or any form of prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the

case of any Prospectus or form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, or (ii) any violation or alleged violation by the Company of the Securities Act, Exchange Act or any state securities law or any rule or regulation thereunder, in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent, but only to the extent, that (A) such untrue statements, alleged untrue statements, omissions or alleged omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein (including information provided by any Holder in Annex B, Selling Shareholder Notice and Questionnaire), or to the extent that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such Holder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (it being understood that each Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), or (B) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(v), related to the use by a Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing or electronic mail that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated and defined in Section 6(d) below, but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected. The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding arising from or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of which the Company is aware. Such indemnity shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of an Indemnified Party (as defined in Section 5(c)) and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities by the Holders.

(b)              Indemnification by Holders . Each Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers, agents and employees, each Person who controls the Company (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act and Section 20 of the Exchange Act), and the directors, officers, agents or employees of such controlling Persons, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against all Losses, as incurred, arising out of or are based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement, any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus, or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus, or arising out of or relating to any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of any Prospectus, or any form of prospectus or supplement thereto, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading (i) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statements or omissions are based solely upon information regarding such Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder expressly for use therein (including information provided by any Holder in Annex B, Selling Shareholder Notice and Questionnaire) or (ii) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such information relates to such Holder or such Holder’s proposed method of distribution of Registrable Securities and was reviewed and approved by such Holder expressly for use in a Registration Statement (it being understood that the Holder has approved Annex A hereto for this purpose), such Prospectus or such form of Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (iii) in the case of an occurrence of an event of the type specified in Section 3(c)(iii)-(v), to the extent, but only to the extent, related to the use by such Holder of an outdated or defective Prospectus after the Company has notified such Holder in writing that the Prospectus is outdated or defective and prior to the receipt by such Holder of the Advice contemplated in Section 6(d), but only if and to the extent that following the receipt of the Advice the misstatement or omission giving rise to such Loss would have been corrected. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the net proceeds received by such Holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation.

(c)              Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings . If any Proceeding shall be brought or asserted against any Person entitled to indemnity hereunder (an “ Indemnified Party ”), such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Person from whom indemnity is sought (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) in

writing, and the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to assume the defense thereof, including the employment of one counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party and the payment of all reasonable and documented fees and expenses incurred in connection with defense thereof; provided , that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give such written notice within a reasonable time of commencement of any such Proceeding shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, except (and only) to the extent that it shall be finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction (which determination is not subject to appeal or further review) that such failure shall have materially and adversely prejudiced the Indemnifying Party in its ability to defend such Proceeding.

An Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Proceeding and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Party or Parties unless: (1) the Indemnifying Party has agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses; (2) the Indemnifying Party shall have failed promptly to assume the defense of such Proceeding and to employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party in any such Proceeding; or (3) the named parties to any such Proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party, and such Indemnified Party shall have been advised by counsel that a conflict of interest exists if the same counsel were to represent such Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party; provided , that the Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys at any time for all Indemnified Parties. The Indemnifying Party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or unreasonably conditioned. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any pending Proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Party is a party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding.

Subject to the terms of this Agreement, all documented fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party (including reasonable fees and expenses to the extent incurred in connection with investigating or preparing to defend such Proceeding in a manner not inconsistent with this Section 5(c)) shall be paid to the Indemnified Party, as incurred, within twenty (20) Trading Days of written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party; provided , that the Indemnified Party shall promptly reimburse the Indemnifying Party for that portion of such fees and expenses applicable to such actions for which such Indemnified Party is finally judicially determined to not be entitled to indemnification hereunder.

(d)              Contribution . If a claim for indemnification under Section 5(a) or 5(b) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient to hold an Indemnified Party harmless for any Losses, then each Indemnifying Party, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Losses, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party in connection with the actions, statements or omissions that resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such Indemnifying Party and Indemnified Party shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission of a material fact, has been taken or made by, or relates to information supplied by, such Indemnifying Party or Indemnified Party, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action, statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of any Losses shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, any reasonable attorneys’ or other reasonable fees or expenses incurred by such party in connection with any Proceeding to the extent such party would have been indemnified for such fees or expenses if the indemnification provided for in this Section 5(d) was available to such party in accordance with its terms.

The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 5(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5(d), no Holder shall be required to contribute, in the aggregate, any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds actually received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities subject to the Proceeding exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 are in addition to any liability that the Indemnifying Parties may have to the Indemnified Parties and are not in diminution or limitation of the indemnification provisions under the Purchase Agreement.

6.              Miscellaneous .

(a)              Remedies . In the event of a breach by the Company or by a Holder of any of their obligations under this Agreement, each Holder or the Company, as the case may be, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement. The Company and each Holder agree that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and hereby further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

(b)              No Piggyback on Registrations; Prohibition on Filing Other Registration Statements . Neither the Company nor any of its security holders may include securities of the Company in a Registration Statement hereunder and the Company shall not prior to the Effective Date enter into any agreement providing any such right to any of its security holders. The Company shall not, from the date hereof until the date that is 60 days after the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement relating to an offering for its own account or for the account of its stockholders (other than the Holders pursuant hereto) under the Securities Act of any of its equity securities, other than (i) a registration statement on Form S-8, (ii) in connection with an acquisition or similar transaction, on Form S-4, or (iii) a registration statement to register for resale securities issued by the Company pursuant to acquisitions or similar transaction or strategic transactions approved by a majority of the disinterested directors of the Company, provided that any such issuance shall only be to a Person which is, itself or through its subsidiaries, an operating company in a business synergistic with the business of the Company and in which the Company receives benefits in addition to the investment of funds, but shall not include a transaction in which the Company is issuing securities primarily for the purpose of raising capital or to an entity whose primary business is investing in securities.

(c)              Compliance . Each Holder covenants and agrees that it will comply with the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as applicable to it (unless an exemption therefrom is available) in connection with sales of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and shall sell the Registrable Securities only in accordance with a method of distribution described in the Registration Statement.

(d)              Discontinued Disposition . By its acquisition of Registrable Securities, each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in Section 3(c)(iii)-(v), such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under a Registration Statement until it is advised in writing (the “ Advice ”) by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus (as it may have been supplemented or amended) may be resumed. The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this paragraph.

(e)              No Inconsistent Agreements . Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered, as of the date hereof, nor shall the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on or after the date hereof, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities, that would have the effect of impairing the rights granted to the Holders in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(f)              Amendments and Waivers . The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, or waived unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Company and Holders holding at least two-thirds of the then outstanding Registrable Securities, provided that any party may give a waiver as to itself. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a waiver or consent to depart from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by Holders of all of the Registrable Securities to which such waiver or consent relates; provided , that the provisions of this sentence may not be amended, modified, or supplemented except in accordance with the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any such amendment, modification or waiver would adversely affect in any material respect any Holder or group of Holders who have comparable rights under this Agreement disproportionately to the other Holders having such comparable rights, such amendment, modification, or waiver shall also require the written consent of the Holder(s) so adversely affected.

(g)              Notices . Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in the Purchase Agreement; provided that the Company may deliver to each Holder the documents required to be delivered to such Holder under Section 3(a) of this Agreement by e-mail to the e-mail addresses provided by such Holder to the Company solely for such specific purpose.

(h)              Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and permitted assigns of each of the parties and shall inure to the benefit of each Holder. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and assigns any rights, remedies, obligations, or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. The Company may not assign its rights (except by merger or in connection with another entity acquiring all or substantially all of the Company’s assets) or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of all the Holders of the then outstanding Registrable Securities. Each Holder may assign its respective rights hereunder in the manner and to the Persons as permitted under the Purchase Agreement.

(i)              Execution and Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or by e-mail delivery of a “.pdf” format data file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or “.pdf” signature were the original thereof.

(j)              Governing Law . All questions concerning the construction, validity, enforcement and interpretation of this Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Purchase Agreement.

(k)              Cumulative Remedies . Except as provided in Section 2(c)

with respect to Liquidated Damages, the remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.

(l)              Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the parties hereto shall use their good faith reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction. It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

(m)              Headings . The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(n)              Independent Nature of Purchasers’ Obligations and Rights . The obligations of each Purchaser under this Agreement are several and not joint with the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder, and no Purchaser shall be responsible in any way for the performance of the obligations of any other Purchaser hereunder. The decision of each Purchaser to purchase the Shares pursuant to the Transaction Documents has been made independently of any other Purchaser. Nothing contained herein or in any other agreement or document delivered at any closing, and no action taken by any Purchaser pursuant hereto or thereto, shall be deemed to constitute the Purchasers as a partnership, an association, a joint venture or any other kind of entity, or create a presumption that the Purchasers are in any way acting in concert with respect to such obligations or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Purchaser acknowledges that no other Purchaser has acted as agent for such Purchaser in connection with making its investment hereunder and that no Purchaser will be acting as agent of such Purchaser in connection with monitoring its investment in the Shares or enforcing its rights under the Transaction Documents. Each Purchaser shall be entitled to protect and enforce its rights, including, without limitation, the rights arising out of this Agreement, and it shall not be necessary for any other Purchaser to be joined as an additional party in any Proceeding for such purpose. The Company acknowledges that each of the Purchasers has been provided with the same Registration Rights Agreement for the purpose of closing a transaction with multiple Purchasers and not because it was required or requested to do so by any Purchaser. It is expressly understood and agreed that each provision contained in this Agreement is between the Company and a Purchaser, solely, and not between the Company and the Purchasers collectively and not between and among the Purchasers.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK,
SIGNATURE PAGES OF HOLDERS TO FOLLOW]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

Annex A

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We are registering the Securities issued to the selling shareholders to permit the resale of these Securities by the holders of the Securities from time to time after the date of this prospectus. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the selling shareholders of the Securities. We will bear all fees and expenses incident to our obligation to register the Securities.

The selling shareholders may sell all or a portion of the Securities beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time directly or through one or more underwriters, broker-dealers or agents. If the Securities are sold through underwriters or broker-dealers, the selling shareholders will be responsible for underwriting discounts or commissions or agent’s commissions. The Securities may be sold on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, in the over-the-counter market or in transactions otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market and in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of the sale, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions. The selling shareholders may use any one or more of the following methods when selling Securities:

The selling shareholders also may resell all or a portion of the Securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as permitted by that rule, or Section 4(1) under the Securities Act, if available, rather than under this prospectus, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of those provisions.

Broker-dealers engaged by the selling shareholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in sales. If the selling shareholders effect such transactions by selling Securities to or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, such underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive commissions in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling shareholders or commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent or to whom they may sell as principal. Such commissions will be in amounts to be negotiated, but, except as set forth in a supplement to this prospectus, in the case of an agency transaction will not be in excess of a customary brokerage commission in compliance with NASD Rule 2440; and in the case of a principal transaction a markup or markdown in compliance with NASD Rule IM-2440.

In connection with sales of the Securities or otherwise, the selling shareholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the Securities in the course of hedging in positions they assume. The selling shareholders may also sell Securities short and if such short sale shall take place after the date that this Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, the selling shareholders may deliver Securities covered by this prospectus to close out short positions and to return borrowed shares in connection with such short sales. The selling shareholders may also loan or pledge Securities to broker-dealers that in turn may sell such shares, to the extent permitted by applicable law. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the selling shareholders have been advised that they may not use shares registered on this registration statement to cover short sales of our Securities made prior to the date the registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, has been declared effective by the SEC.

The selling shareholders may, from time to time, pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of the Securities owned by them and, if they default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell the Securities from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any amendment to this prospectus under Rule 424(b)(3) or other applicable provision of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, amending, if necessary, the list of selling shareholders to include the pledgee, transferee or other successors in interest as selling shareholders under this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may transfer and donate the Securities in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees, pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling beneficial owners for purposes of this prospectus.

Any broker-dealer or agents participating in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with such sales. In such event, any commissions paid, or any discounts or concessions allowed to, any such broker-dealer or agent and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. To the extent that any of the Selling Shareholders are deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act, such Selling Shareholders will be subject to the applicable prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act and may be subject to certain statutory liabilities of, including but not limited to, Sections 11, 12 and 17 of the Securities Act and Rule 10b-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Each selling shareholder has informed the Company that it is not a registered broker-dealer and does not have any written or oral agreement or understanding, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Securities. Upon the Company being notified in writing by a selling shareholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a broker-dealer for the sale of Securities through a block trade, special offering, exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or dealer, a supplement to this prospectus will be filed by the Company, if required, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, disclosing (i) the name of each such selling shareholder and of the participating broker-dealer(s), (ii) the number of shares involved, (iii) the price at which such Securities were sold, (iv) the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such broker-dealer(s), where applicable, (v) that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify the information set out or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and (vi) other facts material to the transaction. In no event shall any broker-dealer receive fees, commissions and markups, which, in the aggregate, would exceed eight percent (8%).

Under the securities laws of some states, the Securities may be sold in such states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the Securities may not be sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is complied with.

There can be no assurance that any selling shareholder will sell any or all of the Securities registered pursuant to the shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part.

Each selling shareholder and any other person participating in such distribution will be subject to applicable provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, Regulation M of the Exchange Act, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the Securities by the selling shareholder and any other participating person. To the extent applicable, Regulation M may also restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the Securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Securities. All of the foregoing may affect the marketability of the Securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the Securities.

We will pay all expenses of the registration of the Securities pursuant to the registration rights agreement, including, without limitation, Securities and Exchange Commission filing fees and expenses of compliance with state securities or “blue sky” laws; provided , that each selling shareholder will pay all underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any and any related legal expenses incurred by it. We will indemnify the selling shareholders against certain liabilities, including some liabilities under the Securities Act, in accordance with the registration rights agreement, or the selling shareholders will be entitled to contribution. We may be indemnified by the selling shareholders against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, that may arise from any written information furnished to us by the selling shareholders specifically for use in this prospectus, in accordance with the related registration rights agreements, or we may be entitled to contribution.

Annex B

FIRST BANCORP

SELLING SHAREHOLDER NOTICE AND QUESTIONNAIRE

The undersigned holder of securities of First Bancorp, a North Carolina corporation (the “ Company ”), issued pursuant to a certain Securities Purchase Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated as of December 21, 2012, understands that the Company intends to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “ Resale Registration Statemen t”) for the registration and the resale under Rule 415 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the terms of a certain Registration Rights Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers named therein, dated as of December 21, 2012 (the “ Agreement ”). All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Agreement.

In order to sell or otherwise dispose of any Registrable Securities pursuant to the Resale Registration Statement, a holder of Registrable Securities generally will be required to be named as a selling shareholder in the related prospectus or a supplement thereto (as so supplemented, the “ Prospectus ”), deliver the Prospectus to purchasers of Registrable Securities (including pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) and be bound by the provisions of the Agreement (including certain indemnification provisions, as described below). Holders must complete and deliver this Notice and Questionnaire in order to be named as selling shareholders in the Prospectus. Holders of Registrable Securities who do not complete, execute and return this Notice and Questionnaire within ten (10)Trading Days following the date of the Agreement (1) will not be named as selling shareholders in the Resale Registration Statement or the Prospectus and (2) may not use the Prospectus for resales of Registrable Securities.

Certain legal consequences arise from being named as a selling shareholder in the Resale Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Holders of Registrable Securities are advised to consult their own securities law counsel regarding the consequences of being named or not named as a selling shareholder in the Resale Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

NOTICE

The undersigned holder (the “ Selling Shareholder ”) of Registrable Securities hereby gives notice to the Company of its intention to sell or otherwise dispose of Registrable Securities owned by it and listed below in Item (3), unless otherwise specified in Item (3), pursuant to the Resale Registration Statement. The undersigned, by signing and returning this Notice and Questionnaire, understands and agrees that it will be bound by the terms and conditions of this Notice and Questionnaire and the Agreement.

The undersigned hereby provides the following information to the Company and represents and warrants that such information is accurate and complete:

QUESTIONNAIRE

2. Address for Notices to Selling Shareholder:

3. Beneficial Ownership of Registrable Securities Issuable Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement:

4. Broker-Dealer Status:

Yes £              No £

(c)             If you are an affiliate of a broker-dealer, do you certify that you bought the Registrable Securities in the ordinary course of business, and at the time of the purchase of the Registrable Securities to be resold, you had no agreements or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the Registrable Securities?

Yes £              No £

5. Beneficial Ownership of Other Securities of the Company Owned by the Selling Shareholder.

Except as set forth below in this Item 5, the undersigned is not the beneficial or registered owner of any securities of the Company other than the Registrable Securities listed above in Item 3.

Type and amount of other securities beneficially owned:

6. Relationships with the Company:

Except as set forth below, neither the undersigned nor any of its affiliates, officers, directors or principal equity holders (owners of 5% of more of the equity securities of the undersigned) has held any position or office or has had any other material relationship with the Company (or its predecessors or affiliates) during the past three years.

State any exceptions here:

7. Plan of Distribution:

The undersigned has reviewed the form of Plan of Distribution attached as Annex A to the Registration Rights Agreement, and hereby confirms that, except as set forth below, the information contained therein regarding the undersigned and its plan of distribution is correct and complete.

***********

By signing below, the undersigned consents to the disclosure of the information contained herein in its answers to Items (1) through (7) above and the inclusion of such information in the Resale Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The undersigned understands that such information will be relied upon by the Company in connection with the preparation or amendment of any such Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

By signing below, the undersigned acknowledges that it understands its obligation to comply, and agrees that it will comply, with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, particularly Regulation M in connection with any offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to the Resale Registration Statement. The undersigned also acknowledges that it understands that the answers to this Questionnaire are furnished for use in connection with Registration Statements filed pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and any amendments or supplements thereto filed with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

I confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the foregoing statements (including without limitation the answers to this Questionnaire) are correct.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, by authority duly given, has caused this Questionnaire to be executed and delivered either in person or by its duly authorized agent.