Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

x Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2006

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission File Number: 0-16471

 


First Citizens BancShares, Inc

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   56-1528994
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina   27604
(Address of principle executive offices)   (Zip code)

(919) 716-7000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past ninety days.

Yes   x     No   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   x                 Accelerated filer   ¨                 Non-accelerated filer   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant in a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act)    Yes   x     No   ¨

Class A Common Stock—$1 Par Value—8,756,778 shares

Class B Common Stock—$1 Par Value—1,677,675 shares

(Number of shares outstanding, by class, as of August 7, 2006)

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

          Page(s)
PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION   
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited)   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets at June 30, 2006, December 31, 2005, and June 30, 2005    3
   Consolidated Statements of Income for the three-and six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2005    4
   Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2005    5
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006, and June 30, 2005    6
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    7-9
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    10-24
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    25
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    25
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION   
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    25-26
Item 6.    Exhibits.    26


Table of Contents

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Consolidated Balance Sheets

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, except share data)

   June 30, 2006*     December 31, 2005#     June 30, 2005*

Assets

      

Cash and due from banks

   $ 957,888     $ 777,928     $ 680,415

Overnight investments

     631,705       481,012       634,027

Investment securities available for sale

     2,626,065       2,293,020       1,842,125

Investment securities held to maturity

     398,715       636,496       802,210

Loans and leases

     10,029,045       9,642,994       9,300,984

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     130,532       128,847       126,247
                      

Net loans and leases

     9,898,513       9,514,147       9,174,737

Premises and equipment

     663,521       639,469       609,766

Income earned not collected

     58,746       54,879       47,393

Other assets

     291,339       242,441       232,393
                      

Total assets

   $ 15,526,492     $ 14,639,392     $ 14,023,066
                      

Liabilities

      

Deposits:

      

Noninterest-bearing

   $ 2,806,242     $ 2,616,177     $ 2,633,209

Interest-bearing

     9,910,977       9,557,681       9,124,880
                      

Total deposits

     12,717,219       12,173,858       11,758,089

Short-term borrowings

     957,018       779,028       621,708

Long-term obligations

     527,478       408,987       409,964

Other liabilities

     96,198       96,460       99,063
                      

Total liabilities

     14,297,913       13,458,333       12,888,824
Shareholders’ Equity       

Common stock:

      

Class A - $1 par value (8,756,778 shares issued for all periods)

     8,757       8,757       8,757

Class B - $1 par value (1,677,675 shares issued for all periods)

     1,678       1,678       1,678

Surplus

     143,766       143,766       143,766

Retained earnings

     1,083,635       1,029,005       976,955

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     (9,257 )     (2,147 )     3,086
                      

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,228,579       1,181,059       1,134,242
                      

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 15,526,492     $ 14,639,392     $ 14,023,066
                      

* Unaudited
# Derived from the 2005 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Three Months Ended June 30,     Six Months Ended June 30,  

(thousands, except per share data; unaudited)

   2006     2005     2006     2005  

Interest income

        

Loans

   $ 167,174     $ 139,393     $ 326,379     $ 271,736  

Investment securities:

        

U. S. Government

     26,584       16,123       50,869       28,590  

State, county and municipal

     59       64       120       130  

Dividends

     903       378       1,614       749  
                                

Total investment securities interest and dividend income

     27,546       16,565       52,603       29,469  

Overnight investments

     7,779       4,248       13,518       7,246  
                                

Total interest income

     202,499       160,206       392,500       308,451  

Interest expense

        

Deposits

     65,867       40,500       123,609       75,846  

Short-term borrowings

     9,177       2,798       16,169       4,611  

Long-term obligations

     8,522       6,238       15,971       11,657  
                                

Total interest expense

     83,566       49,536       155,749       92,114  
                                

Net interest income

     118,933       110,670       236,751       216,337  

Provision for credit losses

     2,973       6,994       9,710       12,320  
                                

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     115,960       103,676       227,041       204,017  
Noninterest income         

Service charges on deposit accounts

     18,260       19,683       36,466       38,376  

Cardholder and merchant services income

     22,303       18,129       40,731       34,382  

Trust and asset management fees

     5,175       4,798       10,353       9,286  

Fees from processing services

     7,572       6,296       14,481       12,516  

Commission income

     8,339       6,571       16,211       12,834  

ATM income

     1,167       2,665       3,699       5,145  

Mortgage income

     1,782       2,313       3,154       3,819  

Other service charges and fees

     3,870       3,889       7,993       8,104  

Securities gains (losses)

     (353 )     (22 )     (539 )     (22 )

Other

     1,494       4,244       2,809       5,349  
                                

Total noninterest income

     69,609       68,566       135,358       129,789  
Noninterest expense         

Salaries and wages

     57,146       52,538       113,689       104,264  

Employee benefits

     13,886       13,141       27,829       25,656  

Occupancy expense

     12,389       11,448       25,264       22,886  

Equipment expense

     13,091       12,522       25,755       25,029  

Other

     38,695       34,302       74,382       67,461  
                                

Total noninterest expense

     135,207       123,951       266,919       245,296  
                                

Income before income taxes

     50,362       48,291       95,480       88,510  

Income taxes

     18,650       18,215       35,111       33,437  
                                

Net income

   $ 31,712     $ 30,076     $ 60,369     $ 55,073  
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of taxes

        

Unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during period

   $ (4,076 )   $ 4,455     $ (7,670 )   $ (1,415 )

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap arising during period

     234       —         234       —    

Less: reclassified adjustment for gains (losses) included in net income

     (213 )     (13 )     (326 )     (13 )
                                

Other comprehensive income (loss) net of taxes

     (3,629 )     4,468       (7,110 )     (1,402 )
                                

Comprehensive income

   $ 28,083     $ 34,544     $ 53,259     $ 53,671  
                                

Average shares outstanding

     10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  

Net income per share

   $ 3.04     $ 2.88     $ 5.79     $ 5.28  
                                

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

(thousands, except share data, unaudited)

   Class A
Common
Stock
   Class B
Common
Stock
   Surplus    Retained
Earnings
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
 

Balance at December 31, 2004

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 927,621     $ 4,488     $ 1,086,310  

Net income

              55,073         55,073  

Cash dividends

              (5,739 )       (5,739 )

Unrealized securities losses, net of deferred taxes

             (1,402 )     (1,402 )
                                             

Balance at June 30, 2005

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 976,955     $ 3,086     $ 1,134,242  
                                             

Balance at December 31, 2005

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,029,005     $ (2,147 )   $ 1,181,059  

Net income

              60,369         60,369  

Cash dividends

              (5,739 )       (5,739 )

Unrealized securities losses, net of deferred taxes

             (7,344 )     (7,344 )

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap, net of deferred taxes

             234       234  
                                             

Balance at June 30, 2006

   $ 8,757    $ 1,678    $ 143,766    $ 1,083,635     $ (9,257 )   $ 1,228,579  
                                             

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries

 

     Six months ended June 30,  
     2006     2005  
     (thousands)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    

Net income

   $ 60,369     $ 55,073  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:

    

Amortization of intangibles

     1,172       1,260  

Provision for credit losses

     9,710       12,320  

Deferred tax benefit

     2,115       (4,236 )

Change in current taxes payable

     16,310       2,227  

Depreciation

     23,578       22,354  

Change in accrued interest payable

     12,278       9,196  

Change in income earned not collected

     (3,867 )     (6,819 )

Securities losses

     539       22  

Origination of loans held for sale

     (217,532 )     (231,866 )

Proceeds from sale of loans

     237,632       466,178  

Loss (gain) on sale of loans

     176       (4,135 )

Net amortization of premiums and discounts

     (2,392 )     143  

Net change in other assets

     (47,151 )     9,950  

Net change in other liabilities

     (28,616 )     (7,334 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     64,321       324,333  
                

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in loans outstanding

     (414,686 )     (186,697 )

Purchases of investment securities held to maturity

     (1,066 )     (245,991 )

Purchases of investment securities available for sale

     (506,083 )     (885,761 )

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities held to maturity

     241,239       321,117  

Proceeds from maturities of investment securities available for sale

     160,455       289,016  

Net change in overnight investments

     (150,693 )     (250,284 )

Dispositions of premises and equipment

     5,069       3,736  

Additions to premises and equipment

     (52,699 )     (65,718 )

Purchase and sale of branches, net of cash transferred

     —         18,343  
                

Net cash used by investing activities

     (718,464 )     (1,002,239 )
                

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    

Net change in time deposits

     507,694       276,795  

Net change in demand and other interest-bearing deposits

     35,667       109,539  

Net change in short-term borrowings

     177,924       173,043  

Originations of long-term obligations

     118,557       125,000  

Cash dividends paid

     (5,739 )     (5,739 )
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     834,103       678,638  
                

Change in cash and due from banks

     179,960       732  

Cash and due from banks at beginning of period

     777,928       679,683  
                

Cash and due from banks at end of period

   $ 957,888     $ 680,415  
                
CASH PAYMENTS FOR:     

Interest

   $ 168,027     $ 82,918  

Income taxes

     35,111       36,281  
                

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Unrealized securities losses

   $ (12,044 )   $ (2,643 )

Unrealized gain on interest rate swap

     385       —    
                

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

Note A

Accounting Policies

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements.

In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial statements contain all material adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. as of and for each of the periods presented, and all such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the 2005 First Citizens BancShares, Inc. Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference on Form 10-K. Certain amounts for prior periods have been reclassified to conform with statement presentations for 2006. However, the reclassifications have no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

Derivative Financial Instruments

During the second quarter of 2006, BancShares entered into an interest rate swap that synthetically converts the variable interest rate on trust preferred securities issued in 2006 to a fixed rate. The interest rate swap is a derivative financial instrument that qualifies as a cash flow hedge under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Statement 133) . The initial assessment required under Statement 133 concluded that there was no ineffectiveness for this interest rate swap, and there was no fair value at the inception of the swap. Subject to periodic effectiveness testing over the five-year life of the swap, any change in fair value related to the effective portion of the swap will be recorded in other comprehensive income. Any change in fair value related to the ineffective portion of the swap will be reported in earnings.

Note B

Operating Segments

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two wholly-owned subsidiaries, First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB) and IronStone Bank (ISB). Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and each entity operates under a separate charter. Additionally, the financial results and trends of ISB reflect the de novo nature of its growth.

FCB is a mature banking institution that operates from a single charter from its branch network in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee. ISB began operations in 1997 and currently operates in Georgia, Florida, Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Oregon and Washington under a federal thrift charter.

In the aggregate, FCB and its consolidated subsidiaries, which are integral to its branch operation, and ISB account for more than 90 percent of consolidated assets, revenues and net income. Other includes activities of the parent company, Neuse, Incorporated, a subsidiary that owns real property used in the banking operation and American Guaranty Insurance Corporation, a property insurance company.

The adjustments in the accompanying tables represent the elimination of the impact of certain inter-company transactions. The adjustments to interest income and interest expense neutralize the earnings and cost of inter-company borrowings. The adjustments to noninterest income and noninterest expense reflect the elimination of management fees and other services fees paid by one company to another within BancShares’ consolidated group.

 

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Table of Contents
     As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2006
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 59,138     $ 332,778    $ 12,714     $ 404,630    $ (12,130 )   $ 392,500

Interest expense

     26,038       118,698      23,143       167,879      (12,130 )     155,749
                                            

Net interest income

     33,100       214,080      (10,429 )     236,751      —         236,751

Provision for credit losses

     2,134       7,576      —         9,710      —         9,710
                                            

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     30,966       206,504      (10,429 )     227,041      —         227,041

Noninterest income

     5,293       133,401      809       139,503      (4,145 )     135,358

Noninterest expense

     35,853       234,025      1,186       271,064      (4,145 )     266,919
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     406       105,880      (10,806 )     95,480      —         95,480

Income taxes

     328       38,545      (3,762 )     35,111      —         35,111
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ 78     $ 67,335    $ (7,044 )   $ 60,369    $ —       $ 60,369
                                            

Period-end assets

   $ 2,003,856     $ 13,346,846    $ 2,257,134     $ 17,607,836    $ (2,081,344 )   $ 15,526,492

Loans and leases

     1,781,781       8,247,264      —         10,029,045      —         10,029,045

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     21,416       109,116      —         130,532      —         130,532

Total deposits

     1,632,358       11,259,684      —         12,892,042      (174,823 )     12,717,219
     As of and for the six months ended June 30, 2005
     ISB     FCB    Other     Total    Adjustments     Consolidated

Interest income

   $ 44,902     $ 263,409    $ 3,390     $ 311,701    $ (3,250 )   $ 308,451

Interest expense

     15,980       66,473      12,911       95,364      (3,250 )     92,114
                                            

Net interest income

     28,922       196,936      (9,521 )     216,337      —         216,337

Provision for credit losses

     3,462       8,858      —         12,320      —         12,320
                                            

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

     25,460       188,078      (9,521 )     204,017      —         204,017

Noninterest income

     3,299       129,366      718       133,383      (3,594 )     129,789

Noninterest expense

     31,495       216,223      1,172       248,890      (3,594 )     245,296
                                            

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (2,736 )     101,221      (9,975 )     88,510      —         88,510

Income taxes

     (886 )     37,786      (3,463 )     33,437      —         33,437
                                            

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,850 )   $ 63,435    $ (6,512 )   $ 55,073    $ —       $ 55,073
                                            

Period-end assets

   $ 1,719,936     $ 12,165,852    $ 1,771,306     $ 15,657,094    $ (1,634,028 )   $ 14,023,066

Loans and leases

     1,533,959       7,767,025      —         9,300,984      —         9,300,984

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     17,643       108,604      —         126,247      —         126,247

Total deposits

     1,385,843       10,412,568      —         11,798,411      (40,322 )     11,758,089

 

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Note C

Employee Benefits

BancShares recognized pension expense totaling $6,898 and $7,470, respectively, in the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005. Pension expense is included as a component of employee benefit expense.

 

     Six months ended June 30,  

Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost

   2006     2005  

Service cost

   $ 8,730     $ 6,828  

Interest cost

     10,056       8,122  

Expected return on plan assets

     (13,800 )     (9,390 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     140       194  

Recognized net actuarial loss

     1,772       1,716  
                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 6,898     $ 7,470  
                

The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets for 2006 is 8.50 percent.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

INTRODUCTION

Management’s discussion and analysis of earnings and related financial data are presented to assist in understanding the financial condition and results of operations of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Subsidiaries (BancShares). BancShares is a financial holding company with two wholly-owned banking subsidiaries: First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company (FCB), a North Carolina-chartered bank, and IronStone Bank (ISB), a federally-chartered thrift institution. FCB operates branches in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee and West Virginia. ISB operates offices in Georgia, Florida, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.

This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes presented within this report. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Although certain amounts for prior years have been reclassified to conform to statement presentations for 2006, the reclassifications have no effect on shareholders’ equity or net income as previously reported.

SUMMARY

BancShares’ earnings and cash flows are derived primarily from the commercial banking activities conducted by its banking subsidiaries. These activities include commercial and consumer lending, deposit and cash management products, cardholder, merchant, wealth management services as well as various other products and services typically offered by commercial banks. FCB and ISB gather interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing deposits from retail and commercial customers. BancShares and its subsidiaries also secure supplemental short-term and long-term funding through various non-deposit sources. We invest the liquidity generated from these funding sources in various types of interest-earning assets such as loans and leases, investment securities and overnight investments. We also invest in bank premises, furniture and equipment used in the subsidiaries’ commercial banking business.

External factors influence customer demand for our loan, lease and deposit products. The general strength of the economy influences loan and lease demand as well as the quality and collectibility of our loan and lease portfolio. External economic indicators such as consumer bankruptcy rates and business debt service capacity closely follow trends in the economic cycle. In an effort to stimulate and control the rate of growth of economic activity, monetary actions by the Federal Reserve are significant to the interest rate environment in which we operate. At any point in time, both the existing level and anticipated movement of interest rates have a profound impact on customer demand for our products, our pricing of those products and on our profitability.

Financial institutions frequently focus their strategic and operating emphasis on maximizing profitability and therefore measure their relative success by reference to profitability measures such as return on average assets or return on average shareholders’ equity. BancShares’ profitability measures have historically compared unfavorably to the returns of similar-sized financial holding companies. We have historically placed significant emphasis upon asset quality, balance sheet liquidity and capital conservation, even when those priorities may be detrimental to short-term profitability.

Based on our organization’s strengths, competitive position and strategic focus within the financial services industry, we believe opportunities for significant growth and expansion exist. We operate in diverse and growing geographic markets and believe that through competitive products and superior customer service, we can increase our business volumes and profitability. In recent years, we have focused our efforts on customers who own their own businesses, medical and other professionals and individuals who are financially active. We seek to increase fee income in areas such as merchant processing, working capital finance, insurance, cash management, wealth management and private banking services. We also focus on opportunities to generate income by providing processing services to other banks.

We attempt to mitigate certain of the risks that can endanger our profitability and growth prospects. These risks generally fall into categories of economic, industry systemic, competitive and regulatory. While we are attentive to all areas of risk, economic risk is especially problematic due to the lack of control and the likelihood of a material impact on our financial results. Specific economic risks include recession, rapid movements in interest rates and significant changes in inflation expectations. Compared to our larger competitors, our relatively small asset size and limited capital resources create a level of economic risk that requires constant and focused management attention.

Detailed information regarding the components of net income and other key financial data over the most recent five quarters is provided in Table 1. Tables 4 and 5 provide information on net interest income. Table 6 provides information related to asset quality.

 

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Table of Contents
Financial Summary   Table 1

 

    2006     2005     Six Months Ended
June 30
 

(thousands, except per share data and ratios)

  Second
Quarter
   

First

Quarter

    Fourth
Quarter
   

Third

Quarter

    Second
Quarter
    2006     2005  
Summary of Operations              

Interest income

  $ 202,499     $ 190,001     $ 183,949     $ 173,534     $ 160,206     $ 392,500     $ 308,451  

Interest expense

    83,566       72,183       66,731       59,306       49,536       155,749       92,114  
                                                       

Net interest income

    118,933       117,818       117,218       114,228       110,670       236,751       216,337  

Provision for credit losses

    2,973       6,737       13,578       7,211       6,994       9,710       12,320  
                                                       

Net interest income after provision for credit losses

    115,960       111,081       103,640       107,017       103,676       227,041       204,017  

Noninterest income

    69,609       65,749       65,457       68,106       68,566       135,358       129,789  

Noninterest expense

    135,207       131,712       125,395       128,665       123,951       266,919       245,296  
                                                       

Income before income taxes

    50,362       45,118       43,702       46,458       48,291       95,480       88,510  

Income taxes

    18,650       16,461       15,866       16,505       18,215       35,111       33,437  
                                                       

Net income

  $ 31,712     $ 28,657     $ 27,836     $ 29,953     $ 30,076     $ 60,369     $ 55,073  
                                                       

Net interest income-taxable equivalent

  $ 119,351     $ 118,226     $ 117,601     $ 114,603     $ 111,038     $ 237,577     $ 217,052  
                                                       
Selected Quarterly Averages              

Total assets

  $ 15,318,019     $ 14,694,936     $ 14,516,620     $ 14,160,391     $ 13,618,161     $ 14,917,702     $ 13,464,834  

Investment securities

    2,964,308       2,896,711       2,938,833       2,764,377       2,345,056       2,930,696       2,209,440  

Loans and leases

    9,924,208       9,705,443       9,455,059       9,323,115       9,324,200       9,815,430       9,340,748  

Interest-earning assets

    13,522,235       13,129,313       13,024,871       12,750,494       12,255,663       13,326,859       12,093,277  

Deposits

    12,440,125       12,192,664       12,071,673       11,836,193       11,562,349       12,317,078       11,471,238  

Interest-bearing liabilities

    11,156,821       10,794,420       10,621,384       10,312,675       9,867,227       10,976,622       9,755,118  

Long-term obligations

    466,259       408,946       409,612       409,825       308,461       437,761       297,126  

Shareholders’ equity

  $ 1,215,481     $ 1,191,820     $ 1,169,113     $ 1,143,391     $ 1,118,122     $ 1,203,692     $ 1,106,682  

Shares outstanding

    10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  
                                                       
Selected Quarter-End Balances              

Total assets

  $ 15,526,492     $ 15,095,210     $ 14,639,392     $ 14,484,919     $ 14,023,066     $ 15,526,492     $ 14,023,066  

Investment securities

    3,024,780       2,896,962       2,929,516       2,871,731       2,644,335       3,024,780       2,644,335  

Loans and leases

    10,029,045       9,810,088       9,642,994       9,359,540       9,300,984       10,029,045       9,300,984  

Interest-earning assets

    13,685,530       13,455,968       13,053,522       12,996,027       12,579,346       13,685,530       12,579,346  

Deposits

    12,717,219       12,512,557       12,173,858       12,123,491       11,758,089       12,717,219       11,758,089  

Interest-bearing liabilities

    11,395,473       11,038,192       10,745,696       10,544,543       10,156,552       11,395,473       10,156,552  

Long-term obligations

    527,478       408,954       408,987       409,742       409,964       527,478       409,964  

Shareholders’ equity

  $ 1,228,579     $ 1,203,366     $ 1,181,059     $ 1,158,885     $ 1,134,242     $ 1,228,579     $ 1,134,242  

Shares outstanding

    10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453       10,434,453  
                                                       
Profitability Ratios (averages)              

Rate of return (annualized) on:

             

Total assets

    0.84 %     0.79 %     0.76 %     0.84 %     0.89 %     0.82 %     0.82 %

Shareholders’ equity

    10.46       9.75       9.45       10.39       10.79       10.11       10.04  

Dividend payout ratio

    9.05       10.00       10.30       9.58       9.55       9.50       10.42  
                                                       
Liquidity and Capital Ratios (averages)              

Loans and leases to deposits

    79.78 %     79.60 %     78.32 %     78.77 %     80.64 %     79.69       81.43  

Shareholders’ equity to total assets

    7.93       8.11       8.05       8.07       8.21       8.07       8.22  

Time certificates of $100,000 or more to total deposits

    15.04       14.44       13.45       12.59       12.24       14.72       12.06  
                                                       
Per Share of Stock              

Net income

  $ 3.04     $ 2.75     $ 2.67     $ 2.87     $ 2.88     $ 5.79     $ 5.28  

Cash dividends

    0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275       0.275       0.55       0.55  

Book value at period end

    117.74       115.33       113.19       111.06       108.70       117.74       108.70  

Tangible book value at period end

    107.02       104.55       102.35       100.17       97.75       107.02       97.75  
                                                       

 

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Net income . BancShares realized an increase in earnings during the second quarter of 2006 compared to the second quarter of 2005. Consolidated net income during the second quarter of 2006 was $31.7 million, compared to $30.1 million earned during the corresponding period of 2005, a $1.6 million or 5.4 percent increase. The improvement in net income during 2006 resulted from higher net interest income and a reduction in the provision for credit losses. Net income per share during the second quarter of 2006 totaled $3.04, compared to $2.88 during the second quarter of 2005. The annualized returns on average assets and equity were 0.84 percent and 10.46 percent for the second quarter of 2006 respectively compared to 0.89 percent and 10.79 percent for the corresponding period in 2005.

For the first six months of 2006, BancShares recorded net income of $60.4 million, compared to $55.1 million earned during the first six months of 2005. The $5.3 million or 9.6 percent increase was attributable to significantly higher levels of net interest income, improved noninterest income and lower provision for credit losses. Net income per share for the first six months of 2006 was $5.79, compared to $5.28 during the same period of 2005. On an annualized basis, BancShares returned 0.82 percent on average assets during the first six months of 2006, unchanged from the corresponding period of 2005. Annualized return on average equity for the first six months of 2006 was 10.11 percent, up slightly from 10.04 percent during the same period of 2005.

ISB reported net income of $78,000 during the first six months of 2006, respectively, compared to a net loss of $1.9 million reported during 2005. Improved earnings for ISB have resulted from the favorable impact of loan growth, higher working capital finance fees and merchant income as well as lower provision expense. However, due to added costs arising from anticipated franchise expansion and the adverse impact of the flat yield curve, ISB’s profitability will remain low.

Shareholders’ Equity . BancShares continues to exceed minimum regulatory capital standards, and the banking subsidiaries remain well-capitalized. In recent years, the de novo growth of ISB has required the infusion of significant amounts of capital by BancShares to support its rapidly expanding balance sheet. BancShares infused $20.0 million into ISB during the first six months of 2006. Since ISB was chartered in 1997, BancShares has provided $270.0 million in capital. Losses incurred since ISB’s inception total $29.1 million. BancShares’ prospective capacity to provide capital to support the growth and expansion of ISB is highly dependent upon FCB’s ability to return capital through dividends to BancShares.

INTEREST-EARNING ASSETS

Interest-earning assets include loans and leases, investment securities and overnight investments, all of which reflect varying interest rates based on the risk level and maturity of the underlying asset. Accordingly, riskier investments typically carry a higher interest rate, but expose the investor to potentially higher levels of default. We have historically focused on maintaining high asset quality, which results in a loan portfolio subjected to strenuous underwriting and monitoring procedures. Our investment securities portfolio includes high-quality assets, primarily United States Treasury and government agency securities. Generally, the investment securities portfolio grows and shrinks based on loan and deposit trends. When deposit growth exceeds loan demand, we invest excess funds in the securities portfolio. Conversely, when loan demand exceeds deposit growth, we use proceeds from maturing securities to fund loan demand. Overnight investments are selectively made with other financial institutions that are within our risk tolerance.

Interest-earning assets for the second quarter of 2006 averaged $13.52 billion, an increase of $1.27 billion or 10.3 percent from the second quarter of 2005. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, interest-earning assets averaged $13.33 billion, an increase of $1.23 million or 10.2 percent over the same period of 2005. These increases resulted from growth in the loan, lease and investment securities portfolios.

 

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Table of Contents
Loans and Leases   Table 2

 

       2006    2005

(thousands)

   Second
Quarter
   First
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Second
Quarter

Real estate:

              

Construction and land development

   $ 822,687    $ 821,477    $ 766,945    $ 716,176    $ 690,362

Commercial mortgage

     3,591,372      3,530,296      3,518,563      3,465,494      3,429,643

Residential mortgage

     1,007,616      979,572      1,016,677      990,355      980,410

Revolving mortgage

     1,368,584      1,359,483      1,368,729      1,375,145      1,395,122

Other mortgage

     172,322      173,819      172,712      179,217      171,729
                                  

Total real estate loans

     6,962,581      6,864,647      6,843,626      6,726,387      6,667,266

Commercial and industrial

     1,417,341      1,326,182      1,193,349      1,033,650      1,007,969

Consumer

     1,330,852      1,312,790      1,318,971      1,320,232      1,355,860

Lease financing

     259,253      246,544      233,499      213,603      205,056

Other

     59,018      59,925      53,549      65,668      64,833
                                  

Total loans and leases

     10,029,045      9,810,088      9,642,994      9,359,540      9,300,984

Less allowance for loan and lease losses

     130,532      130,222      128,847      126,297      126,247
                                  

Net loans and leases

   $ 9,898,513    $ 9,679,866    $ 9,514,147    $ 9,233,243    $ 9,174,737
                                  

Loans and leases . At June 30, 2006 and 2005, loans and leases totaled $10.03 billion and $9.30 billion, respectively. The $728.1 million growth from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006 represents a 7.8 percent annual growth rate. Table 2 details outstanding loans and leases by type for the past five quarters.

During the twelve-month period from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006, we have continued to see modest loan growth. Total loans secured by real estate grew from $6.67 billion at June 30, 2005 to $6.96 billion at June 30, 2006, an increase of $295.3 million or 4.4 percent. Commercial mortgage loans increased from $3.43 billion at June 30, 2005 to $3.59 billion at June 30, 2006, a $161.7 million or 4.7 percent growth rate. Construction and land development real estate loans increased $132.3 million or 19.2 percent from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006 due to strong market demand for these loan types.

While real estate loan growth has been generally sluggish over the past year, commercial and industrial loans increased $409.4 million or 40.6 percent from June 30, 2005 to June 30, 2006. This growth has resulted from the ISB expansion as well as continued focus on commercial lending in new and existing FCB markets. In addition, we recorded $144.5 million in loans made in conjunction with the United States Department of Agriculture tobacco buyout program. Over this same 12-month period, lease financing increased $54.2 million or 26.4 percent as demand for our lease products remains robust particularly among medical customers.

We continue to focus on customer development within the medical community. At June 30, 2006, 13.8 percent of our loan portfolio represented loans for office facilities, medical and dental equipment and other needs incidental to the respective area of practice. We do not believe that the focus on medical and dental lending presents an inappropriate risk to our portfolio.

Our continuing growth in new markets has allowed us to mitigate our historic exposure to geographic concentration in North Carolina and Virginia. We are aware that rapid loan growth in new markets may present incremental lending risks. During the expansion and growth in new markets, we have and will continue to rely on a centralized underwriting process, and we have endeavored to ensure that credit monitoring controls are functioning effectively.

 

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Investment Securities   Table 3

 

     June 30, 2006     June 30, 2005  

(thousands)

   Cost    Fair Value    Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield
    Cost    Fair Value    Average
Maturity
(Yrs./Mos.)
   Taxable
Equivalent
Yield
 

Investment securities available for sale:

                      

U.S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 1,411,388    $ 1,389,174    0/5    3.26 %   $ 1,025,314    $ 1,012,111    0/4    2.71 %

One to five years

     1,122,124      1,106,228    1/7    4.49       727,676      724,662    1/10    3.54  

Five to ten years

     2,848      2,666    7/0    4.91       136      132    6/1    5.42  

Ten to twenty years

     3,003      2,827    13/11    4.92       2,266      2,231    13/5    4.76  

Over twenty years

     50,412      47,548    28/7    5.30       30,489      30,486    28/8    5.34  
                                                  

Total

     2,589,775      2,548,443    1/6    3.84       1,785,881      1,769,622    1/5    3.10  

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

     941      931    0/10    2.94       901      893    0/11    2.00  

One to five years

     2,325      2,276    2/10    3.91       3,103      3,099    3/1    3.54  

Five to ten years

     904      885    6/1    4.66       1,117      1,129    6/10    4.64  

Ten to twenty years

     —                —        —        

Over twenty years

     145      145    26/5    3.01       145      145    27/5    1.15  
                                                  

Total

     4,315      4,237    3/10    3.83       5,266      5,266    4/2    3.44  

Other

                      

Within one year

     —        —             —        —        

One to five years

     —        —             —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     11,740      11,740    12/2    11.18       11,780      11,780    12/5    11.18  

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        
                                      

Total

     11,740      11,740           11,780      11,780      

Equity securities

     35,658      61,645           34,416      55,457      
                                      

Total investment securities available for sale

   $ 2,641,488    $ 2,626,065         $ 1,837,343    $ 1,842,125      
                                      

Investment securities held to maturity:

                      

U.S. Government:

                      

Within one year

   $ 334,211    $ 331,436    0/6    3.34 %   $ 431,114    $ 428,570    0/7    2.25 %

One to five years

     54,628      53,506    1/3    3.65       358,493      357,615    1/7    3.38  

Five to ten years

     23      21    9/8    5.09       —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     7,664      7,513    10/10    5.53       10,203      10,492    11/10    5.55  

Over twenty years

     363      352    22/6    7.13       415      416    23/5    7.23  
                                                  

Total

     396,889      392,828    0/10    3.43       800,225      797,093    1/2    2.80  

State, county and municipal:

                      

Within one year

                165      165    0/0    5.55  

One to five years

     148      153    2/10    5.88       146      155    3/10    5.88  

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        

Ten to twenty years

     1,428      1,543    12/0    6.02       1,424      1,578    12/10    6.02  
                                                  

Total

     1,576      1,696    11/2    6.01       1,735      1,898    10/10    5.96  

Other

                      

Within one year

     —        —             —        —        

One to five years

     250      250    2/1    3.25       250      250    3/4    7.75  

Five to ten years

     —        —             —        —        
                                                  

Total

     250      250    2/1    3.25       250      250    3/3    7.75  

Total investment securities held to maturity

     398,715      394,774    1/2    2.81       802,210      799,241    1/2    2.81  
                                      

Total investment securities

   $ 3,040,203    $ 3,020,839         $ 2,639,553    $ 2,641,366      
                                      

Average maturity assumes callable securities mature on their earliest call date; yields are based on amortized cost; yields related to securities that are exempt from federal and/or state income taxes are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming statutory rates of 35% for federal income tax purposes and 6.9% for state income taxes for all periods.

 

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Table of Contents

Investment securities . At June 30, 2006 and 2005, the investment portfolio totaled $3.02 billion and $2.64 billion, respectively. The $380.4 million or 14.4 percent increase in the investment portfolio since June 30, 2005 resulted from additional balance sheet liquidity provided by deposit and master note growth as well as proceeds arising from the issuance of $115.0 million in trust preferred securities. Table 3 presents detailed information relating to the investment securities portfolio.

Investment securities available for sale totaled $2.63 billion at June 30, 2006, compared to $1.84 billion at June 30, 2005. Available-for-sale securities are reported at their aggregate fair value.

Investment securities held to maturity totaled $398.7 million at June 30, 2006, compared to $802.2 million at June 30, 2005. Securities that are classified as held-to-maturity reflect BancShares’ ability and positive intent to hold those investments until maturity.

The growth in investment securities available for sale and the corresponding reduction in investment securities held to maturity results from our decision to increase balance sheet liquidity and flexibility.

Income on interest-earning assets . Interest income amounted to $202.5 million during the second quarter of 2006, a $42.3 million or 26.4 percent increase from the second quarter of 2005. This growth was the result of both higher yields and growth in interest-earning assets. For the second quarter, the taxable-equivalent yield on average interest-earning assets increased 77 basis points from 5.25 percent in 2005 to 6.02 percent in 2006.

Loan and lease interest income for the second quarter of 2006 was $167.2 million, an increase of $27.8 million or 19.9 percent from the second quarter of 2005, due to higher yields and growth in the loan portfolio. The taxable-equivalent yield on loans and leases increased 76 basis points from 6.01 percent to 6.77 percent from the second quarter of 2005 due to new loans originated at current market rates and favorable repricing of existing variable rate loans due to increases in the prime interest rate prompted by Federal Reserve actions. Average loans and leases increased $600.0 million or 6.4 percent during the second quarter of 2006.

Within the investment securities portfolio, interest income was $27.5 million during the second quarter of 2006 compared to $16.6 million during the second quarter of 2005, an increase of $11.0 million or 66.3 percent. This increase was the result of higher yields and growth in the investment securities portfolio. The short average maturity of the investment securities portfolio has allowed for rapid repricing of the investment securities portfolio as interest rates have increased. As a result, the taxable-equivalent yield on investment securities increased by 89 basis points from 2.83 percent during the second quarter of 2005 to 3.72 percent in 2006. Average investment securities increased $619.3 million or 26.4 percent during the second quarter of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005.

Overnight investments generated interest income of $7.8 million during the second quarter of 2006, compared to $4.2 million during the same period of 2005. The $3.5 million increase is the combined result of a 201 basis points yield increase and higher average balances. Overnight investments returned 4.92 percent during the second quarter of 2006 compared to 2.91 percent during the same period of 2005.

Interest income amounted to $392.5 million during the first six months of 2006, an $84.0 million or 27.2 percent increase from the same period of 2005, the result of higher yields and growth in interest-earning assets. The taxable-equivalent yield increased 80 basis points from 5.15 percent for the first six months of 2005 to 5.95 percent during the same period of 2006. Higher market interest rates during 2006 boosted the yield earned on all categories of interest-earning assets.

 

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Consolidated Taxable Equivalent Rate/Volume Variance Analysis - Second Quarter

Table 4

 

     2006     2005     Increase (decrease) due to:  

(thousands)

   Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Volume     Yield/
Rate
    Total
Change
 

Assets

                      

Loans and leases

   $ 9,924,208    $ 167,567    6.77 %   $ 9,324,200    $ 139,729    6.01 %   $ 9,580     $ 18,258     $ 27,838  

Investment securities:

                      

U. S. Government

     2,884,813      26,584    3.69       2,282,254      16,123    2.83       4,907       5,554       10,461  

State, county and municipal

     6,288      84    5.36       7,472      96    5.15       (16 )     4       (12 )

Other

     73,207      903    4.95       55,330      378    2.74       171       354       525  
                                                                

Total investment securities

     2,964,308      27,571    3.72       2,345,056      16,597    2.83       5,062       5,912       10,974  

Overnight investments

     633,719      7,779    4.92       586,407      4,248    2.91       468       3,063       3,531  
                                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 13,522,235    $ 202,917    6.02 %   $ 12,255,663    $ 160,574    5.25 %   $ 15,110     $ 27,233     $ 42,343  
                                                                

Liabilities

                      

Deposits:

                      

Checking With Interest

   $ 1,565,055    $ 480    0.12 %   $ 1,575,287    $ 479    0.12 %   $ (1 )   $ 2     $ 1  

Savings

     670,613      357    0.21       756,682      383    0.20       (44 )     18       (26 )

Money market accounts

     2,631,078      18,535    2.83       2,599,379      11,444    1.77       181       6,910       7,091  

Time deposits

     4,915,311      46,495    3.79       4,104,738      28,194    2.76       6,669       11,632       18,301  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing deposits

     9,782,057      65,867    2.70       9,036,086      40,500    1.80       6,805       18,562       25,367  

Federal funds purchased

     40,114      480    4.80       43,327      300    2.78       (30 )     210       180  

Repurchase agreements

     190,736      1,600    3.36       128,872      453    1.41       369       778       1,147  

Master notes

     615,960      6,409    4.17       294,642      1,605    2.18       2,544       2,260       4,804  

Other short-term borrowings

     61,695      688    4.47       55,839      440    3.16       56       192       248  

Long-term obligations

     466,259      8,522    7.31       308,461      6,238    8.09       3,033       (749 )     2,284  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 11,156,821    $ 83,566    3.00     $ 9,867,227    $ 49,536    2.01 %   $ 12,777     $ 21,253     $ 34,030  
                                                                

Interest rate spread

         3.02 %         3.24 %      
                              

Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets

      $ 119,351    3.54 %      $ 111,038    3.63 %   $ 2,333     $ 5,980     $ 8,313  
                                                        

Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Yields related to loans and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 35% and a state income tax rate of 6.90% for each period. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $418 and $368 for 2006 and 2005, respectively.

For the six months ended June 30, 2006, loan and lease interest income equaled $326.4 million, an increase of $54.6 million or 20.1 percent from the same period of 2005. The improvement in interest income reflects the effect of an 85 basis point increase in loan and lease yields as well as a 5.1 percent increase in average balances.

For the six months ended June 30, 2006, income earned on the investment securities portfolio amounted to $52.6 million, compared to $29.5 million during the same period of 2005, an increase of $23.1 million or 78.5 percent. This increase was the result of portfolio growth and a 91 basis point increase in the taxable-equivalent yield resulting from the reinvestment of proceeds arising from maturing securities to current market rates.

Interest earned on overnight investments totaled $13.5 million during the first six months of 2006 compared to $7.2 million during the same period of 2005, a $6.3 million or 86.6 percent increase. This strong growth was the combined result of a 200 basis point yield increase.

 

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INTEREST-BEARING LIABILITIES

Interest-bearing liabilities include our interest-bearing deposits as well as short-term borrowings and long-term obligations. Deposits are our primary funding source, although we also utilize non-deposit borrowings to fulfill commercial customer requirements for cash management services and to stabilize our liquidity base. Certain of our long-term borrowings also provide capital strength under existing guidelines established by the Federal Reserve and other banking regulators.

At June 30, 2006 and 2005, interest-bearing liabilities totaled $11.40 billion and $10.16 billion, respectively, a $1.24 billion or 12.2 percent increase. This increase resulted from growth in interest-bearing deposits, master notes and long-term obligations.

Deposits . At June 30, 2006, total deposits were $12.72 billion, an increase of $959.1 million or 8.2 percent over June 30, 2005.

Interest-bearing deposits averaged $9.78 billion during the second quarter of 2006 compared to $9.04 billion during the second quarter of 2005, an increase of $746.0 million or 8.3 percent. In the second quarter, average time deposits increased $810.6 million or 19.7 percent from 2006 to 2005 as customers shifted liquidity out of money market and other transaction accounts into higher-yielding time deposit instruments. From the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2006, average money market increased only $31.7 million or 1.2 percent, while average savings and average Checking With Interest decreased $86.1 million and $10.2 million, respectively.

For the first six months of 2006, interest-bearing deposits averaged $9.69 billion compared to $8.97 billion during the same period of 2005. This $718.9 million or 8.0 percent increase results from continued growth in time deposits and money market accounts.

Short-term borrowings . At June 30, 2006, short-term borrowings totaled $957.0 million compared to $621.7 million at June 30, 2005. For the quarters ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, short-term borrowings averaged $908.5 million and $522.7 million, respectively. The $385.8 million or 73.8 percent increase in short-term borrowings resulted from strong master note growth as customer interest in commercial cash management sweep products improved due to higher interest rates on those products.

For the six-month periods ended June 30, 2006 and 2005, short-term borrowings averaged $847.0 million and $485.0 million, respectively, an increase of 74.6 percent prompted by improved master note demand.

Long-term obligations . At June 30, 2006 and 2005, long-term obligations totaled $527.5 million and $410.0 million, respectively. The increase reflects the impact of $115 million in trust preferred capital securities issued during the second quarter of 2006.

In addition to the trust preferred securities issued during 2006, long-term obligations also include $150.0 million in trust preferred capital securities issued in 1998 and $100.0 million in trust preferred capital securities issued in 2001 (the 2001 Securities). The 2001 Securities mature in 2031, but may be redeemed in whole or in part at par on or after October 31, 2006. Although no definitive action has been taken, given current interest rates it is likely that the 2001 Securities will be redeemed during the fourth quarter of 2006.

Expense on interest-bearing liabilities . BancShares’ interest expense amounted to $83.6 million during the second quarter of 2006, a $34.0 million or 68.7 percent increase from the second quarter of 2005. The higher interest expense was the result of increasing market interest rates and higher average volume. The rate on interest-bearing liabilities was 3.00 percent during the second quarter of 2006 compared to 2.01 percent during the same period of 2005. During the second quarter of 2006, interest-bearing liabilities averaged $11.16 billion, an increase of $1.29 billion or 13.1 percent from the second quarter of 2005.

For the year-to-date, interest expense was $155.7 million, compared to $92.1 million for the same period of 2005. The $63.6 million or 69.1 percent increase results from higher interest rates and growth in average deposits. The rate on interest-bearing liabilities increased from 1.90 percent during the first six months of 2005 to 2.86 percent for the same period of 2006, a 96 basis point difference. The rate on time deposits increased 101 basis points from 2.65 percent to 3.66 percent while the rate on average money market savings increased 102 basis points from 1.62 percent to 2.64 percent. The rate on average master notes increased 201 basis points from 1.96 percent to 3.97 percent. For the first six months, average interest-bearing liabilities increased $1.22 billion or 12.5 percent from $9.76 billion to $10.98 billion. Average time deposits increased $751.1 million to $4.80 billion and average master notes increased $312.0 million from $250.9 million to $562.8 million.

 

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Consolidated Taxable Equivalent Rate/Volume Variance Analysis - Six Months

Table 5

 

     2006     2005     Increase (decrease) due to:  

(thousands)

   Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Average
Balance
   Interest
Income/
Expense
   Yield/
Rate
    Volume     Yield/
Rate
    Total
Change
 

Assets

                      

Loans and leases

   $ 9,815,430    $ 327,154    6.72 %   $ 9,340,748    $ 272,388    5.87 %   $ 14,606     $ 40,160     $ 54,766  

Investment securities:

                      

U. S. Government

     2,851,069      50,869    3.58       2,147,226      28,590    2.69       11,092       11,187       22,279  

State, county and municipal

     6,516      171    5.29       7,699      193    5.06       (30 )     8       (22 )

Other

     73,111      1,614    4.45       54,515      749    2.77       333       532       865  
                                                                

Total investment securities

     2,930,696      52,654    3.61       2,209,440      29,532    2.70       11,395       11,727       23,122  

Overnight investments

     580,733      13,518    4.69       543,089      7,246    2.69       694       5,578       6,272  
                                                                

Total interest-earning assets

   $ 13,326,859    $ 393,326    5.95 %   $ 12,093,277    $ 309,166    5.15 %   $ 26,695     $ 57,465     $ 84,160  
                                                                

Liabilities

                      

Deposits:

                      

Checking With Interest

   $ 1,563,258    $ 949    0.12 %   $ 1,558,736    $ 939    0.12 %   $ 6     $ 4     $ 10  

Savings

     680,796      719    0.21       752,585      756    0.20       (73 )     36       (37 )

Money market accounts

     2,647,377      34,704    2.64       2,612,335      20,980    1.62       396       13,328       13,724  

Time deposits

     4,800,473      87,238    3.66       4,049,343      53,171    2.65       11,828       22,239       34,067  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing deposits

     9,691,904      123,610    2.57       8,972,999      75,846    1.70       12,157       35,607       47,764  

Federal funds purchased

     43,578      986    4.56       43,426      552    2.56       3       431       434  

Repurchase agreements

     178,306      2,787    3.15       135,067      807    1.20       466       1,514       1,980  

Master notes

     562,847      11,094    3.97       250,897      2,444    1.96       4,591       4,059       8,650  

Other short-term borrowings

     62,226      1,301    4.22       55,603      808    2.93       117       376       493  

Long-term obligations

     437,761      15,971    7.30       297,126      11,657    7.85       5,299       (985 )     4,314  
                                                                

Total interest-bearing liabilities

   $ 10,976,622    $ 155,749    2.86 %   $ 9,755,118    $ 92,114    1.90 %   $ 22,633     $ 41,002     $ 63,635  
                                                                

Interest rate spread

         3.09 %         3.25 %      
                              

Net interest income and net yield on interest-earning assets

      $ 237,577    3.59 %      $ 217,052    3.62 %   $ 4,062     $ 16,463     $ 20,525  
                                                        

Average loan balances include nonaccrual loans. Yields related to loans and securities exempt from both federal and state income taxes, federal income taxes only, or state income taxes only are stated on a taxable-equivalent basis assuming a statutory federal income tax rate of 35% and a state income tax rate of 6.90% for each period. The taxable-equivalent adjustment was $715 and $635 for 2005 and 2004, respectively.

NET INTEREST INCOME

Net interest income totaled $118.9 million during the second quarter of 2006, an increase of $8.3 million or 7.5 percent from the $110.7 million recorded during the second quarter of 2005. On a linked quarter basis, net interest income increased by only $1.1 million, or 0.9 percent. Due primarily to the unfavorable impact of the flat yield curve and the declining asset sensitivity of the balance sheet, the taxable-equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets declined 9 basis points from 3.63 percent during the second quarter of 2005 to 3.54 percent for the second quarter of 2006. The growth in net interest income resulted primarily from higher volume of interest-earning assets.

Net interest income totaled $236.8 million for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006, a $20.4 million or 9.4 percent increase over the same period of 2005. For the year-to-date, the taxable equivalent net yield on interest-earning assets fell from 3.62 percent in 2005 to 3.59 percent in 2006. Like the second quarter comparison, the impact of the flat yield curve over the six-month period offset the balance sheet growth, causing the net yield to decline by three basis points.

Our asset/liability management strategy continues to focus on maintaining high levels of balance sheet liquidity and managing our interest rate risk. We maintain portfolios of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities with maturities or repricing characteristics that will protect against wide interest rate fluctuations, thereby limiting, to the extent possible, the ultimate interest rate exposure.

 

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Due to customer preference for fixed-rate commercial loans, rate ceilings that are limiting the repricing of variable rate loans, and surges in shorter-term deposit balances, our interest-sensitivity position has shifted from an asset-sensitive position to a liability-sensitive position. Based upon recent trends, it appears that the liability-sensitivity position will continue to grow during the next quarter. Assuming no other changes, a liability sensitive position indicates that rising market interest rates will likely cause a contraction in the net yield on interest-earning assets and, thus, net interest income. Changes in the slope of the yield curve and shifts in the mix of interest-earning assets and interest-bearing liabilities may cause actual results to vary.

Historically, we have managed our interest rate risk through decisions regarding pricing and availability of our loan and deposit products and through selected balance sheet management activities such as sales of certain long-term fixed rate assets and revolving loans. We have not relied on interest rate floors, collars or other derivative financial instruments to hedge interest rate sensitivity and interest rate risk. However, during the second quarter of 2006, in conjunction with the issuance of $115.0 million in trust preferred securities, we entered into an interest rate swap to synthetically convert the variable rate coupon of the securities to a fixed rate of 7.125% for a period of five years.

ASSET QUALITY

The maintenance of excellent asset quality is one of our primary areas of focus. Historically, we have dedicated significant resources to ensuring prudent lending practices. Accordingly, we have focused on asset quality as a key performance measure.

Nonperforming assets . At June 30, 2006, BancShares’ total nonperforming assets, consisting of nonaccrual loans and other real estate, amounted to $24.0 million or 0.24 percent of loans and leases plus other real estate, compared to $18.4 million or 0.20 percent at June 30, 2005. The increase is primarily attributable to the transfer to other real estate of three parcels of land that were initially acquired for branch sites. The transfer resulted from the subsequent decision to abandon plans for branch offices at those locations. Nonaccrual loans totaled $15.6 million at June 30, 2006, compared to $13.4 million at June 30, 2005. We closely monitor nonperforming assets, taking necessary actions to minimize potential exposure.

Allowance for credit losses . We continuously analyze the growth and risk characteristics of the loan and lease portfolio under current economic conditions in order to evaluate the adequacy of the allowance for credit losses. Such factors as the financial condition of the borrower, fair market value of collateral and other considerations are recognized in estimating probable credit losses. The allowance for credit losses includes the allowance for loan and lease losses and the liability for unfunded credit commitments. At June 30, 2006, the allowance for credit losses amounted to $137.1 million or 1.37 percent of total loans and leases outstanding. This compares to $135.8 million or 1.41 percent at December 31, 2005, and $133.2 million or 1.43 percent at June 30, 2005.

The provision for credit losses charged to operations during the second quarter of 2006 was $3.0 million, compared to $7.0 million during the second quarter of 2005. For the six-month periods ended June 30, total provision for credit losses was $9.7 million for 2006 and $12.3 million for 2005. The $2.6 million decrease results from enhancements to the allowance methodology that were implemented during the second quarter of 2006.

Net charge-offs for the three months ended June 30, 2006 totaled $3.0 million, compared to $4.9 million during the same period of 2005, the combined result of lower charge offs and higher recoveries. On an annualized basis, net charge-offs represent 0.12 percent and 0.21 percent of average loans and leases outstanding during the respective periods. Net charge-offs for the six-month period ended June 30, 2006 totaled $8.4 million, unchanged from the same period of 2005. As a percentage of average loans and leases outstanding, these losses represent 0.17 percent for 2006 and 0.18 percent for 2005 on an annualized basis.

 

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Table of Contents

Summary of Loan and Lease Loss Experience and Risk Elements

   Table 6

 

     2006     2005     Six Months Ended June 30  

(thousands, except ratios)

   Second
Quarter
    First
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    2006     2005  

Allowance for credit losses at beginning of period

   $ 137,145     $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 132,681     $ 135,770     $ 130,832  

Provision for credit losses

     2,973       6,737       13,578       7,211       6,994       9,710       12,320  

Adjustment

     —         —         —         (48 )     (1,537 )     —         (1,537 )

Net charge-offs:

              

Charge-offs

     (4,933 )     (7,053 )     (12,408 )     (8,305 )     (6,048 )     (11,986 )     (11,793 )

Recoveries

     1,936       1,691       1,380       1,144       1,128       3,627       3,396  
                                                        

Net charge-offs

     (2,997 )     (5,362 )     (11,028 )     (7,161 )     (4,920 )     (8,359 )     (8,397 )
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 137,121     $ 137,145     $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 137,121     $ 133,218  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses includes:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

   $ 130,532     $ 130,222     $ 128,847     $ 126,297     $ 126,247     $ 130,532     $ 126,247  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     6,589       6,923       6,923       6,923       6,971       6,589       6,971  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses at end of period

   $ 137,121     $ 137,145     $ 135,770     $ 133,220     $ 133,218     $ 137,121     $ 133,218  
                                                        

Historical Statistics

              

Average loans and leases

   $ 9,924,208     $ 9,705,443     $ 9,455,059     $ 9,323,115     $ 9,324,200     $ 9,815,430     $ 9,340,748  

Loans and leases at period-end

     10,029,045       9,810,088       9,642,994       9,359,540       9,300,984       10,029,045       9,300,984  
                                                        

Risk Elements

              

Nonaccrual loans and leases

   $ 15,573     $ 15,844     $ 18,969     $ 11,065     $ 13,362     $ 15,573     $ 13,362  

Other real estate

     8,461       5,573       6,753       4,843       5,049       8,461       5,049  
                                                        

Total nonperforming assets

   $ 24,034     $ 21,417     $ 25,722     $ 15,908     $ 18,411     $ 24,034     $ 18,411  
                                                        

Accruing loans and leases 90 days or more past due

   $ 7,534     $ 6,729     $ 9,180     $ 7,712     $ 10,056     $ 7,534     $ 10,056  
                                                        

Ratios

              

Net charge-offs (annualized) to average total loans and leases

     0.12 %     0.22 %     0.46 %     0.30 %     0.21 %     0.17 %     0.18  

Percent of total loans and leases at period-end:

              

Allowance for loan and lease losses

     1.30       1.33       1.34       1.35       1.36       1.30       1.36  

Liability for unfunded credit commitments

     0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07       0.07  
                                                        

Allowance for credit losses

     1.37       1.40       1.41       1.42       1.43       1.37       1.43  
                                                        

Nonperforming assets to total loans and leases plus other real estate

     0.24       0.22       0.27       0.17       0.20       0.24       0.20  
                                                        

We consider the established allowance adequate to absorb losses that relate to loans and leases outstanding at June 30, 2006. While we use available information to establish the allowance, future additions may be necessary based on changes in economic conditions or other factors. In addition, various regulatory agencies, as an integral part of their examination process, periodically review the allowance. Such agencies may require the recognition of adjustments to the allowance based on their judgments of information available to them at the time of their examination.

 

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Table of Contents

NONINTEREST INCOME

The growth of noninterest income is essential to our ability to sustain adequate levels of profitability. The primary sources of noninterest income are service charges on deposit accounts, cardholder and merchant services income, various types of commission-based income including the sale of investments by our broker-dealer subsidiaries, fees from processing services for client banks, mortgage income and various types of revenues derived from wealth management services. Noninterest income also includes gains and losses resulting from securities transactions as well as gains recognized from the securitization and sale of loans.

During the first six months of 2006, total noninterest income equaled $135.4 million, compared to $129.8 million during the same period of 2005. The $5.6 million or 4.3 percent increase was primarily due to growth in cardholder and merchant services income and commission income. These increases were partially offset by reductions in service charges on deposit accounts. Additionally, during 2005, noninterest income included a $2.9 million gain on the securitization and sale of home equity loans. No such gain was recognized during 2006.

Cardholder and merchant services income increased $6.3 million or 18.5 percent for the first six months of 2006 when compared to the same period in 2005. Much of the increase results from continued strong growth in merchant discount and higher transaction volume with our credit and debit card products.

Commission income increased $3.4 million or 26.3 percent from $12.8 million during the first six months of 2005 compared to $16.2 million during the first six months of 2006. Much of the growth in commission income was attributed to brokerage fees generated by First Citizens Investor Services and IronStone Securities. Broker-dealer commissions increased $2.6 million during 2006 due to improved sales performance and market returns.

Among other components of noninterest income, fees from processing services increased $2.0 million or 15.7 percent during the first six months of 2006. Much of this increase is due to higher client bank transaction volume as a result of item processing services provided to new client banks. Trust and asset management fees contributed an additional $1.1 million during the first six months of 2006 compared to the same period of 2005. This increase represents an 11.5 percent increase over the same period of 2005 due to improved investment returns and favorable business development activity within our wealth management function.

Reducing the overall growth in noninterest income, service charges on deposit accounts decreased $1.9 million or 5.0 percent during the first six months of 2006. Service charges were generally lower for both personal and commercial customers. Bad check and overdraft charges declined modestly. Mortgage income declined $665,000 or 17.4 percent during the first six months of 2006 due to losses recognized on loans held for sale due to rising interest rates.

During the second quarter of 2006, total noninterest income equaled $69.6 million, an increase of $1.0 million or 1.5 percent, compared to the $68.6 million earned during the second quarter of 2005. The trends noted during the second quarter were similar to those noted for the year-to-date, including higher cardholder and merchant services income, commission income, processing fees as well as trust and asset management fees.

NONINTEREST EXPENSE

The primary components of noninterest expense are salaries and related employee benefit costs, occupancy costs for branch offices and support facilities, and equipment costs related to branch offices and technology.

Total noninterest expense equaled $266.9 million for the first six months of 2006, an 8.8 percent increase over the $245.3 million recorded during the same period of 2005. The $21.6 million increase in noninterest expense results from higher personnel and general operating costs.

Salary expense increased $9.4 million during 2006 when compared to the same period of 2005. This 9.0 percent increase is primarily due to higher incentive-based compensation for both wealth management sales and mortgage activity and labor costs resulting from new branch offices. Employee benefits expense increased $2.2 million or 8.5 percent during the first six months of 2006, compared to the corresponding period of 2005 due to higher health insurance costs and employer social security contributions. These increases were partially offset by lower pension expense.

 

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Occupancy costs increased $2.4 million or 10.4 percent during the first six months of 2006, the result of higher building depreciation and rent expense largely resulting from the expansion of the branch network. Other expenses increased $6.9 million or 10.3 percent during 2006. Much of this increase was due to cardholder and merchant processing costs, which increased $3.2 million. We also recognized higher costs related to cardholder rewards programs and external computer processing. Partially offsetting these increases were lower consulting expense.

For the second quarter of 2006, noninterest expense totaled $135.2 million, an $11.3 million or 9.1 percent increase over the same period of 2005. Salary expense equaled $57.1 million during the second quarter of 2006, an increase of $4.6 million or 8.8 percent due primarily to higher incentive compensation and new associates hired to staff new branch offices. Occupancy expense increased $941,000 or 8.2 percent due to the expansion of the branch network.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense was $35.1 million during the first six months of 2006, compared to $33.4 million during the same period of 2005, a 5.0 percent increase caused primarily by higher pre-tax earnings. The effective tax rates for these periods were 36.8 percent and 37.8 percent, respectively. For the second quarters of 2006 and 2005, income tax expense was $18.7 million and $18.2 million, respectively. The effective tax rates were 37.0 percent and 37.7 percent for the respective periods.

LIQUIDITY

BancShares has historically maintained a strong focus on liquidity, and our deposit base represents our primary liquidity source. Through our deposit pricing strategies, we have the ability to stimulate or curtail deposit growth. BancShares also maintains additional sources for borrowed funds through federal funds lines of credit and other borrowing facilities. At June 30, 2006, BancShares had access to $525.0 million in unfunded borrowings through its correspondent bank network.

Once we have satisfied our loan demand, residual liquidity is invested in overnight and longer-term investment products. Investment securities available for sale provide immediate liquidity as needed. In addition, investment securities held to maturity provide an ongoing liquidity source based on the scheduled maturity dates of the securities.

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY

BancShares continues to exceed all minimum regulatory capital requirements, and the banking subsidiaries remain well-capitalized. At June 30, 2006 and 2005, the leverage capital ratio of BancShares was 9.92 percent and 9.38 percent, respectively, surpassing the minimum level of 3 percent. As a percentage of risk-adjusted assets, BancShares’ Tier 1 capital ratio was 13.56 percent at June 30, 2006, and 12.45 percent as of June 30, 2005. The minimum ratio allowed is 4 percent of risk-adjusted assets. The total risk-adjusted capital ratio was 16.05 percent at June 30, 2006 and 15.01 percent as of June 30, 2005. The minimum total capital ratio is 8 percent.

The trust preferred securities issued during the second quarter of 2006 qualify as Tier 1 capital under current regulatory guidelines. As a result, BancShares’ total capital ratio was further strengthened by that transaction. However, due to the likely redemption during the fourth quarter of 2006 of the $100.0 million in trust preferred securities issued during 2001, BancShares’ capital ratios may decline. BancShares, FCB and ISB will remain well-capitalized following the anticipated redemption of those securities.

 

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SEGMENT REPORTING

BancShares conducts its banking operations through its two banking subsidiaries, FCB and ISB. Although FCB and ISB offer similar products and services to customers, each entity operates in distinct geographic markets and has separate management groups. We monitor growth and financial results in these institutions separately and, within each institution, by geographic segregation.

Although FCB has grown through acquisition in certain of its markets, throughout its history much of its expansion has been accomplished on a de novo basis. However, because of FCB’s size, market share and maturity as well as the modest expansion of its branch network, the costs associated with de novo branching are not material to FCB’s financial performance. Since it first opened in 1997, ISB has followed a similar business model for growth and expansion. Yet, due to the large number of branch offices that have yet to attain sufficient size and maturity for adequate profitability, the financial results and trends of ISB are significantly affected by its current and continuing growth. Each new market ISB enters creates additional operating costs that are typically not fully offset by operating revenues until the third year after initial opening. ISB’s rapid growth in new markets has and will likely continue to adversely impact its financial performance.

IronStone Bank . ISB’s total assets increased from $1.72 billion at June 30, 2005 to $2.00 billion at June 30, 2006, an increase of $283.9 million or 16.5 percent. This growth resulted from significantly higher levels of loans, funded by a growing deposit base generated through the expanding branch network.

ISB recorded net income of $78,000 during the first six months of 2006 compared to a net loss of $1.9 million during the same period of 2005. This improvement, results from higher levels of net interest income, stronger noninterest income and lower provision for credit losses. Offsetting these improvements, noninterest expense was higher.

ISB’s net interest income increased $4.2 million or 14.4 percent during the first six months of 2006, when compared to the same period of 2005, the result of higher market interest rates and balance sheet growth. Provision for credit losses decreased $1.3 million or 38.4 percent due to lower net charge offs and slower growth in the allowance for loan and lease losses.

ISB’s noninterest income increased $2.0 million or 60.4 percent during the first six months of 2006, primarily the result of improved cardholder and merchant income and working capital finance commissions. Noninterest expense increased $4.4 million or 13.8 percent during 2006. Higher personnel, occupancy and equipment costs reflect the impact of the expanded branch network, much of which relates to the growth and expansion by ISB into new markets.

ISB continues to evaluate both existing and new markets for expansion. As such growth occurs, ISB will continue to incur incremental operating costs, particularly in the areas of personnel, occupancy and equipment. As a result of the plans for continued expansion, ISB’s profitability will remain low.

First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company . FCB’s total assets increased from $12.17 billion at June 30, 2005 to $13.35 billion at June 30, 2006, an increase of $1.18 billion or 9.7 percent. FCB recorded net income of $67.3 million during the first six months of 2006 compared to $63.4 million during the same period of 2005. This represents a $3.9 million or 6.1 percent increase in net income, the result of higher levels of net interest and noninterest income and lower provision for credit losses.

FCB’s net interest income increased $17.1 million or 8.7 percent during the first six months of 2006, the result of strong growth among interest-earning assets. Provision for credit losses decreased $1.3 million or 14.5 percent during 2006 due to lower net charge-offs and modifications to the allowance methodology.

FCB’s noninterest income increased $4.0 million or 3.1 percent during the first six months of 2006, the result of the $5.0 million gain in cardholder and merchant service income and a $2.6 million increase in broker-dealer fees. Deposit service charges declined.

Noninterest expense increased $17.8 million or 8.2 percent during the first six months of 2006, primarily due to higher personnel, occupancy and credit card processing expenses.

 

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Table of Contents

CURRENT ACCOUNTING AND REGULATORY ISSUES

In November 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issued EITF Issue No. 03-01, The Meaning of Other-Than-Temporary Impairment and Its Application to Certain Investments (EITF 03- 01). In September 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a FASB Staff Position (FSP EITF 03-1-b). In November 2005, the FASB issued FSP FAS 115-1 and FAS 124-1. Collectively, these documents consider when an investment is considered impaired, what disclosures are appropriate for impairment losses, and what disclosures are appropriate for unrealized losses that have not been recognized as other-than-temporary impairments. The new disclosure requirements are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15. 2005.

In May 2005, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 154 (SFAS 154), Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, which replaces prior accounting guidance related to accounting changes and error corrections. SFAS 154 changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in an accounting principle. SFAS 154 requires retrospective application for voluntary changes in an accounting principle unless it is impracticable to do so. SFAS 154 is effective for accounting changes made in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2005. We adopted SFAS 154 on January 1, 2006. There will be no material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Management is not aware of any current recommendations by regulatory authorities that, if implemented, would have or would be reasonably likely to have a material effect on liquidity, capital ratios or results of operations.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this Report and exhibits relating to plans, strategies, economic performance and trends, projections of results of specific activities or investments, expectations or beliefs about future events or results, and other statements that are not descriptions of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Forward-looking information is inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in other documents filed by us from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “expects,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “potential” or “continue,” or similar terms or the negative of these terms, or other statements concerning opinions or judgments of BancShares’ management about future events.

Factors that could influence the accuracy of those forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the financial success or changing strategies of our customers, customer acceptance of our services, products and fee structure, the competitive nature of the financial services industry, our ability to compete effectively against other financial institutions in our banking markets, actions of government regulators, the level of market interest rates and our ability to manage our interest rate risk, changes in general economic conditions particularly changes that affect our loan and lease portfolio, the abilities of our borrowers to repay their loans and leases, and the values of collateral, and other developments or changes in our business that we do not expect.

Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. We have no obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Market risk is the potential economic loss resulting from changes in market prices and interest rates. This risk can either result in diminished current fair values of financial instruments or reduced net interest income in future periods. As of June 30, 2006, BancShares’ market risk profile has not changed significantly from December 31, 2005. Changes in fair value that result from movement in market rates cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Therefore, the impact that future changes in market rates will have on the fair values of financial instruments is uncertain.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

BancShares’ management, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures in accordance with Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). Based on their evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, BancShares’ disclosure controls and procedures were effective in enabling it to record, process, summarize and report in a timely manner the information required to be disclosed in reports it files under the Exchange Act.

No change in BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting occurred during the second quarter of 2006 that had materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, BancShares’ internal control over financial reporting.

PART II

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

On April 24, 2006, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Registrant, the shareholders considered the election of directors. The shareholder vote regarding the election of the nominees for Board of Directors was:

 

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Table of Contents

Nominee

   For    Withheld    Broker
Non-votes

J.M. Alexander, Jr.

   33,348,137    63,441    —  

C.H. Ames

   33,061,888    349,690    —  

V.E. Bell, III

   33,374,141    37,437    —  

G.H. Broadrick

   32,613,644    797,934    —  

H.H. Connell

   33,062,088    349,490    —  

H.M. Craig, III

   33,347,437    64,141    —  

H.L. Durham, Jr.

   33,291,786    119,792    —  

L.M. Fetterman

   32,973,899    437,679    —  

F.B. Holding

   33,062,271    349,307    —  

F.B. Holding, Jr.

   33,062,412    349,166    —  

L.R. Holding

   33,367,169    44,409    —  

C.B.C. Holt

   32,958,233    453,345    —  

J.B. Hyler, Jr.

   33,062,423    349,155    —  

F.R. Jones

   33,369,230    42,348    —  

L.S. Jones

   33,369,550    42,028    —  

J.T. Maloney, Jr.

   32,666,446    745,132    —  

R.T. Newcomb

   31,794,318    1,617,260    —  

L.T. Nunnellee, II

   32,971,050    440,528    —  

R.C. Scheeler

   32,666,452    745,126    —  

R.K. Shelton

   33,368,836    42,742    —  

R.C. Soles, Jr.

   32,621,622    789,956    —  

D.L. Ward, Jr.

   32,984,036    427,542    —  

Item 6. Exhibits

 

  4.1 Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of FCB/NC Capital Trust III

 

  4.2 Guarantee Agreement relating to Registrant’s guarantee of the capital securities of FCB/NC Capital Trust III

 

  4.3 Junior Subordinated Debenture dated May 18, 2006 between Registrant and Wilmington Trust Company, as Debenture Trustee

 

  31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer

 

  31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

 

  32 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: August 7, 2006   FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC .
                          (Registrant)
  By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

    Kenneth A. Black
    Vice President, Treasurer
    and Chief Financial Officer

 

27

Exhibit 4.1

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT

among

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.,

as Depositor

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Property Trustee

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Delaware Trustee

and

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN

as Administrative Trustees

 


Dated as of May 18, 2006

FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST III

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I. Defined Terms    1

SECTION 1.1.

   Definitions.    1
ARTICLE II. The Trust    11

SECTION 2.1.

   Name.    11

SECTION 2.2.

   Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.    11

SECTION 2.3.

   Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses.    11

SECTION 2.4.

   Purposes of Trust.    11

SECTION 2.5.

   Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.    12

SECTION 2.6.

   Assets of Trust.    14

SECTION 2.7.

   Title to Trust Property.    14
ARTICLE III. Payment Account; Paying Agents    15

SECTION 3.1.

   Payment Account.    15

SECTION 3.2.

   Appointment of Paying Agents.    15
ARTICLE IV. Distributions; Redemption    16

SECTION 4.1.

   Distributions.    16

SECTION 4.2.

   Redemption.    17

SECTION 4.3.

   Subordination of Common Securities.    20

SECTION 4.4.

   Payment Procedures.    20

SECTION 4.5.

   Withholding Tax.    21

SECTION 4.6.

   Tax Returns and Other Reports.    21

SECTION 4.7.

   Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.    22

SECTION 4.8.

   Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.    22

SECTION 4.9.

   Exchanges.    22

SECTION 4.10.

   Calculation Agent.    22

SECTION 4.11.

   Certain Accounting Matters.    23
ARTICLE V. Securities    24

SECTION 5.1.

   Initial Ownership.    24

SECTION 5.2.

   Authorized Trust Securities.    24

SECTION 5.3.

   Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Notes.    24

SECTION 5.4.

   The Securities Certificates.    24

SECTION 5.5.

   Rights of Holders.    25

SECTION 5.6.

   Book-Entry Preferred Securities.    25

SECTION 5.7.

   Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.    27

SECTION 5.8.

   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates.    28

SECTION 5.9.

   Persons Deemed Holders.    29

SECTION 5.10.

   Cancellation.    29

SECTION 5.11.

   Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.    30

SECTION 5.12.

   Restricted Legends .    30

SECTION 5.13.

   Form of Certificate of Authentication.    33
ARTICLE VI. Meetings; Voting; Acts of Holders    33

SECTION 6.1.

   Notice of Meetings.    33

 

i


        SECTION 6.2.

   Meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities.    33

        SECTION 6.3.

   Voting Rights.    34

        SECTION 6.4.

   Proxies    34

        SECTION 6.5.

   Holder Action by Written Consent.    34

        SECTION 6.6.

   Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.    35

        SECTION 6.7.

   Acts of Holders.    35

        SECTION 6.8.

   Inspection of Records.    36

        SECTION 6.9.

   Limitations on Voting Rights.    36

        SECTION 6.10.

   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past Defaults.    37
ARTICLE VII. Representations and Warranties    39

        SECTION 7.1.

   Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.    39

        SECTION 7.2.

   Representations and Warranties of Depositor.    40
ARTICLE VIII. The Trustees    41

        SECTION 8.1.

   Number of Trustees.    41

        SECTION 8.2.

   Property Trustee Required.    41

        SECTION 8.3.

   Delaware Trustee Required.    41

        SECTION 8.4.

   Appointment of Administrative Trustees.    42

        SECTION 8.5.

   Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees.    42

        SECTION 8.6.

   Notices of Defaults and Extensions.    44

        SECTION 8.7.

   Certain Rights of Property Trustee.    44

        SECTION 8.8.

   Delegation of Power.    46

        SECTION 8.9.

   May Hold Securities.    47

        SECTION 8.10.

   Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.    47

        SECTION 8.11.

   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.    48

        SECTION 8.12.

   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.    49

        SECTION 8.13.

   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.    50

        SECTION 8.14.

   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.    50

        SECTION 8.15.

   Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.    50

        SECTION 8.16.

   Reports to and from the Property Trustee.    51
ARTICLE IX. Termination, Liquidation and Merger    51

        SECTION 9.1.

   Dissolution Upon Expiration Date.    51

        SECTION 9.2.

   Early Termination.    51

        SECTION 9.3.

   Termination.    52

        SECTION 9.4.

   Liquidation.    52

        SECTION 9.5.

   Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust.    53
ARTICLE X. Information to Purchaser    55

        SECTION 10.1.

   Depositor Obligations to Purchaser.    55

        SECTION 10.2.

   Trustee’s Obligations to Purchaser.    55
ARTICLE XI. Miscellaneous Provisions    55

        SECTION 11.1.

   Limitation of Rights of Holders.    55

        SECTION 11.2.

   Agreed Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities.    55

        SECTION 11.3.

   Amendment.    56

        SECTION 11.4.

   Separability.    57

        SECTION 11.5.

   Governing Law.    57

        SECTION 11.6.

   Successors.    57

 

ii


SECTION 11.7.

   Headings.    58

SECTION 11.8.

   Reports, Notices and Demands.    58

SECTION 11.9.

   Agreement Not to Petition.    59

 

Exhibit A    Certificate of Trust of FCB/NC Capital Trust III
Exhibit B    Form of Common Securities Certificate
Exhibit C    Form of Preferred Securities Certificate
Exhibit D    Junior Subordinated Indenture
Exhibit E    Form of Transferee Certificate to be Executed by Transferees other than QIBs
Exhibit F    Form of Transferee Certificate to be Executed by QIBs
Exhibit G    Form of Officer’s Certificate
Schedule A    Calculation of LIBOR

 

iii


AMENDED AND RESTATED TRUST AGREEMENT, dated as of May 18, 2006, among (i) First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (including any successors or permitted assigns, the “Depositor”), (ii) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the “Property Trustee”), (iii) Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the “Delaware Trustee”), (iv) Kenneth A. Black, an individual and John H. Gray, an individual, each of whose address is c/o First Citizens BancShares, Inc., 3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604, as administrative trustees (in such capacities, each an “Administrative Trustee” and, collectively, the “Administrative Trustees” and, together with the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the “Trustees”) and (v) the several Holders, as hereinafter defined.

W ITNESSETH

W HEREAS , the Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee have heretofore created a Delaware statutory trust pursuant to the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, as hereinafter defined, by entering into a Trust Agreement, dated as of May 16, 2006 (the “Original Trust Agreement”), and by executing and filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware the Certificate of Trust, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A ; and

W HEREAS , the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance of the Common Securities by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust pursuant to the Subscription Agreement and (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in and to the Notes (as defined herein);

N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other parties and for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein), hereby amends and restates the Original Trust Agreement in its entirety and agrees as follows:

ARTICLE I.

D EFINED T ERMS

SECTION 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I;

(b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;


(c) all accounting terms used but not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles;

(d) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article”, a “Section”, a “Schedule” or an “Exhibit” refers to an Article, a Section, a Schedule or an Exhibit, as the case may be, of or to this Trust Agreement;

(e) the words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Trust Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and

(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

“Act” has the meaning specified in Section 6.7 .

“Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“Additional Interest Amount” means, with respect to Trust Securities of a given Liquidation Amount and/or a given period, the amount of Additional Interest paid by the Depositor on a Like Amount of Notes for such period.

“Additional Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“Additional Tax Sums” has the meaning specified in Section 10.5 of the Indenture.

“Administrative Trustee” means each of the Persons identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in each such Person’s capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust and not in such Person’s individual capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Applicable Depositary Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Book-Entry Preferred Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

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“Bankruptcy Event” means, with respect to any Person:

(a) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises (i) judging such Person a bankrupt or insolvent, (ii) approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, (iii) appointing a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property or (iv) ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(b) the institution by such Person of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, conservator, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.

“Bankruptcy Laws” means all Federal and state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws, including the United States Bankruptcy Code.

“Book-Entry Preferred Security” means a Preferred Security, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.

“Business Day” means a day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday, (b) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (c) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed for business.

“Calculation Agent” has the meaning specified in Section 4.10 .

“Capital Disqualification Event” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in the Placement Agreement.

“Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement such Commission is not existing and performing the duties assigned to it, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Common Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B .

 

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“Common Security” means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Property Trustee at which any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Trust Agreement is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

“Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates” means Preferred Securities issued in certificated, fully registered form that are not Global Preferred Securities.

“Delaware Statutory Trust Act” means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code § 3801 et seq., or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Delaware Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Delaware Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Depositary” means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Depositor or any successor thereto. DTC will be the initial Depositary.

“Depositary Participant” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.

“Depositor” has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Trust Agreement and any successors and permitted assigns.

“Depositor Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 4.9 .

“Distribution Date” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a)(i) .

“Distributions” means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.1 .

“DTC” means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto.

“Early Termination Event” has the meaning specified in Section 9.2 .

“Event of Default” means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) the occurrence of a Note Event of Default; or

 

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(b) default by the Trust in the payment of any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such default for a period of thirty (30) days; or

(c) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or

(d) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this Trust Agreement (other than those specified in clause (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of thirty (30) days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Trustees and to the Depositor by the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(e) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Property Trustee if a successor Property Trustee has not been appointed within ninety (90) days thereof.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 9.1 .

“Extension Period” has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a)(ii) .

“Federal Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the staff thereof, or a Federal Reserve Bank, acting through delegated authority, in each case under the rules, regulations and policies of the Federal Reserve System, or if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement any such entity is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it, any successor body performing similar duties or functions.

“Fiscal Year” shall be the fiscal year of the Trust, which shall be the calendar year, or such other period as is required by the Code.

“Global Preferred Security” means a Preferred Securities Certificate evidencing ownership of Book-Entry Preferred Securities.

“Guarantee Agreement” means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor and Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Trust Security or Trust Securities are registered in the Securities Register; any such Person shall be a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

 

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“Indemnified Person” has the meaning specified in Section 8.10(c) .

“Indenture” means the Junior Subordinated Indenture executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Note Trustee contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Trust Agreement, for the benefit of the holders of the Notes, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit D , as amended or supplemented from time to time.

“Indenture Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section 4.2(c) .

“Interest Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Investment Company Event” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“LIBOR” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

“LIBOR Business Day” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

“LIBOR Determination Date” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

“Lien” means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

“Like Amount” means (a) with respect to a redemption of any Trust Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal amount of Notes to be contemporaneously redeemed or paid at maturity in accordance with the Indenture, the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust Securities, (b) with respect to a distribution of Notes to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a dissolution of the Trust, Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Holder to whom such Notes are distributed and (c) with respect to any distribution of Additional Interest Amounts to Holders of Trust Securities, Notes having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities in respect of which such distribution is made.

“Liquidation Amount” means the stated amount of $1,000 per Trust Security.

“Liquidation Date” means the date on which assets are to be distributed to Holders in accordance with Section 9.4(a) hereunder following dissolution of the Trust.

“Liquidation Distribution” has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d) .

“Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities” means Preferred Securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all (or a specified group of) then Outstanding Preferred Securities.

 

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“Note Event of Default” means any “Event of Default” specified in Section 5.1 of the Indenture.

“Note Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Notes to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption of such Notes under the Indenture.

“Note Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Trustee” in the Indenture, solely in its capacity as Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Trustee appointed as provided in the Indenture.

“Notes” means the Depositor’s Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture.

“Office of Thrift Supervision” means the Office of Thrift Supervision, as from time to time constituted or, if at any time after the execution of this Trust Agreement such Office is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it, then the body performing such duties at such time.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or an Executive Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, of the Depositor, and delivered to the Trustees. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Trust Agreement (other than the Officers’ Certificate provided pursuant to Section 8.16(a) ) shall include:

(a) a statement by each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate that such officer has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by such officer in rendering the Officers’ Certificate;

(c) a statement that such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

“Operative Documents” means the Placement Agreement, the Indenture, the Trust Agreement, the Guarantee Agreement, the Subscription Agreement, the Notes and the Trust Securities.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.

“Original Issue Date” means the date of original issuance of the Trust Securities.

 

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“Original Trust Agreement” has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Trust Agreement.

“Outstanding,” when used with respect to any Trust Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under this Trust Agreement, except:

(a) Trust Securities theretofore canceled by the Property Trustee or delivered to the Property Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Trust Securities for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Property Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Trust Securities; provided , that if such Trust Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and

(c) Trust Securities that have been paid or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Trust Securities have been executed and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Trust Agreement, unless proof satisfactory to the Property Trustee is presented that any such Trust Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Trust Securities are valid, legal and binding obligations of the Trust;

provided , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Preferred Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (i) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Preferred Securities that such Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (ii) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Preferred Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Preferred Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Administrative Trustees the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Preferred Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or of any Trustee.

“Owner” means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry Preferred Securities as reflected in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant is not the beneficial owner, then the beneficial owner as reflected in the records of the Depositary Participant.

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Administrative Trustees to pay Distributions or other amounts in respect of any Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust.

“Payment Account” means a segregated non-interest-bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Holders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Notes will be held and from which the Property Trustee, through the Paying Agent, shall make payments to the Holders in accordance with Sections 3.1 , 4.1 and 4.2 .

 

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“Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association or government, or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

“Placement Agent” means SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., as Placement Agent pursuant to the Placement Agreement, whose address is 303 Peachtree Street, 24th Floor, Mail Code 3950, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.

“Placement Agreement” means the Placement Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006, executed and delivered by the Trust, the Depositor and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., as placement agent.

“Preferred Security” means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 and having the rights provided therefor in this Trust Agreement.

“Preferred Securities Certificate” means a certificate evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C .

“Property Trustee” means the Person identified as the “Property Trustee” in the preamble to this Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as herein provided.

“Purchaser” means SunTrust Equity Funding, LLC, as purchaser of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreement, whose address is 303 Peachtree Street NW, 26th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308.

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Trust Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Trust Agreement; provided , that each Note Redemption Date and the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes shall be a Redemption Date for a Like Amount of Trust Securities.

“Redemption Price” means, with respect to any Trust Security, the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security, plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the Redemption Date, plus the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the Depositor upon the concurrent redemption or payment at maturity of a Like Amount of Notes.

“Reference Banks” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Financial Services Officer or Assistant Financial Services Officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Property

 

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Trustee and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, and any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

“Securities Certificate” means any one of the Common Securities Certificates or the Preferred Securities Certificates.

“Securities Register” and “Securities Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 5.7 .

“Special Event Redemption Price” has the meaning specified in Section 11.2 of the Indenture.

“Subscription Agreement” means the Preferred Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006, by and among the Company, the Trust, the Purchaser and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. (as to certain provisions thereof).

“Successor Securities” has the meaning specified in Section 9.5(a) .

“Tax Event” has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Indenture.

“Trust” means the Delaware statutory trust known as “FCB/NC Capital Trust III,” which was created on May 16, 2006, under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act pursuant to the Original Trust Agreement and the filing of the Certificate of Trust, and continued pursuant to this Trust Agreement.

“Trust Agreement” means this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, including all Schedules and Exhibits, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof.

“Trustees” means the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each as defined in this Article I .

“Trust Property” means (a) the Notes, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Trust Agreement.

“Trust Security” means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities.

 

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ARTICLE II.

T HE T RUST

SECTION 2.1. Name.

The trust continued hereby shall be known as “FCB/NC Capital Trust III,” as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.

SECTION 2.2. Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.

The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, or such other address in the State of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Holders, the Depositor, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. The principal executive office of the Trust is c/o First Citizens BancShares, Inc. 3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, as such address may be changed from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders and the other Trustees.

SECTION 2.3. Initial Contribution of Trust Property; Fees, Costs and Expenses.

The Property Trustee acknowledges receipt from the Depositor in connection with the Original Trust Agreement of the sum of ten dollars ($10), which constituted the initial Trust Property. The Depositor shall pay all fees, costs and expenses of the Trust (except with respect to the Trust Securities) as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such fees, costs and expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such fees, costs or expenses.

SECTION 2.4. Purposes of Trust.

(a) The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are to (i) issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Notes and (ii) engage in only those activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Delaware Trustee, the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees are trustees of the Trust, and have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein. The Trustees hereby acknowledge that they are trustees of the Trust.

(b) So long as this Trust Agreement remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, the Trust (or the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Trust Agreement, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt, (iv) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a Lien on

 

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any of the Trust Property, (v) take or consent to any action that would reasonably be expected to cause the Trust to become taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, (vi) take or consent to any action that would cause the Notes to be treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or (vii) take or consent to any action that would cause the Trust to be deemed to be an “investment company” required to be registered under the Investment Company Act.

SECTION 2.5. Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.

(a) The Trustees shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement. In accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Trustees to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees, under this Trust Agreement, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including the following:

(i) As among the Trustees, each Administrative Trustee shall severally have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

(A) the issuance and sale of the Trust Securities;

(B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including, without limitation, a common securities subscription agreement and a junior subordinated note subscription agreement and to cause the Trust to perform in accordance with the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement;

(C) assisting in the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and in compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws;

(D) assisting in the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

(E) the appointment of a Paying Agent and Securities Registrar in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

(F) execution of the Trust Securities on behalf of the Trust in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

(G) execution and delivery of closing certificates, if any, pursuant to the Placement Agreement and application for a taxpayer identification number for the Trust;

 

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(H) preparation and filing of all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed on behalf of the Trust;

(I) establishing a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date to be established, except as provided in Section 6.10(a) ;

(J) unless otherwise required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with the other Administrative Trustees) any documents that such Administrative Trustee has the power to execute pursuant to this Trust Agreement; and

(K) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as such Administrative Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement.

(ii) As among the Trustees, the Property Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters:

(A) the receipt and holding of legal title of the Notes;

(B) the establishment of the Payment Account;

(C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Notes and the holding of such amounts in the Payment Account;

(D) the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts distributable to the Holders in respect of the Trust Securities;

(E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Notes in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;

(F) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Trust Securities and the Notes to the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement;

(G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Trust Agreement;

(H) to the extent provided in this Trust Agreement, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation of the Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; and

(I) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Property Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Trust Agreement and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder).

 

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(b) In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Depositor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Depositor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Trust Agreement are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects):

(i) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities in one or more transactions exempt from registration under the Securities Act, and in compliance with applicable state securities or blue sky laws; and

(ii) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities.

(c) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, so that the Notes will be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an “investment company” required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. In this connection, each Administrative Trustee is authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Certificate of Trust or this Trust Agreement, that such Administrative Trustee determines in his or her discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such action does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of the Outstanding Preferred Securities. In no event shall the Administrative Trustees be liable to the Trust or the Holders for any failure to comply with this Section 2.5 to the extent that such failure results solely from a change in law or regulation or in the interpretation thereof.

(d) Any action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with any Trustee acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of such Trustee to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of any Trustee as set forth in this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 2.6. Assets of Trust.

The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property.

SECTION 2.7. Title to Trust Property.

(a) Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders in accordance with this Trust Agreement.

(b) The Holders shall not have any right or title to the Trust Property other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and

 

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they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE III.

P AYMENT A CCOUNT ; P AYING A GENTS

SECTION 3.1. Payment Account.

(a) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Property Trustee shall establish the Payment Account. The Property Trustee and the Paying Agent shall have exclusive control and sole right of withdrawal with respect to the Payment Account for the purpose of making deposits in and withdrawals from the Payment Account in accordance with this Trust Agreement. All monies and other property deposited or held from time to time in the Payment Account shall be held by the Property Trustee in the Payment Account for the exclusive benefit of the Holders and for Distribution as herein provided.

(b) The Property Trustee shall deposit in the Payment Account, promptly upon receipt, all payments of principal of or interest on, and any other payments with respect to, the Notes. Amounts held in the Payment Account shall not be invested by the Property Trustee pending distribution thereof.

SECTION 3.2. Appointment of Paying Agents.

The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Holders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account solely for the purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent in their sole discretion. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee. If the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which shall be a bank or trust company) to act as Paying Agent. Such successor Paying Agent appointed by the Administrative Trustees shall execute and deliver to the Trustees an instrument in which such successor Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent will hold all sums, if any, held by it for payment to the Holders in trust for the benefit of the Holders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Article VIII shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other Paying Agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Trust Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.

 

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ARTICLE IV.

D ISTRIBUTIONS ; R EDEMPTION

SECTION 4.1. Distributions.

(a) The Trust Securities represent undivided beneficial interests in the Trust Property, and Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) will be made on the Trust Securities at the rate and on the dates that payments of interest (including any Additional Interest) are made on the Notes. Accordingly:

(i) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be cumulative, and shall accumulate whether or not there are funds of the Trust available for the payment of Distributions. Distributions shall accumulate from May 18, 2006, and, except as provided in clause (ii) below, shall be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on June 30, 2006. If any date on which a Distribution is otherwise payable on the Trust Securities is not a Business Day, then the payment of such Distribution shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are payable in accordance with this Section 4.1(a)(i), a “Distribution Date”);

(ii) in the event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right under the Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Notes, Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be deferred. Under the Indenture, so long as no Note Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Depositor shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the Notes, to defer the payment of interest on the Notes for a period of up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”). No interest on the Notes shall be due and payable during an Extension Period (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable), except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75% thereafter, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which such amounts would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or until funds for the payment thereof have been made available for payment. If Distributions are deferred, the deferred Distributions (including Additional Interest Amounts) shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Trust Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such termination date.

 

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(iii) Distributions shall accumulate and be payable in respect of the Trust Securities at an annual rate equal to 6.922500% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) June 30, 2006 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) June 30, 2006, and each successive Distribution Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Date, at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75% of the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Notes. LIBOR shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with Schedule A . The amount of Distributions payable for any period less than a full Distribution period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution period. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall include any Additional Interest Amounts in respect of such period; and

(iv) Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Paying Agent from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.

(b) Distributions on the Trust Securities with respect to a Distribution Date shall be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the Securities Register for the Trust Securities at the close of business on the relevant record date, which shall be at the close of business on the fifteenth day (whether or not a Business Day) preceding the relevant Distribution Date. Distributions payable on any Trust Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Date as a result of the Depositor having failed to make an interest payment under the Notes will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Trust Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distributions and any Additional Interest Amounts will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Trust Securities are registered on the special record date, or other specified date for determining Holders entitled to such defaulted Distribution and Additional Interest Amount, established in the same manner, and on the same date, as such is established with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.

SECTION 4.2. Redemption.

(a) On each Note Redemption Date and on the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes and on each other date on (or in respect of) which any principal on the Notes is repaid, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price.

(b) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Property Trustee by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Trust Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All notices of redemption shall state:

(i) the Redemption Date;

 

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(ii) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the Redemption Price provided pursuant to the Indenture, as calculated by the Depositor, together with a statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated by the Calculation Agent on the fifth Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);

(iii) if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective liquidation amounts) and Liquidation Amounts of the particular Trust Securities to be redeemed;

(iv) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Trust Security, or portion thereof, to be redeemed and that Distributions thereon will cease to accumulate on such Trust Security or such portion, as the case may be, on and after said date, except as provided in Section 4.2(d) ;

(v) the place or places where the Trust Securities are to be surrendered for the payment of the Redemption Price; and

(vi) such other provisions as the Property Trustee deems relevant.

(c) The Trust Securities (or portion thereof) redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or payment at maturity of Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities (or portion thereof) shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price. Under the Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest Payment Date, at the Depositor’s option, on or after June 30, 2011, in whole or in part, from time to time at a redemption price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (the “Indenture Redemption Price”); provided , that the Depositor shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required. The Notes may also be redeemed by the Depositor, at its option, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event at the Special Event Redemption Price (as set forth in the Indenture).

(d) If the Property Trustee gives a notice of redemption in respect of any Preferred Securities, then by 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Depositor shall deposit sufficient funds with the Property Trustee to pay the Redemption Price. If such deposit has been made by such time, then by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, the Property Trustee will, with respect to Book-Entry Preferred Securities, irrevocably deposit with the Depositary for such Book-Entry Preferred Securities, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give such Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities. With respect to Preferred Securities that are not Book-Entry Preferred

 

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Securities, the Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the Paying Agent, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give the Paying Agent irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred Securities upon surrender of their Preferred Securities Certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Trust Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of such Trust Securities as they appear on the Securities Register on the relevant record dates for the related Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities (or portion thereof) so called for redemption will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive the Redemption Price and any Distribution payable in respect of the Trust Securities on or prior to the Redemption Date, but without interest, and, in the case of a partial redemption, the right of such Holders to receive a new Trust Security or Securities of authorized denominations, in aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to the unredeemed portion of such Trust Security or Securities, and such Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption will cease to be Outstanding. In the event that any date on which any Redemption Price is payable is not a Business Day, then payment of the Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after each such date until the next succeeding Business Day) with the same force and effect as if made on such date. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any Trust Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement, Distributions on such Trust Securities (or portion thereof) will continue to accumulate, as set forth in Section 4.1 , from the Redemption Date originally established by the Trust for such Trust Securities (or portion thereof) to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.

(e) Subject to Section 4.3 (a), if less than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities to be redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based upon the relative aggregate Liquidation Amounts of the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed on a pro rata basis based upon their respective Liquidation Amounts not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the Outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption; provided , however , that with respect to Holders that would be required to hold less than one hundred (100) but more than zero (0) Trust Securities as a result of such redemption, the Trust shall redeem Trust Securities of each such Holder so that after such redemption such Holder shall hold either one hundred (100) Trust Securities or such Holder no longer holds any Trust Securities, and shall use such method (including, without limitation, by lot) as the Trust shall deem fair and appropriate; and provided , further , that so long as the Preferred Securities are Book-Entry Preferred Securities, such selection shall be made in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures for the Preferred Securities by such Depositary. The Property Trustee shall promptly notify the Securities Registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities (or portion thereof) selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions

 

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relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.

(f) The Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall indicate the “CUSIP” numbers of the Trust Securities in notices of redemption and related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided , that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Trust Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related materials.

SECTION 4.3. Subordination of Common Securities.

(a) Payment of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, the Redemption Price of and the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Trust Securities, as applicable, shall be made, pro rata among the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities based on the Liquidation Amount of the respective Trust Securities; provided , that if on any Distribution Date, Redemption Date or Liquidation Date an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, Redemption Price of or Liquidation Distribution in respect of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all Outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, or in the case of payment of the Liquidation Distribution the full amount of such Liquidation Distribution on all Outstanding Preferred Securities, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts) on, or the Redemption Price of or the Liquidation Distribution in respect of, the Preferred Securities then due and payable.

(b) In the case of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the Holders of the Common Securities shall have no right to act with respect to any such Event of Default under this Trust Agreement until all such Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all such Events of Default under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and not on behalf of the Holders of the Common Securities, and only the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.

SECTION 4.4. Payment Procedures.

Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts), the Redemption Price, Liquidation Amount or any other amounts in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United

 

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States as may be designated in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Securities Register. If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary, such Distributions thereon shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available funds. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of all the Common Securities.

SECTION 4.5. Withholding Tax.

The Trust and the Administrative Trustees shall comply with all withholding and backup withholding tax requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax with respect to each Holder and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding and backup withholding tax obligations. The Administrative Trustees shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding and backup withholding tax is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Trust is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any jurisdiction with respect to Distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such required withholding.

SECTION 4.6. Tax Returns and Other Reports.

(a) The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury regulations section 301.7701-7, at the Depositor’s expense, and file, all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall prepare at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury regulations section 301.7701-7, and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished), by January 31 in each taxable year of the Trust to each Holder all Internal Revenue Service forms and returns required to be provided by the Trust. The Administrative Trustees shall provide the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns and reports promptly after such filing or furnishing.

(b) So long as the Property Trustee is the holder of the Notes, the Administrative Trustees will cause the Depositor’s reports on Form FR Y-9C to be delivered to the Property Trustee promptly following their filing with the Federal Reserve, provided however , the Administrative Trustees need not provide copies of such report so long as it is filed with the Federal Reserve and that is available on the Federal Reserve’s website.

 

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SECTION 4.7. Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.

Upon receipt under the Notes of Additional Tax Sums and upon the written direction of the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee shall promptly pay, solely out of monies on deposit pursuant to this Trust Agreement, any Additional Taxes imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.

SECTION 4.8. Payments under Indenture or Pursuant to Direct Actions.

Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (or any Owner with respect thereto) has directly received pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture or Section 6.10(b) of this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 4.9. Exchanges.

(a) If at any time the Depositor or any of its Affiliates (in either case, a “Depositor Affiliate”) is the Owner or Holder of any Preferred Securities, such Depositor Affiliate shall have the right to deliver to the Property Trustee all or such portion of its Preferred Securities as it elects and receive, in exchange therefor, a Like Amount of Notes. Such election (i) shall be exercisable effective on any Distribution Date by such Depositor Affiliate delivering to the Property Trustee a written notice of such election specifying the Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities with respect to which such election is being made and the Distribution Date on which such exchange shall occur, which Distribution Date shall be not less than ten (10) Business Days after the date of receipt by the Property Trustee of such election notice and (ii) shall be conditioned upon such Depositor Affiliate having delivered or caused to be delivered to the Property Trustee or its designee the Preferred Securities that are the subject of such election by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur. After the exchange, such Preferred Securities will be canceled and will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and all rights of the Depositor Affiliate with respect to such Preferred Securities will cease.

(b) In the case of an exchange described in Section 4.9(a) , the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust will, on the date of such exchange, exchange Notes having a principal amount equal to a proportional amount of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Common Securities, based on the ratio of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities exchanged pursuant to Section 4.9(a) divided by the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities Outstanding immediately prior to such exchange, for such proportional amount of Common Securities held by the Depositor (which contemporaneously shall be canceled and no longer be deemed to be Outstanding); provided , that the Depositor delivers or causes to be delivered to the Property Trustee or its designee the required amount of Common Securities to be exchanged by 10:00 A.M. New York time, on the Distribution Date on which such exchange is to occur.

SECTION 4.10. Calculation Agent.

(a) The Property Trustee shall initially, and for so long as it holds any of the Notes, be the Calculation Agent for purposes of determining LIBOR for each Distribution Date. The

 

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Calculation Agent may be removed by the Administrative Trustees at any time. If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as such or is removed by the Administrative Trustees, the Administrative Trustees will promptly appoint as a replacement Calculation Agent the London office of a leading bank which is engaged in transactions in three-month Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurodollar market and which does not control or is not controlled by or under common control with the Administrative Trustees or their Affiliates. The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties without a successor having been duly appointed.

(b) The Calculation Agent shall be required to agree that, as soon as possible after 11:00 a.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Business Day immediately following each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the distribution rate (rounded to the nearest cent, with half a cent being rounded upwards) for the related Distribution Date, and will communicate such rate and amount to the Depositor, Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Depositary. The Calculation Agent will also specify to the Administrative Trustees the quotations upon which the foregoing rates and amounts are based and, in any event, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Administrative Trustees before 5:00 p.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date that either: (i) it has determined or is in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts or (ii) it has not determined and is not in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts, together with its reasons therefor. The Calculation Agent’s determination of the foregoing rates and amounts for any Distribution Date will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding upon all parties. For the sole purpose of calculating the distribution rate for the Trust Securities, “Business Day” shall be defined as any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

SECTION 4.11. Certain Accounting Matters.

(a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrative Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

(b) The Administrative Trustees shall either (i), if the Depositor is then subject to such reporting requirements, cause each Form 10-K and Form 10-Q prepared by the Depositor and filed with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act to be delivered to each Holder, with a copy to the Property Trustee, within thirty (30) days after the filing thereof, provided however , the Administrative Trustees need not provide copies of information that is filed by the Depositor with the SEC and that is available on EDGAR on the SEC’s website or (ii) cause to be prepared at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, and delivered to each of the Holders, with a copy to the Property Trustee, within ninety (90) days after the end of each Fiscal Year, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss.

 

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(c) The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided , however , that all payments of funds in respect of the Notes held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to the Payment Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Payment Account. The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Payment Account) shall be designated by the Property Trustee.

ARTICLE V.

S ECURITIES

SECTION 5.1. Initial Ownership.

Upon the creation of the Trust and the contribution by the Depositor referred to in Section 2.3 and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.

SECTION 5.2. Authorized Trust Securities.

The Trust shall be authorized to issue one series of Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $115,000,000 and one series of Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $3,557,000.

SECTION 5.3. Issuance of the Common Securities; Subscription and Purchase of Notes.

On the Closing Date, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver to the Depositor Common Securities Certificates, registered in the name of the Depositor, evidencing an aggregate of 3,557 Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $3,557,000, against receipt by the Trust of the aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities of $3,557,000. Contemporaneously therewith and with the sale by the Trust to the Holders of an aggregate of 115,000 Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $115,000,000, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe for and purchase from the Depositor Notes, to be registered in the name of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $118,557,000, and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Notes, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $118,557,000 (being the aggregate amount paid by the Holders for the Preferred Securities and the amount paid by the Depositor for the Common Securities).

SECTION 5.4. The Securities Certificates.

(a) The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $100,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum denominations of $10,000 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee. Securities Certificates bearing the signatures of individuals who

 

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were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign such Securities Certificates on behalf of the Trust shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Securities Certificates or did not have such authority at the date of delivery of such Securities Certificates.

(b) On the Closing Date, upon the written order of an authorized officer of the Depositor, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Securities Certificates to be executed on behalf of the Trust and delivered, without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.

(c) The Preferred Securities issued to QIBs shall be, except as provided in Section 5.6 , Book-Entry Preferred Securities issued in the form of one or more Global Preferred Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the Depositary or a custodian for the Depositary for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the Depositary Participants thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct). The Preferred Securities issued to a Person other than a QIB shall be issued in the form of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate.

(d) A Preferred Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an Authorized Officer of the Property Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Security has been authenticated under this Trust Agreement. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate the Preferred Securities for original issue. The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Preferred Securities. A Common Security need not be so authenticated and shall be valid upon execution by one or more Administrative Trustees. The form of this certificate of authentication can be found in Section 5.13 .

SECTION 5.5. Rights of Holders.

The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor will be fully paid and non-assessable by the Trust. Except as provided in Section 5.11(b) , the Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

SECTION 5.6. Book-Entry Preferred Securities.

(a) A Global Preferred Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates registered in the names of the Owners only if such exchange complies with Section 5.7 and (i) the Depositary advises the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able properly to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Global Preferred Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Administrative Trustees within ninety (90) days of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the

 

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Administrative Trustees fail to appoint a qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Administrative Trustees at their option advise the Property Trustee in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) a Note Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Administrative Trustees shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities, the Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to Owners of the Preferred Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates, the Trustees shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates as Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest in such Global Preferred Security to a Person other than a QIB, such transfer shall be effected, subject to the Applicable Depositary Procedures, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7 , and the transferee shall receive a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate in connection with such transfer. A holder of a Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate that is a QIB may, upon request, and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.6 and Section 5.7 , exchange such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate for a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred Security.

(b) If any Global Preferred Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Preferred Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Preferred Security, then either (i) such Global Preferred Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article V or (ii) the aggregate Liquidation Amount represented by such Global Preferred Security shall be reduced, subject to Section 5.4 , or increased by an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by that portion of the Global Preferred Security to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the Liquidation Amount represented by such Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any Global Preferred Security, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Property Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender to the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar of any Global Preferred Security or Securities by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. None of the Securities Registrar or the Trustees shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.

(c) Every Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Preferred Security or any portion thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Preferred Security, unless such Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Preferred Security or a nominee thereof.

(d) The Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Preferred Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Preferred Security for all purposes under this Trust

 

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Agreement and the Global Preferred Security, and Owners with respect to a Global Preferred Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary Procedures. The Securities Registrar and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Trust Agreement relating to the Global Preferred Securities (including the payment of the Liquidation Amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities represented thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the Trustees nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.

(e) The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Preferred Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law, the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and the Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided , solely for the purpose of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Preferred Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Trust Agreement, to the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the Trustees may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Property Trustee by the Depositary setting forth the Owners’ votes or assigning the right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part. To the extent that Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the initial Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the Depositary Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Preferred Securities that are represented by a Global Preferred Security to such Depositary Participants, and none of the Depositor or the Trustees shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto.

(f) To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under this Trust Agreement, for so long as Preferred Securities are represented by a Global Preferred Security, the Trustees shall give all such notices and communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the Owners.

SECTION 5.7. Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.

(a) The Property Trustee shall keep or cause to be kept, at the Corporate Trust Office, a register or registers (the “Securities Register”) in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Trust Securities (the “Securities Registrar”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities Certificates and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Person acting as the Property Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities Registrar. The provisions of Article VIII shall apply to the Property Trustee in its role as Securities Registrar.

(b) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Securities Certificate at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.7(f) , the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee

 

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or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount as may be required by this Trust Agreement dated the date of execution by such Administrative Trustee or Trustees. At the option of a Holder, Preferred Securities Certificates may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities Certificates in authorized denominations and of a like aggregate Liquidation Amount upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificate to be exchanged at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.7(f) . Whenever any Preferred Securities Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Administrative Trustees or any one of them shall execute by manual or facsimile signature and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Preferred Securities Certificates that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

(c) The Securities Registrar shall not be required, (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of such Preferred Securities pursuant to Article IV and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Preferred Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Preferred Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.

(d) Every Preferred Securities Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Securities Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing and (i) if such Preferred Securities Certificate is being transferred otherwise than to a QIB, accompanied by a certificate of the transferee substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit E hereto or (ii) if such Preferred Securities Certificate is being transferred to a QIB, accompanied by a certificate of the transferor substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit F hereto.

(e) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.

(f) The Administrative Trustees shall designate an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and initially designate the Corporate Trust Office as its office and agency for such purposes. The Administrative Trustees shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor, the Property Trustee and to the Holders of any change in the location of any such office or agency.

SECTION 5.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities Certificates.

(a) If any mutilated Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees to save each of them harmless, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination.

 

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(b) If the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Securities Certificate and there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and make available for delivery, and, with respect to Preferred Securities, the Property Trustee shall authenticate, in exchange for or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificate, a new Securities Certificate of like class, tenor and denomination.

(c) In connection with the issuance of any new Securities Certificate under this Section 5.8 , the Administrative Trustees or the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.

(d) Any duplicate Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section 5.8 shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust corresponding to that evidenced by the mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed Securities Certificate, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.

(e) If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Depositor in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

(f) The provisions of this Section 5.8 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities Certificates.

SECTION 5.9. Persons Deemed Holders.

The Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall each treat the Person in whose name any Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trustees and the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.

SECTION 5.10. Cancellation.

All Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange or for payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Property Trustee, be delivered to the Property Trustee, and any such Preferred Securities Certificates and Preferred Securities Certificates surrendered directly to the Property Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Administrative Trustees may at any time deliver to the Property Trustee for cancellation any Preferred Securities Certificates previously delivered hereunder that the Administrative Trustees may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Preferred Securities Certificates so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Property Trustee. No Preferred Securities Certificates shall be executed and delivered in lieu of or in exchange for any Preferred Securities Certificates canceled as provided in this Section 5.10 , except as expressly

 

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permitted by this Trust Agreement. All canceled Preferred Securities Certificates shall be disposed of by the Property Trustee in accordance with its customary practices and the Property Trustee shall deliver to the Administrative Trustees a certificate of such disposition.

SECTION 5.11. Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.

(a) On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire, and thereafter shall retain, beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. Neither the Depositor nor any successor Holder of the Common Securities may transfer less than all the Common Securities, and the Depositor or any such successor Holder may transfer the Common Securities only (i) in connection with a consolidation or merger of the Depositor into another Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (in which event such Common Securities will be transferred to such surviving entity, transferee or lessee, as the case may be), pursuant to Section 8.1 of the Indenture or (ii) to the Depositor or an Affiliate of the Depositor, in each such case in compliance with applicable law (including the Securities Act, and applicable state securities and blue sky laws). To the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities other than as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall be void. The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating substantially “THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT.”

(b) Any Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for the debts and obligations of the Trust in the manner and to the extent set forth herein with respect to the Depositor and agrees that it shall be subject to all liabilities to which the Depositor may be subject and, prior to becoming such a Holder, shall deliver to the Administrative Trustees an instrument of assumption satisfactory to such Trustees.

SECTION 5.12. Restricted Legends .

(a) To the extent applicable, each Preferred Security Certificate shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

 

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UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST III OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR THAT (A) SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR THE DEPOSITOR, (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND, IN THE CASE OF (III) OR (V), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

 

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THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF THE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF OR DISTRIBUTIONS ON SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS PREFERRED SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

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THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”).”

(b) The above legend shall not be removed from any of the Preferred Securities Certificates unless there is delivered to the Property Trustee and the Depositor satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel, as may be reasonably required to ensure that any future transfers thereof may be made without restriction under the provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable law. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, one or more of the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall execute and deliver to the Property Trustee, and the Property Trustee shall deliver, at the written direction of the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, Preferred Securities Certificates that do not bear the legend.

SECTION 5.13. Form of Certificate of Authentication.

The Property Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement.

 

Dated:    

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in

its individual capacity, but solely as Property Trustee

  By:  

 

    Authorized officer

ARTICLE VI.

M EETINGS ; V OTING ; A CTS OF H OLDERS

SECTION 6.1. Notice of Meetings.

Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 11.8 to each Holder of Preferred Securities, at such Holder’s registered address, at least fifteen (15) days and not more than ninety (90) days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 6.2. Meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities.

(a) No annual meeting of Holders is required to be held. The Property Trustee, however, shall call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote on any matter

 

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upon the written request of the Holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Preferred Securities and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.

(b) The Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.

(c) If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders present, in person or by proxy, holding Preferred Securities representing at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities held by the Holders present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, unless this Trust Agreement requires a lesser or greater number of affirmative votes.

SECTION 6.3. Voting Rights.

Holders shall be entitled to one vote for each $10,000 of Liquidation Amount represented by their Outstanding Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.

SECTION 6.4. Proxies.

At any meeting of Holders, any Holder entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided , that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Holders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Holder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than three years after its date of execution.

SECTION 6.5. Holder Action by Written Consent.

Any action that may be taken by Holders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if Holders holding at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of all Preferred Securities entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such lesser or greater proportion thereof as shall be required by any other provision of this Trust Agreement) shall consent to the action in writing; provided , that notice of such action is promptly provided to the Holders of Preferred Securities that did not consent to such action. Any action that may be taken by the Holders of all the Common Securities may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice if such Holders shall consent to the action in writing.

 

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SECTION 6.6. Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.

Except as provided in Section 6.10(a) , for the purposes of determining the Holders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or to act by written consent, or to participate in any distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Trust Agreement, or for the purpose of any other action, the Administrative Trustees may from time to time fix a date, not more than ninety (90) days prior to the date of any meeting of Holders or the payment of a Distribution or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Holders of record for such purposes.

SECTION 6.7. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Trust Agreement to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent thereof duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Trust Agreement and conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section 6.7 .

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than such signer’s individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of such signer’s authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.

(c) The ownership of Trust Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Trust Security and the Holder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees, the Administrative Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.

(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such Liquidation Amount.

 

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(f) If any dispute shall arise among the Holders or the Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of such Holder or Trustee under this Article VI , then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.

SECTION 6.8. Inspection of Records.

Upon reasonable written notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by any Holder during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Holder’s interest as a Holder.

SECTION 6.9. Limitations on Voting Rights.

(a) Except as expressly provided in this Trust Agreement and in the Indenture and as otherwise required by law, no Holder of Preferred Securities shall have any right to vote or in any manner otherwise control the administration, operation and management of the Trust or the obligations of the parties hereto, nor shall anything herein set forth, or contained in the terms of the Securities Certificates, be construed so as to constitute the Holders from time to time as partners or members of an association.

(b) So long as any Notes are held by the Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust, the Property Trustee shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Note Trustee, or exercise any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with respect to the Notes, (ii) waive any past default that may be waived under Section 5.13 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Notes shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Notes, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities; provided , that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Notes (or each Holder of Preferred Securities) affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior written consent of each Holder of Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, except by a subsequent vote of the Holders of the Preferred Securities. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Property Trustee shall, at the expense of the Depositor, obtain an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such action shall not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

(c) If any proposed amendment to the Trust Agreement provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Preferred Securities, whether by way of amendment

 

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to the Trust Agreement or otherwise or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust, other than pursuant to the terms of this Trust Agreement, then the Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities as a class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no amendment to this Trust Agreement may be made if, as a result of such amendment, it would cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.

SECTION 6.10. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission of Annulment; Waivers of Past Defaults.

(a) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, if, upon a Note Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture, the Note Trustee fails or the holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the outstanding Notes fail to declare the principal of all of the Notes to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities then Outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Note Trustee as provided in the Indenture, the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Depositor and the Note Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(i) the Depositor has paid or deposited with the Note Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

(A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the Notes;

(B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Notes;

(C) the principal of and any premium on any Notes that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes; and

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Note Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Note Trustee, the Property Trustee and their agents and counsel; and

(ii) all Note Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Notes that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13 of the Indenture.

Upon receipt by the Property Trustee of written notice requesting such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Preferred Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of Outstanding Preferred Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Property

 

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Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is ninety (90) days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such ninety (90)-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.10(a) .

(b) For so long as any Preferred Securities remain Outstanding, to the fullest extent permitted by law and subject to the terms of this Trust Agreement and the Indenture, upon a Note Event of Default specified in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture, any Holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, pursuant to Section 5.8 of the Indenture, for enforcement of payment to such Holder of any amounts payable in respect of Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such Holder. Except as set forth in Section 6.10(a) and this Section 6.10(b) , the Holders of Preferred Securities shall have no right to exercise directly any right or remedy available to the holders of, or in respect of, the Notes.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.10 , the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any Note Event of Default, except any Note Event of Default arising from the failure to pay any principal of or any premium or interest on (including any Additional Interest) the Notes (unless such Note Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and all principal and premium on all Notes due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Note Trustee) or a Note Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Note. Upon any such waiver, such Note Event of Default shall cease to exist and any Note Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of the Indenture; but no such waiver shall affect any subsequent Note Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(d) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.10 , the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Trust Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

(e) The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee in respect of this Trust Agreement or the Notes or exercising

 

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any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement; provided , that, subject to Sections 8.5 and 8.7 , the Property Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Property Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken, or if the Property Trustee in good faith shall, by an officer or officers of the Property Trustee, determine that the proceedings so directed would be illegal or involve it in personal liability or be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders not party to such direction, and provided , further , that nothing in this Trust Agreement shall impair the right of the Property Trustee to take any action deemed proper by the Property Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction.

ARTICLE VII.

R EPRESENTATIONS AND W ARRANTIES

SECTION 7.1. Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.

The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Holders that:

(a) the Property Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

(b) the Property Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;

(c) the Delaware Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware;

(d) the Delaware Trustee has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;

(e) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of each of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee enforceable against each of them in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;

(f) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or (ii) violate any applicable law, governmental rule or regulation of the United States or the State of Delaware, as the case may be, governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee;

 

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(g) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing law of the United States or the State of Delaware governing the banking, trust or general powers of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be; and

(h) to the best of each of the Property Trustee’s and the Delaware Trustee’s knowledge, there are no proceedings pending or threatened against or affecting the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations as one of the Trustees under this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 7.2. Representations and Warranties of Depositor.

The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Holders that:

(a) the Depositor is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its state of incorporation;

(b) the Depositor has full corporate power, authority and legal right to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement and has taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by it of this Trust Agreement;

(c) this Trust Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositor and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Depositor enforceable against the Depositor in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity;

(d) the Securities Certificates issued at the Closing Date on behalf of the Trust have been duly authorized and will have been duly and validly executed, issued and delivered by the applicable Trustees pursuant to the terms and provisions of, and in accordance with the requirements of, this Trust Agreement and the Holders will be, as of such date, entitled to the benefits of this Trust Agreement;

(e) the execution, delivery and performance of this Trust Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or other action on the part of the Depositor and do not require any approval of stockholders of the Depositor and such execution, delivery and performance will not (i) violate the articles or certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or other organizational documents) of the Depositor or (ii) violate any applicable law, governmental rule or regulation governing the Depositor or any material portion of its property or any order, judgment or decree applicable to the Depositor or any material portion of its property;

 

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(f) neither the authorization, execution or delivery by the Depositor of this Trust Agreement nor the consummation of any of the transactions by the Depositor contemplated herein requires the consent or approval of, the giving of notice to, the registration with or the taking of any other action with respect to any governmental authority or agency under any existing law governing the Depositor or any material portion of its property; and

(g) other than as discussed in the Disclosure Schedule to the Placement Agreement, there are no proceedings pending or, to the best of the Depositor’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Depositor or any material portion of its property in any court or before any governmental authority, agency or arbitration board or tribunal that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially and adversely affect the Trust or would question the right, power and authority of the Depositor, as the case may be, to enter into or perform its obligations under this Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII.

T HE T RUSTEES

SECTION 8.1. Number of Trustees.

The number of Trustees shall be four (4), provided , that the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be the same Person, in which case the number of Trustees shall be three (3). The number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities subject to Sections 8.2 , 8.3 , and 8.4 . The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust.

SECTION 8.2. Property Trustee Required.

There shall at all times be a Property Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. The Property Trustee shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and having an office within the United States. If any such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 8.2 , the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.2 , it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII .

SECTION 8.3. Delaware Trustee Required.

(a) If required by the Delaware Statutory Trust Act, there shall at all times be a Delaware Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. The Delaware Trustee shall either be (i) a natural person who is at least 21 years of age and a resident of the State of Delaware or (ii) a legal entity that has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, otherwise meets the

 

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requirements of applicable Delaware law and shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind such entity. If at any time the Delaware Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 8.3 , it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VIII .

(b) The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and for taking such actions as are required to be taken by a Delaware trustee under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act. The duties (including fiduciary duties), liabilities and obligations of the Delaware Trustee shall be limited to (a) accepting legal process served on the Trust in the State of Delaware and (b) the execution of any certificates required to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware that the Delaware Trustee is required to execute under Section 3811 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act and there shall be no other duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity, of the Delaware Trustee.

SECTION 8.4. Appointment of Administrative Trustees.

(a) There shall at all times be one or more Administrative Trustees hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities. Each Administrative Trustee shall be either a natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more persons authorized to bind that entity. Each of the individuals identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in the preamble of this Trust Agreement hereby accepts his or her appointment as such.

(b) Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrative Trustees is expressly set forth in this Trust Agreement, any act required or permitted to be taken by, and any power of the Administrative Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrative Trustee. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 8.11 , the Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number (and notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement), shall have all the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 8.5. Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees.

(a) The rights, immunities, duties and responsibilities of the Trustees shall be as provided by this Trust Agreement and there shall be no other duties (including fiduciary duties) or obligations, express or implied, at law or in equity, of the Trustees; provided , however , that if an Event of Default known to the Property Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions, if any, from the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Trust Agreement shall require any of

 

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the Trustees to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its or their rights or powers, if it or they shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not herein expressly so provided, every provision of this Trust Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 8.5 . To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Trust Agreement. The provisions of this Trust Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustees otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Depositor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Trustees.

(b) All payments made by the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Trust Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Property Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Trust Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Trust Security or for any other liability in respect of any Trust Security. This Section 8.5(b) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Trust Agreement.

(c) No provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability with respect to matters that are within the authority of the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

(i) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Property Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Property Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(ii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee hereunder or under the Indenture, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;

(iii) the Property Trustee’s sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Notes and the Payment Account shall be to deal with such Property in a similar manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement;

 

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(iv) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree with the Depositor; and money held by the Property Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Payment Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and

(v) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor with their respective duties under this Trust Agreement, nor shall the Property Trustee be liable for the default or misconduct of any other Trustee or the Depositor.

SECTION 8.6. Notices of Defaults and Extensions.

(a) Within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit notice of such default to the Holders, the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Trust Security, the Property Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Property Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Trust Securities. For the purpose of this Section 8.6 , the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

(b) Within three (3) Business Days after the receipt of notice of the Depositor’s exercise of its right to defer the payment of interest on the Notes pursuant to the Indenture, the Property Trustee shall transmit, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.8 , notice of such exercise to the Holders and the Administrative Trustees, unless such exercise shall have been revoked.

(c) The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Property Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Depositor, any Administrative Trustee or any Holder or unless an officer of the Property Trustee charged with the administration of this Trust Agreement shall have obtained actual knowledge of such Event of Default.

(d) The Property Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default received with respect to the Notes.

SECTION 8.7. Certain Rights of Property Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 8.5 :

(a) the Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof upon any resolution, Opinion of Counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

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(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee finds a provision ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Property Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Trust Agreement, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Depositor requesting the Depositor’s written instruction as to the course of action to be taken and the Property Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Depositor; provided , that if the Property Trustee does not receive such instructions of the Depositor within ten (10) Business Days after it has delivered such notice or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice, the Property Trustee may, but shall be under no duty to, take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Property Trustee shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the Property Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct;

(c) any direction or act of the Depositor contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate unless otherwise expressly provided herein;

(d) any direction or act of an Administrative Trustee contemplated by this Trust Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by a certificate executed by such Administrative Trustee and setting forth such direction or act;

(e) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any re-recording, re-filing or re-registration thereof;

(f) the Property Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Property Trustee, the Depositor or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Trust Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;

(g) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Trust Agreement at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Trust Agreement, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Property Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction, including reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property Trustee;

(h) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,

 

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request, direction, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Property Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Property Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Depositor, personally or by agent or attorney;

(i) the Property Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for any negligence or misconduct on the part of any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(j) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right hereunder, the Property Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders (which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities as would be entitled to direct the Property Trustee under this Trust Agreement in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;

(k) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Trust Agreement, the Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Trust Agreement;

(l) without prejudice to any other rights available to the Property Trustee under applicable law, when the Property Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including legal fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors rights generally; and

(m) whenever in the administration of this Trust Agreement the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely on an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Depositor.

No provision of this Trust Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on any Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which such Person shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.

SECTION 8.8. Delegation of Power.

Any Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 its, his or her power for the purpose of executing any

 

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documents contemplated in Section 2.5 . The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to the Depositor the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 8.9. May Hold Securities.

Any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and except as provided in the definition of the term “Outstanding” in Article I , may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.

SECTION 8.10. Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.

The Depositor agrees:

(a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time such reasonable compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as may be agreed by the Depositor and the Trustees from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(b) to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Trust Agreement (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to their negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

(c) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify and hold harmless (i) each Trustee, (ii) any Affiliate of any Trustee, (iii) any officer, director, shareholder, employee, representative or agent of any Trustee or any Affiliate of any Trustee and (iv) any employee or agent of the Trust (referred to herein as an “Indemnified Person”) from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to Section 8.10(a) or (b)  hereof), penalty, expense, suit or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust hereunder, including the advancement of funds to cover the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

The Trust shall have no payment, reimbursement or indemnity obligations to the Trustees under this Section 8.10 . The provisions of this Section 8.10 shall survive the termination of this Trust Agreement and the earlier removal or resignation of any Trustee.

No Trustee may claim any Lien on any Trust Property whether before or after termination of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.10 .

 

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To the fullest extent permitted by law, in no event shall the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

In no event shall the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 8.11. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VIII shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12 .

(b) A Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Depositor and, in the case of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, to the Holders.

(c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause) at any time by Act of the Holder of Common Securities. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed (with or without cause) at such time by Act of the Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, delivered to the removed Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). An Administrative Trustee may be removed (with or without cause) only by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities at any time.

(d) If any Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Trustee, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of any Trustee for any reason, at a time when no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities, by Act of the Holder of the Common Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12 . If the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of continuing to act as the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders of the Preferred Securities, by Act of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee, and such successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee and the retiring Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 8.12 . If an Administrative Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting as Administrative Trustee, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holder of the Common Securities by Act of the Holder of Common Securities shall promptly appoint a successor Administrative Trustee and such successor Administrative Trustee and the retiring Administrative Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of

 

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Section 8.12 . If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holder of the Common Securities or Holders of the Preferred Securities, as the case may be, and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 8.12 within thirty (30) days after the giving of a notice of resignation by a Trustee, the removal of a Trustee, or a Trustee becoming incapable of acting as such Trustee, any Holder who has been a Holder of Preferred Securities for at least six (6) months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, and any resigning Trustee may, in each case, at the expense of the Depositor, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) The Depositor shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee and each appointment of a successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 11.8 . Each notice shall include the name of the successor Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Property Trustee.

(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Trust Agreement, in the event any Administrative Trustee or a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or becomes, in the opinion of the Holder of Common Securities, incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by (i) the unanimous act of the remaining Administrative Trustees if there are at least two of them or (ii) otherwise by the Holder of the Common Securities (with the successor in each case being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for Administrative Trustees or Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, set forth in Sections 8.3 and 8.4 ).

(g) Upon the appointment of a successor Delaware Trustee, such successor Delaware Trustee shall file a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3810 of the Delaware Statutory Trust Act.

SECTION 8.12. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each successor Trustee shall execute and deliver to the Depositor and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Trustee such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Trust Securities and the Trust.

(b) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Trust (or the retiring Trustee if requested by the Depositor) shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph.

(c) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VIII .

 

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SECTION 8.13. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided , that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VIII .

SECTION 8.14. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Trust and the Depositor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the title to, or value or condition of, the property of the Trust or any part thereof, nor as to the validity or sufficiency of this Trust Agreement, the Notes or the Trust Securities. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Notes.

SECTION 8.15. Property Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

(a) In case of any Bankruptcy Event (or event that with the passage of time would become a Bankruptcy Event) relative to the Trust or any other obligor upon the Trust Securities or the property of the Trust or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Property Trustee (irrespective of whether any Distributions on the Trust Securities shall then be due and payable and irrespective of whether the Property Trustee shall have made any demand on the Trust for the payment of any past due Distributions) shall be entitled and empowered, to the fullest extent permitted by law, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of any Distributions owing and unpaid in respect of the Trust Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Property Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

(ii) to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Property Trustee and, in the event the Property Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Property Trustee first any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Property Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Property Trustee.

(b) Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Property Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization,

 

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arrangement, adjustment or compensation affecting the Trust Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Property Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

SECTION 8.16. Reports to and from the Property Trustee.

(a) The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees shall deliver to the Property Trustee, not later than forty five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of the Depositor and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor ending after the date of this Trust Agreement, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding fiscal period, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Depositor and the Trust are in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Trust Agreement (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Depositor or the Trust shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they have knowledge.

(b) The Depositor shall furnish to (i) the Property Trustee, (ii) the Purchaser, (iii) any Holder, and (iv) any designee of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, a duly completed and executed certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G, which is identical to the form attached as Exhibit A to the Indenture, including the financial statements referenced in such Exhibit, which certificate and financial statements shall be so furnished by the Depositor not later than forty five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Depositor and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Depositor, provided however , that as long as the Depositor is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and such financial statements are available on EDGAR on the SEC’s website, it need not furnish such certificate to the parties listed above.

(c) The Property Trustee shall obtain all reports, certificates and information, which it is entitled to receive under each of the Operative Documents, and deliver to (i) the Purchaser, (ii) the Placement Agent and (iii) a designee of (i) or (ii) above, all such reports, certificates or information promptly upon receipt thereof.

ARTICLE IX.

T ERMINATION , L IQUIDATION AND M ERGER

SECTION 9.1. Dissolution Upon Expiration Date.

Unless earlier dissolved, the Trust shall automatically dissolve on June 30, 2037 (the “Expiration Date”), and the Trust Property shall be liquidated in accordance with Section 9.4 .

SECTION 9.2. Early Termination.

The first to occur of any of the following events is an “Early Termination Event,” upon the occurrence of which the Trust shall be dissolved:

(a) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event in respect of, or the dissolution or liquidation of, the Depositor, in its capacity as the Holder of the Common Securities, unless the Depositor shall have transferred the Common Securities as provided by Section 5.11 , in which case this provision shall refer instead to any such successor Holder of the Common Securities;

 

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(b) the written direction to the Property Trustee from the Holder of the Common Securities at any time to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of any liabilities of the Trust as required by applicable law, to distribute the Notes to Holders in exchange for the Preferred Securities (which direction is optional and wholly within the discretion of the Holder of the Common Securities), provided , that the Holder of the Common Securities shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required;

(c) the redemption of all of the Preferred Securities in connection with the payment at maturity or redemption of all the Notes; and

(d) the entry of an order for dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.

SECTION 9.3. Termination.

The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Holders of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4 , or upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities pursuant to Section 4.2 ; (b) the satisfaction of any expenses owed by the Trust; and (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Holders.

SECTION 9.4. Liquidation.

(a) If an Early Termination Event specified in Section 9.2(a) , (b)  or (d)  occurs or upon the Expiration Date, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Property Trustee as expeditiously as the Property Trustee shall determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to each Holder a Like Amount of Notes, subject to Section 9.4(d) . Notice of liquidation shall be given by the Property Trustee not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the Liquidation Date to each Holder of Trust Securities at such Holder’s address appearing in the Securities Register. All such notices of liquidation shall:

(i) state the Liquidation Date;

(ii) state that from and after the Liquidation Date, the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding and (subject to Section 9.4(d) ) any Securities Certificates not surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Notes; and

(iii) provide such information with respect to the mechanics by which Holders may exchange Securities Certificates for Notes, or if Section 9.4(d) applies, receive a Liquidation Distribution, as the Property Trustee shall deem appropriate.

 

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(b) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, in order to effect the liquidation of the Trust and distribution of the Notes to Holders, the Property Trustee, either itself acting as exchange agent or through the appointment of a separate exchange agent, shall establish a record date for such distribution (which shall not be more than forty-five (45) days prior to the Liquidation Date nor prior to the date on which notice of such liquidation is given to the Holders) and establish such procedures as it shall deem appropriate to effect the distribution of Notes in exchange for the Outstanding Securities Certificates.

(c) Except where Section 9.2(c) or 9.4(d) applies, after the Liquidation Date, (i) the Trust Securities will no longer be deemed to be Outstanding, (ii) certificates representing a Like Amount of Notes will be issued to Holders of Securities Certificates, upon surrender of such Securities Certificates to the exchange agent for exchange, (iii) the Depositor shall use its best efforts to have the Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange, interdealer quotation system or self-regulatory organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) Securities Certificates not so surrendered for exchange will be deemed to represent a Like Amount of Notes bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and unpaid Distributions on such Securities Certificates until such certificates are so surrendered (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal will be made to Holders of Securities Certificates with respect to such Notes) and (v) all rights of Holders holding Trust Securities will cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Notes upon surrender of Securities Certificates.

(d) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9.4 , if distribution of the Notes in the manner provided herein is determined by the Property Trustee not to be permitted or practical, the Trust Property shall be liquidated, and the Trust shall be wound up by the Property Trustee in such manner as the Property Trustee determines. In such event, Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount per Trust Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the “Liquidation Distribution”). If, upon any such winding up the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then, subject to the next succeeding sentence, the amounts payable by the Trust on the Trust Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis (based upon Liquidation Amounts). The Holder of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive Liquidation Distributions upon any such winding up pro rata (based upon Liquidation Amounts) with Holders of all Trust Securities, except that, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the Common Securities as provided in Section 4.3 .

SECTION 9.5. Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of Trust.

The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any Person except pursuant to this Article IX . At the request of the Holders of the Common Securities, without the consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets

 

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substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided , that:

(a) such successor entity either (i) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under this Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities or (ii) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (such other Securities, the “Successor Securities”) so long as the Successor Securities have the same priority as the Preferred Securities with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

(b) a trustee of such successor entity possessing substantially the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee is appointed to hold the Notes;

(c) if the Preferred Securities or the Notes are rated, such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities or the Notes (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that then assigns a rating to the Preferred Securities or the Notes;

(d) the Preferred Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notice of issuance, on any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any;

(e) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect;

(f) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust;

(g) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (ii) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act and (iii) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the successor entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for U.S. federal income tax purposes; and

(h) the Depositor or its permitted transferee owns all of the common securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee Agreement.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace, the Trust if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would

 

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cause the Trust or the successor entity to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or cause the Notes to be treated as other than indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE X.

I NFORMATION TO P URCHASER

SECTION 10.1. Depositor Obligations to Purchaser.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Depositor shall furnish to (a) the Purchaser, (b) any Holder and (c) any designee of (a) or (b) above, copies of all correspondence, notices, forms, filings, reports and other documents required to be provided by the Depositor, whether acting through an Administrative Trustee or otherwise, to the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee under this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 10.2. Trustee’s Obligations to Purchaser.

Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Property Trustee shall furnish to (a) the Purchaser, (b) the Placement Agent and (c) a designee of (a) or (b) above, copies of all (i) correspondence, notices, forms, filings, reports and other documents required to be provided to the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee by the Depositor, whether acting through an Administrative Trustee or otherwise, under this Trust Agreement, and (ii) correspondence, notices, forms, filings, reports and other documents required to be provided to the Depositor or a Holder by the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee under this Trust Agreement.

ARTICLE XI.

M ISCELLANEOUS P ROVISIONS

SECTION 11.1. Limitation of Rights of Holders.

Except as set forth in Section 9.2 , the death, bankruptcy, termination, dissolution or incapacity of any Person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Trust Agreement, nor annul, dissolve or terminate the Trust nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such Person or any Holder for such Person, to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.

SECTION 11.2. Agreed Tax Treatment of Trust and Trust Securities.

The parties hereto and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Trust Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Trust Security intend and agree to treat the Trust as a grantor trust for United States federal, state and local tax purposes, and to treat the Trust Securities (including all payments and proceeds with respect to such Trust Securities) as undivided beneficial ownership interests in the Trust Property (and payments and proceeds therefrom, respectively) for United States federal, state and local tax purposes. The provisions of this Trust Agreement shall be interpreted to further this intention and agreement of the parties.

 

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SECTION 11.3. Amendment.

(a) This Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all the Common Securities, without the consent of any Holder of the Preferred Securities, (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Trust Agreement, (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of this Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will neither be taxable as a corporation nor be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes at all times that any Trust Securities are Outstanding or to ensure that the Notes are treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes, or to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act or (iii) to add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Depositor; provided , that in the case of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holder.

(b) Except as provided in Section 11.3(c) , any provision of this Trust Agreement may be amended by the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Holder of all of the Common Securities and with (i) the consent of Holders of at least a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the treatment of the Notes as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or affect the Trust’s exemption from status (or from any requirement to register) as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, without the consent of each Holder, this Trust Agreement may not be amended to (i) change the accrual rate, amount, currency or timing of any Distribution on or the redemption price of the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution or other payment required to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date, (ii) restrict or impair the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, (iii) reduce the percentage of aggregate Liquidation Amount of Outstanding Preferred Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision of this Trust Agreement or of defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Trust Agreement; (iv) impair or adversely affect the rights and interests of the Holders in the Trust Property, or permit the creation of any Lien on any portion of the Trust Property; or (v) modify the definition of “Outstanding,” this Section 11.3(c) , Sections 4.1 , 4.2 , 4.3 , 6.10(e) or Article IX .

 

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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Trust Agreement, no Trustee shall enter into or consent to any amendment to this Trust Agreement that would cause the Trust to be taxable as a corporation or to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Notes to fail or cease to be treated as indebtedness of the Depositor for United States federal income tax purposes or that would cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify for the exemption from status (or from any requirement to register) as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.

(e) If any amendment to this Trust Agreement is made, the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee shall promptly provide to the Depositor a copy of such amendment.

(f) No Trustee shall be required to enter into any amendment to this Trust Agreement that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Trust Agreement. The Trustees shall be entitled to receive an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers’ Certificate stating that any amendment to this Trust Agreement is in compliance with this Trust Agreement and all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action have been met.

(g) No amendment or modification to this Trust Agreement that adversely affects in any material respect the rights, duties, liabilities, indemnities or immunities of the Delaware Trustee hereunder shall be permitted without the prior written consent of the Delaware Trustee.

SECTION 11.4. Separability.

If any provision in this Trust Agreement or in the Securities Certificates shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.

SECTION 11.5. Governing Law.

THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EACH OF THE HOLDERS, THE TRUST, THE DEPOSITOR AND THE TRUSTEES WITH RESPECT TO THIS TRUST AGREEMENT AND THE TRUST SECURITIES SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS PROVISIONS.

SECTION 11.6. Successors.

This Trust Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust and any Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a transaction involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor’s obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.

 

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SECTION 11.7. Headings.

The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Trust Agreement.

SECTION 11.8. Reports, Notices and Demands.

(a) Any report, notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Holder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing delivered in person, or by reputable, overnight courier, by telecopy or by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Preferred Securities, to such Holder as such Holder’s name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, to First Citizens BancShares, Inc. 3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604, Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or to such other address as may be specified in a written notice by the Holder of all the Common Securities or the Depositor, as the case may be, to the Property Trustee. Such report, notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Holder or the Depositor shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, within one (1) Business Day following delivery by overnight courier, when telecopied with receipt confirmed, or within three (3) Business Days following delivery by mail, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

(b) Any notice, demand or other communication that by any provision of this Trust Agreement is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees, the Trust, the Placement Agent, or the Purchaser shall be given in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the U.S. mail, personal delivery or facsimile transmission, addressed to such Person as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee to Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, facsimile no. (302) 636-4140; (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration, facsimile no. (302) 636-4140; (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address above for notices to the Depositor, marked “Attention: Administrative Trustees of FCB/NC Capital Trust III,” (d) with respect to the Trust, to its principal executive office specified in Section 2.2 , with a copy to the Property Trustee, (e) with respect to the Placement Agent, to SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc., 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 24 th Floor, Mail Code 3950, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, facsimile no. (404) 813-5000, and (f) with respect to the Purchaser, to SunTrust Equity Funding , LLC, 303 Peachtree Street NW, 26th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, facsimile no. (404) 813-0000. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees.

 

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SECTION 11.9. Agreement Not to Petition.

Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agree for the benefit of the Holders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article IX , they shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. If the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 11.9 , the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Holders, that at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the applicable bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be estopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Property Trustee or the Trust may assert.

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Amended and Restated Trust Agreement as of the day and year first above written.

 

     

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.,

as Depositor

      By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

      Name:   Kenneth A. Black
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee     Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee
By:  

/s/ W. T. Morris, II

    By:  

/s/ W. T. Morris, II

Name:   W. Thomas Morris, II     Name:   W. Thomas Morris, II
Title:   Assistant Vice President     Title:   Assistant Vice President
 

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

     

/s/ John H. Gray

Name:   Kenneth A. Black     Name:   John H. Gray
  Administrative Trustee       Administrative Trustee


Exhibit A

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

OF

FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST III

This Certificate of Trust of FCB/NC Capital Trust III (the “Trust”) is being duly executed and filed on behalf of the Trust by the undersigned, as trustee, to form a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del . C. §3801 et seq .) (the “Act”).

1. Name . The name of the statutory trust formed by this Certificate of Trust is: FCB/NC Capital Trust III.

2. Trustee . The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust with its principal place of business in the State of Delaware are Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-0001, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

3. Effective Date . This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has duly executed this Certificate of Trust in accordance with Section 3811(a)(1) of the Act.

 

Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely as trustee

By:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

A-1


Exhibit B

[FORM OF COMMON SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]

THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES

ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER

APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR

OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM

REGISTRATION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN

COMPLIANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAW AND SECTION 5.11 OF THE TRUST

AGREEMENT

 

Certificate Number

 

            C-

   3,557 Common Securities

Certificate Evidencing Common Securities

of

FCB/NC Capital Trust III

Floating Rate Common Securities

(liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)

FCB/NC Capital Trust III, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of 3,557 common securities of the Trust representing undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the FCB/NC Capital Trust III Floating Rate Common Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the “Common Securities”). Except in accordance with Section 5.11 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any attempted transfer hereof other than in accordance therewith shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of May 18, 2006, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Trust Agreement”), among First Citizens BancShares, Inc., as Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders, from time to time, of Trust Securities. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Trust Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.

Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

 

B-1


This Common Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

Terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Trust Agreement.

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the Trust this certificate this 18th day of May, 2006.

 

FCB/NC Capital Trust III
By:  

 

Name:   Kenneth A. Black
  Administrative Trustee

 

B-2


Exhibit C

[FORM OF PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE]

“THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE TRUST AGREEMENT HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (“DTC”) OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE TRUST AGREEMENT, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST III OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR THAT (A) SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE TRUST OR THE DEPOSITOR, (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE

 

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ACCOUNT OF AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION AND, IN THE CASE OF (III) OR (V), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE DEPOSITOR TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY PREFERRED SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

THE PREFERRED SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF THE LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF OR DISTRIBUTIONS ON SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH PREFERRED SECURITIES.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS PREFERRED SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION

 

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4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (THE “FDIC”).

 

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Certificate Number   

115,000 Preferred Securities

$115,000,000 Aggregate Liquidation

Amount

CUSIP NUMBERS

302346 AA 9

U06778 AA 9

Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities

of

FCB/NC Capital Trust III

Floating Rate Preferred Securities

(liquidation amount $1,000 per Preferred Security)

FCB/NC Capital Trust III, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Trust”), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the “Holder”) is the registered owner of 115,000 Preferred Securities, or such other number of Preferred Securities represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Trust Agreement (as defined below), of the Trust representing an undivided preferred beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the FCB/NC Capital Trust III Floating Rate Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Preferred Security) (the “Preferred Securities”). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.7 of the Trust Agreement (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the Trust, dated as of May 18, 2006, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Trust Agreement”), among First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Depositor, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders, from time to time, of Trust Securities. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by First Citizens BancShares, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of May 18, 2006, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Guarantee Agreement”), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of each of the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Property Trustee at its principal place of business or registered office.

 

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Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Trust Agreement and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

This Preferred Securities Certificate shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Preferred Securities Certificate are used with the meanings specified in the Trust Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits thereto.

I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed on behalf of the Trust this certificate this 18th day of May, 2006.

 

FCB/NC C APITAL T RUST III
By:  

 

Name:   Kenneth A. Black
  Administrative Trustee

This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Trust Agreement.

 

Dated: May 18, 2006    
    Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Property Trustee
  By:  

 

    Authorized officer

 

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[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

The Trust promises to pay Distributions from May 18, 2006, or from the most recent Distribution Date to which Distributions have been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on June 30, 2006, at an annual rate equal to 6.922500% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) June 30, 2006 and for each successive period beginning on (and including) June 30, 2006, and each successive Distribution Date, at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Date equal to LIBOR plus 1.75% of the Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities represented by this Preferred Securities Certificate, together with any Additional Interest Amounts, in respect to such period.

Distributions on the Trust Securities shall be made by the Paying Agent from the Payment Account and shall be payable on each Distribution Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Distributions.

In the event (and to the extent) that the Depositor exercises its right under the Indenture to defer the payment of interest on the Notes, Distributions on the Preferred Securities shall be deferred.

Under the Indenture, so long as no Note Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Depositor shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the Notes, to defer the payment of interest on the Notes for a period of up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable). No interest on the Notes shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which amounts would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or until funds for the payment thereof have been made available for payment. If Distributions are deferred, the deferred Distributions (including Additional Interest Amounts) shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Trust Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such termination date.

Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such Distributions in the Payment Account of the Trust. The Trust’s funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to payments received from the Depositor. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Depositor pursuant to the Guarantee Agreement.

 

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During any such Extension Period, the Depositor shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Depositor’s capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Depositor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Notes (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Depositor in connection with (1) any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (2) a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (3) the issuance of capital stock of the Depositor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary (as defined in the Indenture) of the Depositor) for any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Depositor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Depositor’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Depositor’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend or distribution in connection with any Rights Plan (as defined in the Indenture), the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (e) any dividend or distribution in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend or distribution stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend or distribution is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).

On each Note Redemption Date, on the stated maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the Notes and on each other date on (or in respect of) which any principal on the Notes is repaid, the Trust will be required to redeem a Like Amount of Trust Securities at the Redemption Price. Under the Indenture, the Notes may be redeemed by the Depositor on any Interest Payment Date, at the Depositor’s option, on or after June 30, 2011 in whole or in part from time to time at a redemption price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof or the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption; provided , that the Depositor shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required. The Notes may also be redeemed by the Depositor, at its option, at any time, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event at the Special Event Redemption Price.

The Trust Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at the Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous redemption or payment at maturity of Notes. Redemptions of the Trust Securities (or portion thereof) shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has funds then on hand and available in the Payment Account for the payment of such Redemption Price.

Payments of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amounts), the Redemption Price, Liquidation Amount or any other amounts in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be

 

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made by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register. If any Preferred Securities are held by a Depositary, such Distributions shall be made to the Depositary in immediately available funds.

The indebtedness evidenced by the Notes is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined in the Indenture), and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.

 

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ASSIGNMENT

F OR V ALUE R ECEIVED , the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Securities Certificate to:

(Insert assignee’s social security or tax identification number)

(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints

agent to transfer this Preferred Securities Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

 

Date:  

 

 

Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Securities Certificate)

The signature(s) should be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program), pursuant to S.E.C. Rule 17Ad-15.

 

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Exhibit D

Junior Subordinated Indenture

 

D-1


Exhibit E

FORM OF TRANSFEREE CERTIFICATE

TO BE EXECUTED BY TRANSFEREES OTHER THAN QIBS

                     , [    ]

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

FCB/NC Capital Trust III

3128 Smoketree Court

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

 

  Re: Purchase of $1,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Preferred
       Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of FCB/NC Capital Trust III

Ladies and Gentlemen:

In connection with our purchase of the Preferred Securities we confirm that:

1. We understand that the Floating Rate Preferred Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of FCB/NC Capital Trust III (the “Trust”) (including the guarantee (the “Guarantee”) of First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Company”) executed in connection therewith) and the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Notes due 2036 of the Company (the “Subordinated Notes”) (the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee and the Subordinated Notes together being referred to herein as the “Offered Securities”), have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and may not be offered or sold except as permitted in the following sentence. We agree on our own behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing the Offered Securities that, if we decide to offer, sell or otherwise transfer any such Offered Securities, (i) such offer, sale or transfer will be made only (a) to the Trust or the Company, (b) to a person we reasonably believe is a “qualified institutional buyer” (a “QIB”) (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act) in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A, (c) to an institutional “accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act that is acquiring Offered Securities for its own account, or for the account of such an “accredited investor,” for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act, (d) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or (e) pursuant to an exemption from the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other applicable jurisdiction and, in the case of (c) or (e), subject to the right of the Trust and the Company to require an opinion of counsel and other information satisfactory to each of them. The foregoing restrictions on resale will not apply subsequent to the date on which, in the written opinion of counsel, the Preferred Securities are not “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. If any resale or other transfer of the Offered Securities is proposed to be made pursuant to clause (c) or (e) above, the transferor shall deliver a letter from the transferee substantially in the form of this letter to the Company and the Property Trustee as Transfer Agent, which shall provide as applicable, among other things, that the transferee is an “accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act that is acquiring such Securities for investment purposes and not for

 

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distribution in violation of the Securities Act. We acknowledge on our behalf and on behalf of any investor account for which we are purchasing Securities that the Trust and the Company reserve the right prior to any offer, sale or other transfer pursuant to clause (c) or (e) to require the delivery of any opinion of counsel, certifications and/or other information satisfactory to the Trust and the Company. We understand that the certificates for any Offered Security that we receive will bear a legend substantially to the effect of the foregoing.

2. We are an “accredited investor” within the meaning of subparagraph (a) (1), (2), (3) or (7) of Rule 501 under the Securities Act purchasing for our own account or for the account of such an “accredited investor,” and we are acquiring the Offered Securities for investment purposes and not with view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the Securities Act, and we have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of our investment in the Offered Securities, and we and any account for which we are acting are each able to bear the economic risks of our or its investment.

3. We are acquiring the Offered Securities purchased by us for our own account (or for one or more accounts as to each of which we exercise sole investment discretion and have authority to make, and do make, the statements contained in this letter) and not with a view to any distribution of the Offered Securities, subject, nevertheless, to the understanding that the disposition of our property will at all times be and remain within our control.

4. In the event that we purchase any Preferred Securities or any Subordinated Notes, we will acquire such Preferred Securities having an aggregate stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000 or such Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount not less than $100,000, for our own account and for each separate account for which we are acting.

5. We acknowledge that we either (A) are not a fiduciary of a employee benefit, individual retirement account or other plan or arrangement subject to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) (each a “Plan”), or an entity whose underlying assets include “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity, and are not purchasing the Offered Securities on behalf of or with “plan assets” by reason of any Plan’s investment in the entity, (B) are eligible for the exemptive relief available under one or more of the following prohibited transaction class exemptions (“PTCEs”) issued by the U.S. Department of Labor: PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption, or (C) our purchase and holding of this security, or any interest therein, is not prohibited by Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect to such purchase or holding.

6. We acknowledge that the Trust and the Company and others will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agree that if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements deemed to have been made by our purchase of the Offered Securities are no longer accurate, we shall promptly notify the Company. If we are acquiring any Offered Securities as a fiduciary or agent for one or more investor accounts, we represent that we have sole discretion with respect to each such investor account and that we have full power to make the foregoing acknowledgments, representations and agreement on behalf of each such investor account.

 

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(Name of Purchaser)

 

By:  

 

Date:  

 

Upon transfer, the Offered Securities would be registered in the name of the new beneficial owner as follows.

 

Name:  

 

Address:  

 

Taxpayer ID Number:  

 

 

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Exhibit F

FORM OF TRANSFEROR CERTIFICATE

TO BE EXECUTED FOR QIBs

                     , [    ]

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

FCB/NC Capital Trust III

3128 Smoketree Court

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

Re: Purchase of a minimum aggregate of $100,000 stated liquidation amount of Floating Rate Preferred Securities (the “Preferred Securities”) of FCB/NC Capital Trust III

Reference is hereby made to the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of FCB/NC Capital Trust III, dated as of May 18, 2006 (the “Trust Agreement”), among Kenneth A. Black and John H. Gray, as Administrative Trustees, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Property Trustee, First Citizens BancShares, Inc., as Depositor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of FCB/NC Capital Trust III. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given them in the Trust Agreement.

This letter relates to $                              aggregate liquidation amount of Preferred Securities which are held in the name of                      (the “Transferor”).

In accordance with Article V of the Trust Agreement, the Transferor hereby certifies that such Preferred Securities are being transferred in accordance with (i) the transfer restrictions set forth in the Preferred Securities and (ii) Rule 144A under the Securities Act (“Rule 144A”), to a transferee that the Transferor reasonably believes is purchasing the Preferred Securities for its own account or an account with respect to which the transferee exercises sole investment discretion and the transferee and any such account is a “qualified institutional buyer” within the meaning of Rule 144A, in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A and in accordance with applicable securities laws of any state of the United States or any other jurisdiction.

You are entitled to rely upon this letter and are irrevocably authorized to produce this letter or a copy hereof to any interested party in any administrative or legal proceeding or official inquiry with respect to the matters covered hereby.

 

      (Name of Transferor)
      By:  

 

      Name:  
      Title:  
Date:  

 

     

 

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Exhibit G

Officer’s Certificate*

The undersigned, the [Chief Financial Officer] [Treasurer] [Executive Vice President] hereby certifies, pursuant to Section 8.16(b) of the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006, among First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Company”), Wilmington Trust Company, as property trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware trustee and the administrative trustees named therein, that, as of [date], [20__], the Company had the following ratios and balances:

 

BANK HOLDING COMPANY

As of [Quarterly Financial Dates]

  
Tier 1 Risk Weighted Assets                           %
Ratio of Double Leverage                           %
Non-Performing Assets to Loans and OREO                           %
Tangible Common Equity as a Percentage of Tangible Assets                           %
Ratio of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans                           %
Ratio of Net Charge-Offs to Loans                           %
Return on Average Assets (annualized)                           %
Net Interest Margin (annualized)                           %
Efficiency Ratio                           %
Ratio of Loans to Assets                           %
Ratio of Loans to Deposits                           %
Total Assets    $                      
Year to Date Income    $                      

* A table describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page __

[ FOR FISCAL YEAR END: Attached hereto are the audited consolidated financial statements (including the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, and notes thereto, together with the report of the independent accountants thereon) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three years ended                      , 20      .]

[ FOR FISCAL QUARTER END: Attached hereto are the unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial statements (including the balance sheet and income statement) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter] ended [date], 20      .

 

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The financial statements fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the date, and for the [          quarter interim] [annual] period ended [date], 20__, and such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period involved (expect as otherwise noted therein).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate as of this      day of                      , 20     

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

3128 Smoketree Court

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

(919) 716-7336

 


* Pursuant to Section 8.16(b), as long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and such financial statements are available on EDGAR on the SEC’s website, neither it nor the Trust need furnish this Officer’s Certificate.

 

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Financial Definitions

 

Report Item

  

Corresponding FRY-9C or LP Line Items with

Line Item corresponding Schedules

  

Description of

Calculation

Tier 1 Risk

Weighted Assets

  

BHCK7206

Schedule HC-R

   Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/ Risk-Adjusted Assets

Ratio of Double

Leverage

  

(BHCP0365)/(BCHCP3210)

Schedule PC in the LP

   Total equity investments in subsidiaries divided by the total equity capital. This field is calculated at the parent company level. “Subsidiaries” include bank, bank holding company, and non-bank subsidiaries.

Non-Performing

Assets to Loans

and OREO

   (BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507+BHCK2744)/(BHCK2122+BHCK2744) Schedules HC-C, HC-M & HC-N    Total Nonperforming Assets (NPLs+Foreclosed Real Estate+Other Nonaccrual & Repossessed Assets)/Total Loans+Foreclosed Real Estate

Tangible Common

Equity as a

Percentage of

Tangible Assets

  

(BHDM3210-BHCK3163)/(BHCK2170-BHCK3163)

Schedule HC

   (Equity Capital – Goodwill)/(Total Assets – Goodwill)

Ratio of Reserves

to Non-Performing

Loans

  

(BHCK3123+BHCK3128)/(BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507)

Schedules HC & HC-N & HC-R

   Total Loan Loss and Allocated Transfer Risk Reserves/ Total Nonperforming Loans (Nonaccrual + Restructured)

Ratio of Net

Charge-Offs to

Loans

  

(BHCK4635-BHCK4605)/(BHCK3516)

Schedules HC-B & HC-K

   Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of average loans.

Return on Average

Assets

(annualized)

  

(BHCK4340/BHCK3368)

Schedules HI & HC-K

   Net Income as a percentage of Assets.

Net Interest

Margin

(annualized)

  

(BHCK4519)/(BHCK3515+BHCK3365+BHCK3516+BHCK3401+BHCKB985)

Schedules HI Memorandum and HC-K

   (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available/Average Earning Assets)

 

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Report Item

  

Corresponding FRY-9C or LP Line Items with

Line Item corresponding Schedules

  

Description of

Calculation

Efficiency Ratio   

(BHCK4093)/(BHCK4519+BHCK4079)

Schedule HI

   (Non-interest Expense)/(Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available, plus Non-interest Income)

Ratio of Loans to

Assets

  

(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHCK2170)

Schedule HC

   Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total Assets

Ratio of Loans to

Deposits

  

(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHDM6631+BHDM6636+BHFN6631+BHFN6636)

Schedule HC

   Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total Deposits (Includes Domestic and Foreign Deposits)
Total Assets   

(BHCK2170)

Schedule HC

   The sum of total assets. Includes cash and balances due from depository institutions; securities; federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell; loans and lease financing receivables; trading assets; premises and fixed assets; other real estate owned; investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies; customer’s liability on acceptances outstanding; intangible assets; and other assets.
Net Income   

(BHCK4300)

Schedule HI

   The sum of income (loss) before extraordinary items and other adjustments and extraordinary items; and other adjustments, net of income taxes.

 

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Financial Definitions

THRIFT HOLDING COMPANY

 

Report Item

  

Corresponding TFR

  

Description of

Calculation

Tier I Risk Weighted

Assets

  

Schedule CCR – Consolidated Capital Requirement

CCR 830

   Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/Risk-adjusted assets

Ratio of Double

Leverage

   Not applicable    Not applicable

Non-performing assets to

loans and OREO

  

Schedule PD – Consolidated Past Due and Nonaccrual

Schedule SC – Consolidated Statement of Condition

PD30/(SC23+SC30+SC34+SC40)

   Total Non-performing assets (NPLs + Foreclosed Real Estate+Other Non-accrual & Repossessed assets+Foreclosed Real Estate)

Tangible Common

Equity as a Percentage of

Total Assets

  

Schedule CCR

CCR 840

   (Equity Capital-Goodwill) / (Total assets – Goodwill)

Ratio of Reserves to

Non-performing loans

   SC283/PD30    Total loan loss reserves / Total Non-performing loans

Ratio of Net Charge -offs

to Loans

  

Schedule VA – Consolidated Valuation Allowances and Related Data

(VA155-VA135)/(SC23+SC30+SC34)

   Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of average loans
Return on Assets (annualized)   

Schedule SO – Consolidated Statements of Operations

SO91/SC60

   Net income as a percentage of assets

Net interest margin

(annualized)

   SO311/((SC10-SC110)+SC20+SC23+SC30+SC34)    Net interest income / Average earning assets
Efficiency Ratio    (SO51/(SO311+SO40))    (Non-interest expense) / (Net interest income + Non-interest income)

Ratio of Loans to

Assets

   (SC23+SC30+SC34)/(SC60)    Total Loan & Leases / Total assets

Ratio of Loans to

Deposits

   (SC23+SC30+SC34)/(SC710)    Total Loans & Leases / Total Deposits
Total Assets   

Schedule SC

SC60

   The sum of total assets.
Net Income   

Schedule SO

SO91

   The sum of income (loss).

 

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Schedule A

DETERMINATION OF LIBOR

With respect to the Trust Securities, the London interbank offered rate (“LIBOR”) shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions (in each case rounded to the nearest .000001%):

(1) On the second LIBOR Business Day (as defined below) prior to a Distribution Date (except, with respect to the first distribution payment period, on May 16, 2006) (each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date”), LIBOR for any given security shall, for the following distribution period, equal the rate, as obtained by the Calculation Agent from Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News, for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 1991 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions), or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date.

(2) If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that leading banks in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market; provided , that if the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR shall be LIBOR as determined on the previous LIBOR Determination Date.

(3) As used herein: “Reference Banks” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent; and “LIBOR Business Day” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London.

 

Schedule A-1

Exhibit 4.2

 


GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

between

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.,

As Guarantor,

and

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

As Guarantee Trustee

Dated as of May 18, 2006

FCB/NC CAPITAL TRUST III

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I   INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS    2
SECTION 1.1   Interpretation.    2
SECTION 1.2   Definitions.    2
ARTICLE II   REPORTS    6
SECTION 2.1   List of Holders.    6
SECTION 2.2   Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.    6
SECTION 2.3   Event of Default; Waiver.    6
SECTION 2.4   Event of Default; Notice.    7
ARTICLE III   POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE    7
SECTION 3.1   Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.    7
SECTION 3.2   Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee.    8
SECTION 3.3   Compensation.    10
SECTION 3.4   Indemnity.    10
SECTION 3.5   Securities.    11
ARTICLE IV   GUARANTEE TRUSTEE    11
SECTION 4.1   Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.    11
SECTION 4.2   Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.    11
ARTICLE V   GUARANTEE    12
SECTION 5.1   Guarantee.    12
SECTION 5.2   Waiver of Notice and Demand.    13
SECTION 5.3   Obligations Not Affected.    13
SECTION 5.4   Rights of Holders.    14
SECTION 5.5   Guarantee of Payment.    14
SECTION 5.6   Subrogation.    14
SECTION 5.7   Independent Obligations.    14
SECTION 5.8   Enforcement.    15
ARTICLE VI   COVENANTS AND SUBORDINATION    15
SECTION 6.1   Dividends, Distributions and Payments.    15
SECTION 6.2   Subordination.    16
SECTION 6.3   Pari Passu Guarantees.    16
ARTICLE VII   TERMINATION    16
SECTION 7.1   Termination.    16
ARTICLE VIII   MISCELLANEOUS    17
SECTION 8.1   Successors and Assigns.    17
SECTION 8.2   Amendments.    17
SECTION 8.3   Notices.    17
SECTION 8.4   Benefit.    18

 

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SECTION 8.5   Governing Law.    18
SECTION 8.6   Submission to Jurisdiction.    18
SECTION 8.7   Counterparts.    19

 

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G UARANTEE A GREEMENT , dated as of May 18, 2006, executed and delivered by F IRST C ITIZENS B ANC S HARES , I NC ., a Delaware corporation (the “Guarantor” ) having its principal office at 3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604, and W ILMINGTON T RUST C OMPANY , a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (in such capacity, the “Guarantee Trustee” ), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of FCB/NC Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Issuer” ).

W I T N E S S E T H :

W HEREAS , pursuant to an Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Trust Agreement” ), among the Guarantor, as Depositor, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein and the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as hereinafter defined), the Issuer is issuing $115,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of its Floating Rate Preferred Securities (Liquidation Amount $1,000 per preferred security) (the “Preferred Securities” ) representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Trust Agreement;

W HEREAS , the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer’s Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the Notes (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Guarantor; and

W HEREAS , as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein.


N OW , T HEREFORE , in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement to provide as follows for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities:

ARTICLE I

I NTERPRETATION AND D EFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 Interpretation.

In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in the preamble hereof have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.2 ;

(b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;

(c) all references to “the Guarantee Agreement” or “this Guarantee Agreement” are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

(d) all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise specified;

(e) the words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Guarantee Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and

(g) a reference to the masculine, feminine or neuter gender herein shall include all of the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

SECTION 1.2 Definitions .

As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; provided , that the Issuer shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate of the Guarantor. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

“Beneficiaries” means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable.

 

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“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Guarantor or any duly authorized committee of that board.

“Common Securities” means the securities representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

“Debt” means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred, and whether or not contingent and without duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all indebtedness of such Person, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Guarantee Agreement or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, options, swaps and similar arrangements; (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; and (viii) any renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii).

“Event of Default” means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided , that except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, the Guarantor shall have received notice of default from the Guarantee Trustee and shall not have cured such default within thirty (30) days after receipt of such notice.

“Guarantee Payments” means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Trust Agreement) required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the Trust Agreement) with respect to any Preferred Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination, winding up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Notes are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Preferred Security plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent that

 

3


the Issuer shall have funds available therefor at such time and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer in accordance with applicable law (in either case, the “Liquidation Distribution” ).

“Guarantee Trustee” means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee, as defined below, has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement, and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

“Holder” means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided , that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, “Holder” shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.

“Indenture” means the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of the date hereof, as supplemented and amended, between the Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee.

“List of Holders” has the meaning specified in Section 2.1.

“Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities” means a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all then outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.

“Obligations” means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities.

“Officers’ Certificate” means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, President, Vice Chairman or a Vice President of such Person, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers’ Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement (other than the certificate provided pursuant to Section 2.4 ) shall include:

(a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers’ Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

(b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers’ Certificate;

 

4


(c) a statement that each officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer’s opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

“Person” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity of whatever nature.

“Responsible Officer” means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Financial Services Officer or Assistant Financial Services Officer or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Guarantee Trustee and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

“Senior Debt” means the principal of and any premium and interest on (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Guarantor whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) all Debt of the Guarantor, whether incurred on or prior to the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Preferred Securities; provided, however , that if the Guarantor is subject to the regulation and supervision of an “appropriate Federal banking agency” within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 1813(q), the Guarantor shall have received the approval of such appropriate Federal banking agency prior to issuing any such obligation if not otherwise generally approved or unless such approval is not required by the regulations of the appropriate Federal banking agency; provided further , that Senior Debt shall not include any other debt securities, and guarantees in respect of such debt securities, issued to any trust other than the Issuer (or a trustee of such trust), partnership or other entity affiliated with the Guarantor that is a financing vehicle of the Guarantor (a “financing entity”), in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of equity securities or other securities that are treated as equity capital for regulatory capital purposes guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to this Guarantee Agreement, including, without limitation, securities issued by FCB/NC Capital Trust I and FCB/NC Capital Trust II.

 

5


“Successor Guarantee Trustee” means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date of this Guarantee Agreement.

Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Trust Agreement as in effect on the date hereof.

ARTICLE II

R EPORTS

SECTION 2.1 List of Holders.

The Guarantor shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee at such times as the Guarantee Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Guarantor of any such request, a list, in such form as the Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders (the “List of Holders” ) as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Guarantor and is not identical to a previously supplied list of Holders or has not otherwise been received by the Guarantee Trustee in its capacity as such. The Guarantee Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

SECTION 2.2 Periodic Reports to the Guarantee Trustee.

The Guarantor shall deliver to the Guarantee Trustee, within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Guarantor ending after the date of this Guarantee Agreement, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding fiscal year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Guarantor is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms or provisions or any of the conditions of this Guarantee Agreement (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Guarantor shall be in default thereof, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they have knowledge.

SECTION 2.3 Event of Default; Waiver.

The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities may, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.

 

6


SECTION 2.4 Event of Default; Notice.

(a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of a default, transmit to the Holders notices of all defaults actually known to the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice, provided , that, except in the case of a default in the payment of a Guarantee Payment, the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders. For the purpose of this Section 2.4 , the term “default” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Guarantee Agreement shall have obtained written notice, of such Event of Default from the Guarantor or a Holder.

ARTICLE III

P OWERS , D UTIES A ND R IGHTS O F T HE G UARANTEE T RUSTEE

SECTION 3.1 Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.

(a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any Person except a Holder exercising its rights pursuant to Section 5.4(d) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, upon acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment hereunder, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

(b) The rights, immunities, duties and responsibilities of the Guarantee Trustee shall be as provided by this Guarantee Agreement and there shall be no other duties or obligations, express or implied, of the Guarantee Trustee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provisions of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not herein expressly so

 

7


provided, every provision of this Guarantee Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Guarantee Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 3.1 . To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Guarantee Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Guarantor or the Holders, the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder for the Guarantee Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Guarantee Agreement. The provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Guarantee Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Guarantor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Guarantee Trustee.

(c) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or own willful misconduct, except that:

(i) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; and

(ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement.

SECTION 3.2 Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee.

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1 :

(i) the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties;

(ii) any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate unless otherwise prescribed herein;

(iii) the Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken

 

8


by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may be one of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent jurisdiction;

(iv) the Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided , that, nothing contained in this Section  3.2(a)(iv) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement;

(v) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Guarantor, personally or by agent or attorney;

(vi) the Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(vii) whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (C) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;

(viii) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Guarantee Agreement; and

 

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(ix) whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and rely upon an Officers’ Certificate which, upon receipt of such request from the Guarantee Trustee, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.

(b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty to act in accordance with such power and authority.

SECTION 3.3 Compensation.

The Guarantor agrees to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provisions of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its attorneys and agents) incurred or made by the Guarantee Trustee in accordance with any provisions of this Guarantee Agreement.

SECTION 3.4 Indemnity.

The Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Guarantee Trustee and any of its Affiliates and any of their officers, directors, shareholders, employees, representatives or agents from and against any loss, damage, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to Section 3.3 ), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee Payments as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement. This indemnity shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee.

In no event shall the Guarantee Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the Guarantee Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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In no event shall the Guarantee Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo or government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Guarantee Agreement.

SECTION 3.5 Securities.

The Guarantee Trustee or any other agent of the Guarantee Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Common or Preferred Securities.

ARTICLE IV

G UARANTEE T RUSTEE

SECTION 4.1 Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility .

(a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:

(i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and

(ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any State thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million dollars ($50,000,000), subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority and having an office within the United States. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 4.1 , the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

(b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a) , the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c) .

(c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c) .

SECTION 4.2 Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.

(a) Subject to Section 4.2(b) , the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor, except during an Event of Default.

 

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(b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

(c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed hereunder shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.

(d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within thirty (30) days after delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Guarantee Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Guarantor, any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.

ARTICLE V

G UARANTEE

SECTION 5.1 Guarantee.

(a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except for the defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor’s obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. The Guarantor shall give prompt written notice to the Guarantee Trustee in the event it makes any direct payment to the Holders hereunder.

(b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer, and, in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and

 

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unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof.

SECTION 5.2 Waiver of Notice and Demand.

The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

SECTION 5.3 Obligations Not Affected.

The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:

(a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;

(b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Notes as provided in the Indenture), Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Preferred Securities;

(c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;

(d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;

(e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Preferred Securities;

(f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or

 

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(g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.

SECTION 5.4 Rights of Holders.

The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (a) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (b) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (c) the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and (d) any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person.

SECTION 5.5 Guarantee of Payment.

This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Notes to Holders as provided in the Trust Agreement.

SECTION 5.6 Subrogation.

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement and shall have the right to waive payment by the Issuer pursuant to Section 5.1 ; provided , that, the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

SECTION 5.7 Independent Obligations.

The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 .

 

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SECTION 5.8 Enforcement.

A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 5.1(b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor.

ARTICLE VI

C OVENANTS AND S UBORDINATION

SECTION 6.1 Dividends, Distributions and Payments .

So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or the Guarantor shall have entered into an Extension Period as provided for in the Indenture and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor may not (a) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Notes issued pursuant to the Indenture (other than (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of such Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (ii) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock or any class or series of the Guarantor’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor’s capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any rights plan, the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any rights plan or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (v) any dividend or distribution in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend or distribution stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend or distribution is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock) or dividends or distributions in shares of, or options warrants, rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Guarantor.

 

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SECTION 6.2 Subordination.

The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement will constitute unsecured obligations of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Guarantor to the extent and in the same manner that the Notes are subordinated to Senior Debt pursuant to the Indenture, it being understood that the terms of Article XII of the Indenture shall apply to the obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement as if such provisions were set forth in full herein.

SECTION 6.3 Pari Passu Guarantees.

(a) The obligations of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under any similar guarantee agreements issued by the Guarantor with respect to preferred securities (if any) similar to the Preferred Securities, issued by trusts other than the Issuer established or to be established by the Guarantor (if any), in each case similar to the Issuer, including, without limitation, the Guarantee Agreements, issued by the Guarantor with respect to the preferred securities issued by FCB/NC Capital Trust I and FCB/NC Capital Trust II.

(b) The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor’s obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Debt of the Guarantor, under any indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.

ARTICLE VII

T ERMINATION

SECTION 7.1 Termination.

This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon (a) full payment of the Redemption Price of all Preferred Securities, (b) the distribution of Notes to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities or (c) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Trust Agreement upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement. The obligations of the Guarantor under Sections 3.3 and 3.4 shall survive any such termination or the resignation and removal of the Guarantee Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

M ISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1 Successors and Assigns.

All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article VIII of the Indenture and pursuant to which the successor or assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor’s obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its rights or delegate its obligations hereunder without the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 8.2 Amendments.

Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders of not less than a Majority in Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article VI of the Trust Agreement concerning meetings or consents of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval.

SECTION 8.3 Notices.

Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:

(a) if given to the Guarantor, to the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the Guarantor may give by notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

3128 Smoketree Court

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

Facsimile No.: (919) 716-2844

Attention: Chief Financial Officer

(b) if given to the Issuer, at the Issuer’s address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the Issuer may give by notice to the Guarantee Trustee and the Holders:

FCB/NC Capital Trust III

c/o First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

3128 Smoketree Court

Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

Facsimile No.: (919) 716-2844

Attention: Administrative Trustee

 

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(c) if given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the address or facsimile number set forth below or such other address, facsimile number or to the attention of such other Person as the Guarantee Trustee may give by notice to the Guarantor and the Holders:

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market St.

Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600

Facsimile No.: (302) 636-4140

Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

(d) if given to any Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.

All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 8.4 Benefit.

This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 8.5 Governing Law.

This Guarantee Agreement and the rights and obligations of each party hereto, shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

SECTION 8.6 Submission to Jurisdiction.

ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO OR WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT MAY BE BROUGHT IN OR REMOVED TO THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (IN EACH CASE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN). BY

 

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EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, EACH PARTY ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS (AND COURTS OF APPEALS THEREFROM) FOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT.

SECTION 8.7 Counterparts.

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[THE NEXT PAGE IS THE SIGNATURE PAGE]

 

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I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the undersigned have executed this Guarantee Agreement as of the date first above written.

 

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

Name:   Kenneth Black
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Guarantee Trustee
By:  

/s/ W. T. Morris, II

Name   W. Thomas Morris, II
Title:   Assistant Vice President

Exhibit 4.3

 


JUNIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

between

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.

and

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as Trustee

 


Dated as of May 18, 2006

 


 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
ARTICLE I Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application    1
   SECTION 1.1. Definitions.    1
   SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions.    10
   SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.    11
   SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders.    11
   SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc.    13
   SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.    14
   SECTION 1.7. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.    14
   SECTION 1.8. Successors and Assigns.    14
   SECTION 1.9. Separability Clause.    14
   SECTION 1.10. Benefits of Indenture.    15
   SECTION 1.11. Governing Law.    15
   SECTION 1.12. Submission to Jurisdiction.    15
   SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.    15
ARTICLE II Security Forms    16
   SECTION 2.1. Form of Security.    16
   SECTION 2.2. Restrictive Legend.    21
   SECTION 2.3. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.    23
   SECTION 2.4. Temporary Securities.    23
   SECTION 2.5. Definitive Securities.    24
ARTICLE III The Securities    24
   SECTION 3.1. Payment of Principal and Interest.    24
   SECTION 3.2. Denominations.    26
   SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.    26
   SECTION 3.4. Global Securities.    27
   SECTION 3.5. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally.    29
   SECTION 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.    30
   SECTION 3.7. Persons Deemed Owners.    30
   SECTION 3.8. Cancellation.    31
   SECTION 3.9. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.    31
   SECTION 3.10. Right of Set-Off.    32
   SECTION 3.11. Agreed Tax Treatment.    32
   SECTION 3.12. CUSIP Numbers.    32

 

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ARTICLE IV Satisfaction and Discharge    32
  SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.    32
  SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money.    34
ARTICLE V Remedies    34
  SECTION 5.1. Events of Default.    34
  SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.    35
  SECTION 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.    36
  SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.    37
  SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.    37
  SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected.    37
  SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits.    38
  SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Securities.    39
  SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.    39
  SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.    39
  SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.    39
  SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.    40
  SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.    40
  SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.    40
  SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.    41
ARTICLE VI The Trustee    41
  SECTION 6.1. Corporate Trustee Required.    41
  SECTION 6.2. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.    41
  SECTION 6.3. Notice of Defaults.    43
  SECTION 6.4. Certain Rights of Trustee.    43
  SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities.    45
  SECTION 6.6. Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.    45
  SECTION 6.7. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.    46
  SECTION 6.8. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.    47
  SECTION 6.9. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.    47
  SECTION 6.10. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.    47
  SECTION 6.11. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.    48
ARTICLE VII Holder’s Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company    49
  SECTION 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.    49
  SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.    49
  SECTION 7.3. Reports by Company and Trustee.    50

 

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ARTICLE VIII Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease    50
   SECTION 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.    50
   SECTION 8.2. Successor Company Substituted.    51
ARTICLE IX Supplemental Indentures    52
   SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.    52
   SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.    52
   SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.    53
   SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.    53
   SECTION 9.5. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.    53
ARTICLE X Covenants    54
   SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.    54
   SECTION 10.2. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.    54
   SECTION 10.3. Statement as to Compliance.    55
   SECTION 10.4. Calculation Agent.    55
   SECTION 10.5. Additional Tax Sums.    56
   SECTION 10.6. Additional Covenants.    56
   SECTION 10.7. Waiver of Covenants.    57
   SECTION 10.8. Treatment of Securities.    57
ARTICLE XI Redemption of Securities    58
   SECTION 11.1. Optional Redemption.    58
   SECTION 11.2. Special Event Redemption.    58
   SECTION 11.3. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.    58
   SECTION 11.4. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.    58
   SECTION 11.5. Notice of Redemption.    59
   SECTION 11.6. Deposit of Redemption Price.    60
   SECTION 11.7. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.    60
ARTICLE XII Subordination of Securities    61
   SECTION 12.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.    61
   SECTION 12.2. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc.    61
   SECTION 12.3. Payment Permitted If No Default.    62
   SECTION 12.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.    63
   SECTION 12.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.    63
   SECTION 12.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.    63
   SECTION 12.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.    64

 

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  SECTION 12.8. Notice to Trustee.    64
  SECTION 12.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.    65
  SECTION 12.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.    65
  SECTION 12.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.    65
  SECTION 12.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.    65

SCHEDULES

 

Schedule A    Determination of LIBOR
Exhibit A    Form of Officer’s Certificate

 

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J UNIOR S UBORDINATED I NDENTURE , dated as of May 18, 2006, between F IRST C ITIZENS B ANC S HARES , I NC ., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and W ILMINGTON T RUST C OMPANY , a Delaware banking corporation, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ”).

R ECITALS OF THE C OMPANY

W HEREAS , the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its unsecured junior subordinated deferrable interest notes (the “ Securities ”) issued to evidence loans made to the Company of the proceeds from the issuance by FCB/NC Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust (the “ Trust ”), of undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the “ Preferred Securities ”) and undivided common beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the “ Common Securities ” and, collectively with the Preferred Securities, the “ Trust Securities ”), and to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered; and

W HEREAS , all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

Now, therefore, this Indenture Witnesseth:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities, as follows:

ARTICLE I

Definitions and Other Provisions of General Application

SECTION 1.1. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) the terms defined in this Article I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I ;

(b) the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”;

(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with GAAP;

(d) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture;

(e) the words “hereby,” “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

1


(f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa; and

(g) the masculine, feminine or neuter genders used herein shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter genders.

Act ” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4 .

Administrative Trustee ” means, with respect to the Trust, a Person identified as an “Administrative Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Administrative Trustee appointed as therein provided.

Additional Interest ” means the interest, if any, that shall accrue on any amounts payable on the Securities, the payment of which has not been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.

Additional Tax Sums ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.5 .

Additional Taxes ” means taxes, duties or other governmental charges imposed on the Trust as a result of a Tax Event (which, for the sake of clarity, does not include amounts required to be deducted or withheld by the Trust from payments made by the Trust to or for the benefit of the Holder of, or any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, the Securities).

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

Applicable Depository Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate the Securities.

Bankruptcy Code ” means Title 11 of the United States Code or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Board of Directors ” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

Board Resolution ” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.

 

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Business Day ” means any day other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, (ii) a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or (iii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is closed for business.

Calculation Agent ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.4 .

Capital Disqualification Event ” means the receipt by the Company of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters that, as a result of an amendment to or a change in law, rule or regulation (including any announced prospective change) or a change in interpretation or application of law, rule or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, the aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will not be eligible to be treated by the Company as “Tier 1 Capital” (or the then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve or other “appropriate Federal banking agency” as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(q), which amendment, change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of issuance of the Securities; provided, however, that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities as Tier 1 Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Disqualification Event if such inability results from the Company having such Preferred Securities outstanding in an amount that for any reason is in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

Common Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company.

Company ” means the Person named as the “ Company ” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “ Company ” shall mean such successor corporation.

Company Request ” and “ Company Order ” mean, respectively, the written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date of this Indenture is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration.

Debt ” means, with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person, whether currently existing or hereafter incurred and whether or not contingent and without duplication, (i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, assets

 

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or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or other accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) all indebtedness of such Person, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, for claims in respect of derivative products, including interest rate, foreign exchange rate and commodity forward contracts, options and swaps and similar arrangements; (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise; and (viii) any renewals, extensions, refundings, amendments or modifications of any obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii).

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.1 .

Delaware Trustee ” means, with respect to the Trust, the Person identified as the “Delaware Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee appointed as therein provided.

Depositary ” means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Company or any successor thereto. DTC will be the initial Depositary.

Depository Participant ” means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary.

Distributions ” means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in the Trust Agreement and referred to therein as “Distributions.”

Dollar ” or “$” means the currency of the United States of America that, as at the time of payment, is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

DTC ” means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1 .

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Expiration Date ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4 .

Extension Period ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.9 .

Federal Reserve ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the staff thereof, or a Federal Reserve Bank, acting through delegated authority, in each case under

 

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the rules, regulations and policies of the Federal Reserve System, or if at any time after the execution of this Indenture any such entity is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it, any successor body performing similar duties or functions.

GAAP ” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, from time to time in effect.

Global Security ” means a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary.

Government Obligation ” means (a) any security that is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (b) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation that is specified in clause (a) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any Government Obligation that is so specified and held, provided , that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

Guarantee Agreement ” means the Guarantee Agreement executed by the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities, as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time.

Holder ” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Securities Register.

Indenture ” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be amended or supplemented by one or more amendments or indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

Interest Payment Date ” means March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on June 30, 2006, during the term of this Indenture.

Investment Company Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Investment Company Event ” means the receipt by the Company of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law, rule or regulation (including any announced prospective change) or a written change in interpretation or application of law, rule or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the

 

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Trust is or, within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion will be, considered an “investment company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Securities.

LIBOR ” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

LIBOR Business Day ” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

LIBOR Determination Date ” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

Maturity ,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or any installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

Notice of Default ” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(d) .

Office of Thrift Supervision ” means the Office of Thrift Supervision, as from time to time constituted or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Office is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it, then the body performing such duties at such time.

Officers’ Certificate ” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company and delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for or an employee of the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

Original Issue Date ” means the date of original issuance of each Security.

Outstanding ” means, when used in reference to any Securities, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(i) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(ii) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided , that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

(iii) Securities that have been paid, or in substitution for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this

 

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Indenture, unless proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by Holders in whose hands such Securities are valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company;

provided , that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Securities initially issued to the Trust that are owned by the Trust shall be deemed to be Outstanding notwithstanding the ownership by the Company or an Affiliate of any beneficial interest in the Trust.

Paying Agent ” means the Trustee or any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on, or other amounts in respect of, any Securities on behalf of the Company.

Person ” means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

Place of Payment ” means, with respect to the Securities, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Placement Agent ” has the meaning specified in the Trust Agreement.

Preferred Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security. For the purposes of this definition, any security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

Proceeding ” has the meaning specified in Section 12.2 .

Property Trustee ” means the Person identified as the “Property Trustee” in the Trust Agreement, solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust under the Trust Agreement and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee appointed as therein provided.

 

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Purchaser ” means SunTrust Equity Funding, LLC, as purchaser of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Subscription Agreement.

Redemption Date ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Redemption Price ” means, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the price at which such security or portion thereof is to be redeemed as fixed by or pursuant to this Indenture.

Reference Banks ” has the meaning specified in Schedule A .

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date with respect to the Securities means the date that is fifteen (15) days preceding such Interest Payment Date (whether or not a Business Day).

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to the Trustee, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, any Financial Services Officer or Assistant Financial Services Officer, or any other officer of the Corporate Trust Department of the Trustee and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Rights Plan ” means a plan of the Company providing for the issuance by the Company to all holders of its Common Stock of rights entitling the holders thereof to subscribe for or purchase shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Company which rights (i) are deemed to be transferred with such shares of such Common Stock and (ii) are also issued in respect of future issuances of such Common Stock, in each case until the occurrence of a specified event or events.

Securities ” or “ Security ” means any debt securities or debt security, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933 or any successor statute thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Securities Register ” and “ Securities Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5 .

Senior Debt ” means the principal of and any premium and interest on (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company, whether or not such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) all Debt of the Company, whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, that such obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Securities; provided, however, that if the Company is subject to the regulation and supervision of an “appropriate Federal banking agency” within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. 1813(q), the Company shall have received the approval of such appropriate Federal banking agency prior to issuing any

 

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such obligation if not otherwise generally approved or unless such approval is not required by the regulations of the appropriate Federal banking agency; provided further, that Senior Debt shall not include any other debt securities, and guarantees in respect of such debt securities, issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of such trust), partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a “financing entity”), in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of equity securities or other securities that are treated as equity capital for regulatory capital purposes guaranteed by the Company pursuant to an instrument that ranks pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Indenture, including, without limitation, the debt securities of the Company issued under the Indenture, dated March 5, 1998, between the Company and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee and the Indenture, dated October 10, 2001, between the Company and Bankers Trust Company, as trustee.

Special Event ” means the occurrence of a Capital Disqualification Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

Special Event Redemption Price ” has the meaning specified in Section 11.2 .

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.1 .

Stated Maturity ” means June 30, 2036.

Subscription Agreement ” means the Preferred Securities Subscription Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006, by and among the Company, the Trust, the Purchaser and SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. (as to certain provisions thereof).

Subsidiary ” means a Person more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock or other voting interests of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock that ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

Tax Event ” means the receipt by the Company of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws, rules or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or (b) any judicial decision or any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or field service advice) or regulatory procedure, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt any such pronouncement or procedure (an “Administrative Action”), regardless of whether such judicial decision or Administrative Action is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, change, judicial decision or Administrative Action is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case, on or after the date of issuance of the Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to

 

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income received or accrued on the Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Securities is not, or within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within ninety (90) days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

Trust ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

Trust Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement executed and delivered by the Company, the Property Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees named therein, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Indenture, for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities, as amended or supplemented from time to time.

Trustee ” means the Person named as the “ Trustee ” in the first paragraph of this instrument, solely in its capacity as such and not in its individual capacity, until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and, thereafter, “ Trustee ” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder.

Trust Indenture Act ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended and as in effect on the date as of this Indenture.

Trust Securities ” has the meaning specified in the first recital of this Indenture.

SECTION 1.2. Compliance Certificate and Opinions.

(a) Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent (including covenants compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent), if any, have been complied with, except that, in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

(b) Every certificate with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate provided pursuant to Section 10.3 ) shall include:

(i) a statement by each individual signing such certificate or opinion that such individual has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions of such individual contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

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(iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

(iv) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

SECTION 1.3. Forms of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

(a) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

(b) Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or after reasonable inquiry should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or after reasonable inquiry should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

(c) Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

(d) Whenever, subsequent to the receipt by the Trustee of any Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or other document or instrument, a clerical, typographical or other inadvertent or unintentional error or omission shall be discovered therein, a new document or instrument may be substituted therefor in corrected form with the same force and effect as if originally received in the corrected form and, irrespective of the date or dates of the actual execution and/or delivery thereof, such substitute document or instrument shall be deemed to have been executed and/or delivered as of the date or dates required with respect to the document or instrument for which it is substituted. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any Securities issued under the authority of such defective document or instrument shall nevertheless be the valid obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and ratably with all other Outstanding Securities.

SECTION 1.4. Acts of Holders.

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given to or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent thereof duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise

 

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expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments (including any appointment of an agent) is or are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.4 .

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine.

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

(d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

(e) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

(f) Except as set forth in paragraph (g) of this Section 1.4 , the Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date (as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect). Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 .

 

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(g) The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration or rescission or annulment thereof referred to in Section 5.2 , (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(b) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12 . If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided , that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect). Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 .

(h) With respect to any record date set pursuant to paragraph (f) or (g) of this Section 1.4 , the party hereto that sets such record date may designate any day as the “ Expiration Date ” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided , that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and to each Holder of Securities in the manner set forth in Section 1.6 , on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section 1.4 , the party hereto that set such record date shall be deemed to have initially designated the ninetieth (90 th ) day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the one hundred and eightieth (180 th ) day after the applicable record date.

SECTION 1.5. Notices, Etc.

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, Act of Holders, or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

(a) the Trustee by any Holder, any holder of Preferred Securities or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office,

(b) the Company by the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at 3128 Smoketree Court, Raleigh, North Carolina 27604 Attn: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company,

 

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(c) the Placement Agent by the Trustee, the Company, any Holder or any holder or beneficial owner of the Preferred Securities, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid to the Placement Agent at 303 Peachtree Street, N.E., 24 th  Floor, Mail Code 3950, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 or any other address previously furnished by the Placement Agent, or

(d) the Purchaser by the Trustee, the Company, any Holder or any holder or beneficial owner of the Preferred Securities, shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if in writing and mailed first-class postage prepaid to the Purchaser at 303 Peachtree Street NW, 26th Floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308, or any other address previously furnished by the Purchaser.

SECTION 1.6. Notice to Holders; Waiver.

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event to the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. If, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or for any other reason, it shall be impossible or impracticable to mail notice of any event to Holders when said notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

SECTION 1.7. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Indenture.

SECTION 1.8. Successors and Assigns.

This Indenture shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Company and the Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a transaction involving the Company that is permitted under Article VIII and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder, the Company shall not assign its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 1.9. Separability Clause.

If any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and there shall be deemed substituted for the provision at issue a valid, legal and enforceable provision as similar as possible to the provision at issue.

 

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SECTION 1.10. Benefits of Indenture.

Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and assigns, the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities and, to the extent expressly provided in Sections 5.2 , 5.8 , 5.9 , 5.11 , 5.13 , 9.2 and 10.7 , the holders of Preferred Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 1.11. Governing Law.

This Indenture and the rights and obligations of each of the Holders, the Company and the Trustee shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

SECTION 1.12. Submission to Jurisdiction.

ANY LEGAL ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY OR AGAINST ANY PARTY HERETO OR WITH RESPECT TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS INDENTURE MAY BE BROUGHT IN OR REMOVED TO THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, OR OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK (IN EACH CASE SITTING IN THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN). BY EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS INDENTURE, EACH PARTY ACCEPTS, FOR ITSELF AND IN RESPECT OF ITS PROPERTY, GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY, THE JURISDICTION OF THE AFORESAID COURTS (AND COURTS OF APPEALS THEREFROM) FOR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.

SECTION 1.13. Non-Business Days.

If any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities) payment of interest, premium or principal or other amounts in respect of such Security shall not be made on such date, but shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be, until such next succeeding Business Day) except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or at the Stated Maturity.

 

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ARTICLE II

Security Forms

SECTION 2.1. Form of Security.

Any Security issued hereunder shall be in substantially the following form:

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.

Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Note due 2036

 

No. 001

   $ 118,557,000

First Citizens BancShares, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (hereinafter called the “ Company ,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Property Trustee for FCB/NC Capital Trust III, a Delaware statutory trust (the “Holder”), or registered assigns, the principal sum of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN THOUSAND ($118,557,000) DOLLARS or such other principal amount represented hereby as may be set forth in the records of the Securities Registrar hereinafter referred to in accordance with the Indenture on June 30, 2036. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from May 18, 2006, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, commencing on June 30, 2006, or if any such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day (and no interest shall accrue in respect of the amounts whose payment is so delayed for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date until such next succeeding Business Day), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case, with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, at an annual rate equal to 6.922500% beginning on (and including) the Original Issue Date and ending on (but excluding) June 30, 2006 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) June 30, 2006, and each successive Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, together with Additional Tax Sums, if any, as provided in Section 10.5 of the Indenture, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment; provided, that any overdue principal, premium or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand.

The amount of interest payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period, computed by dividing the actual number of days elapsed in the period by 360 and multiplying the result by the applicable per annum rate in effect for the period. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided

 

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for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

So long as no Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.1(c), (e) or (f)  of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of this Security, to defer the payment of interest on this Security for a period of up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such period, an “ Extension Period ”), during which Extension Period(s), no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date, and no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period (except any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable), except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which amounts would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or made available for payment. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on this Security, together with such Additional Interest. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer the payment of interest; provided , that (i) all such previous and further extensions comprising such Extension Period do not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period; provided , that (i) such Extension Period does not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of this Security. The Company shall give the Holder of this Security and the Trustee written notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least five Business Days prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on this Security would be payable but for such deferral or, so long as this Security is held by the Trust, at least five Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on the Preferred Securities of FCB/NC Capital Trust III would be payable but for such deferral and (ii) the date on which the Property Trustee of such Trust is required to give notice to any securities exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred Securities of the record date for the payment of such Distributions.

 

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During any such Extension Period, the Company shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to this Security (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with (1) any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (2) a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (3) the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend or distribution in connection with any Rights Plan, the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto or (e) any dividend or distribution in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend or distribution stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend or distribution is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).

Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Security shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Maturity of this Security shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Place of Payment upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent, and payments of interest shall be made, subject to such surrender where applicable, by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Paying Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest (including any overdue installment of interest and Additional Tax Sums, if any) on this Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such actions as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance

 

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hereof, waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Debt, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (the “ Securities ”) issued under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of May 18, 2006 (the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee (in such capacity, the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of May 18, 2006 (as modified, amended or supplemented from time to time, the “ Trust Agreement ”), relating to FCB/NC Capital Trust III (the “ Trust ”), among the Company, as Depositor, the Trustees named therein and the Holders from time to time of the Trust Securities issued pursuant thereto, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Trust Agreement, as the case may be.

The Company may, on any Interest Payment Date, at its option, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Holders of the Securities (unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) on or after June 30, 2011 and subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount hereof, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption; provided , that the Company shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required.

In addition, upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, the Company may, at its option, upon not less than thirty (30) days’ nor more than sixty (60) days’ written notice to the Holders of the Securities (unless a shorter notice period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), redeem this Security, in whole but not in part, subject to the terms and conditions of Article XI of the Indenture at the Special Event Redemption Price; provided , that the Company shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security.

 

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The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the Company and the Trustee at any time to enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of modifying in any manner the rights and obligations of the Company and of the Holders of the Securities, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest, including any Additional Interest, on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar and duly executed by, the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities, of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Securities are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, this Security agree that, for United States federal, state and local tax purposes, it is intended that this Security constitute indebtedness.

 

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This Security shall be construed and enforced in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without reference to its conflict of laws provisions (other than Section 5-1401 of the General Obligations Law).

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

Name:   Kenneth A. Black
Title:   Chief Financial Officer

SECTION 2.2. Restrictive Legend.

(a) To the extent applicable, any Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE WERE ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), AND SUCH SECURITIES, AND ANY INTEREST THEREIN, MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF ANY SECURITIES IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THE SECURITIES MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT.

THE HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) SUCH SECURITIES MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (I) TO THE COMPANY, (II) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (III) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL “ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AN “ACCREDITED INVESTOR,” FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OR (V) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH CASE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE JURISDICTION

 

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AND, IN THE CASE OF (III) OR (V), SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY TO REQUIRE AN OPINION OF COUNSEL AND OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF ANY SECURITIES FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE.

THE SECURITIES WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF SUCH SECURITIES FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF PRINCIPAL OF OR INTEREST ON SUCH SECURITIES, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN SUCH SECURITIES.

THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF OR THEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ ERISA ”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “ CODE ”) (EACH A “ PLAN ”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY, OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

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THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (THE “ FDIC ”).”

(b) The above legend shall not be removed from any Security unless there is delivered to the Company satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel, as may be reasonably required to ensure that any future transfers thereof may be made without restriction under the provisions of the Securities Act and other applicable law. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall deliver, at the written direction of the Company, a Security that does not bear the legend.

SECTION 2.3. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

The Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: May 18, 2006

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee

By:

 

/s/ W.T. Morris, II

  Authorized officer

SECTION 2.4. Temporary Securities.

(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

(b) If temporary Securities are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company designated for that purpose without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of any authorized denominations having the same Original Issue Date and Stated Maturity and having the same terms as such temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities.

 

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SECTION 2.5. Definitive Securities.

The Securities issued on the Original Issue Date shall be in definitive form. The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved, or produced by any combination of these methods, if required by any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

ARTICLE III

The Securities

SECTION 3.1. Payment of Principal and Interest.

(a) The unpaid principal amount of the Securities shall bear interest at an annual rate equal to 6.922500% beginning on (and including) the Original Issue Date and ending on (but excluding) June 30, 2006 and at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, for each successive period beginning on (and including) June 30, 2006, and each successive Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, and any overdue principal, premium or Additional Tax Sums and any overdue installment of interest shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75% from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or funds for the payment thereof are made available for payment.

(b) Interest and Additional Interest on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Stated Maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) of the principal of a Security or on a Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. The initial payment of interest on any Security that is issued between a Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date shall be payable as provided in such Security.

(c) Any interest on any Security that is due and payable, but is not timely paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in paragraph (i) or (ii) below:

(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a “ Special Record Date ”), which shall be fixed in the following manner. At least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the proposed payment, the Company

 

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shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than fifteen (15) days and not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten (10) days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class, postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Security at the address of such Holder as it appears in the Securities Register not less than ten (10) days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date; or

(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed and, upon such notice as may be required by such exchange (or by the Trustee if the Securities are not listed), if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

(d) Payments of interest on the Securities shall include interest accrued to but excluding the respective Interest Payment Dates. The amount of interest payable shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period, computed by dividing the actual number of days elapsed in the period by 360 and multiplying the result by the applicable per annum rate in effect for the period.

(e) Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest due at the Maturity of such Securities shall be made at the Place of Payment upon surrender of such Securities to the Paying Agent and payments of interest shall be made subject to such surrender where applicable, by wire transfer at such place and to such account at a banking institution in the United States as may be designated in writing to the Paying Agent at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the date for payment by the Person entitled thereto unless proper written transfer instructions have not been received by the relevant record date, in which case such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of such Person as such address shall appear in the Security Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of the Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium if any) and interest (including any overdue installment of interest and Additional Tax Sums, if any) on the Security will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

 

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(f) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.1 , each Security delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.

SECTION 3.2. Denominations.

The Securities shall be in registered form without coupons and shall be issuable in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

SECTION 3.3. Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

(a) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities in an aggregate principal amount (including all then Outstanding Securities) not in excess of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SEVEN THOUSAND ($118,557,000) DOLLARS executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon:

(i) a copy of any Board Resolution relating thereto; and

(ii) an Opinion of Counsel stating that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

(b) The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice Presidents. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

(c) No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and

 

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delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.8 , for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

(d) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

SECTION 3.4. Global Securities.

(a) Upon the election of the Holder after the Original Issue Date, which election need not be in writing, the Securities owned by such Holder shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Each Global Security issued under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee and the Company in writing that such Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days of receipt by the Company of such notice, (ii) such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and no successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days after obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order stating that the Company elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Trustee shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of Securities to such owners of beneficial interests requesting the same. Upon the issuance of such Securities and the registration in the Securities Register of such Securities in the names of the Holders of the beneficial interests therein, the Trustees shall recognize such holders of beneficial interests as Holders.

(c) If any Global Security is to be exchanged for other Securities or canceled in part, or if another Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Security, then either (i) such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article III or (ii) the principal amount thereof shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the principal amount of such other Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depository Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Security by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall

 

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authenticate and deliver any Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Security (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions.

(d) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

(e) Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Preferred Securities (as defined in the applicable Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of the Trust shall be distributed in the form of one or more Global Securities registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the Securities Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct). Securities distributed to holders of Preferred Securities other than Book-Entry Preferred Securities upon the dissolution of the Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global Security or any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such Securities.

(f) The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Security for all purposes under this Indenture and the Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depository Procedures. Accordingly, any such owner’s beneficial interest in a Global Security shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Depositary Participants. The Securities Registrar and the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Indenture relating to a Global Security (including the payment of principal and interest thereon and the giving of instructions or directions by owners of beneficial interests therein and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Security and shall have no obligations to the owners of beneficial interests therein. Neither the Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary.

(g) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or its Depositary Participants.

(h) No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or

 

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impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of any Security.

SECTION 3.5. Registration, Transfer and Exchange Generally.

(a) The Trustee shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the “ Securities Register ”) in which the registrar and transfer agent with respect to the Securities (the “ Securities Registrar ”), subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers and exchanges of Securities. The Trustee shall at all times also be the Securities Registrar. The provisions of Article VI shall apply to the Trustee in its role as Securities Registrar.

(b) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the offices or agencies of the Company designated for that purpose the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of any authorized denominations of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

(c) At the option of the Holder, Securities may be exchanged for other Securities of any authorized denominations, of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

(d) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(e) Every Security presented or surrendered for transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

(f) No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company and the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities.

(g) Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be required pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.5 , (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen (15) days before the day of selection for redemption of Securities pursuant to Article XI and ending at the close of business on the day of mailing of the notice of redemption or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except, in the case of any such Security to be redeemed in part, any portion thereof not to be redeemed.

 

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(h) The Company shall designate an office or offices or agency or agencies where Securities may be surrendered for registration or transfer or exchange. The Company initially designates the Corporate Trust Office as its office and agency for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to the Holders of any change in the location of any such office or agency.

SECTION 3.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

(a) If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee together with such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of like tenor and aggregate principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

(b) If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor and aggregate principal amount as such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

(c) If any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

(d) Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section 3.6 , the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

(e) Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities duly issued hereunder.

(f) The provisions of this Section 3.6 are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

SECTION 3.7. Persons Deemed Owners.

The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

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SECTION 3.8. Cancellation.

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities and Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section 3.8 , except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary practices and the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a certificate of such disposition.

SECTION 3.9. Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.

(a) So long as no Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.1(c), (e) or (f)  has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the term of the Security, to defer the payment of interest on the Securities for a period of up to twenty (20) consecutive quarterly interest payment periods (each such period, an “ Extension Period ”), during which Extension Period(s), the Company shall have the right to make no payments or partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date (except any Additional Tax Sums that otherwise may be due and payable). No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest (to the extent payment of such interest would be legally enforceable) at a variable rate per annum, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR plus 1.75%, compounded quarterly, from the dates on which amounts would have otherwise been due and payable until paid or until funds for the payment thereof have been made available for payment. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities together with such Additional Interest. Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may extend such Extension Period and further defer the payment of interest; provided , that (i) all such previous and further extensions comprising such Extension Period do not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension Period; provided , that (i) such Extension Period does not exceed twenty (20) quarterly interest payment periods, (ii) no Extension Period shall end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date and (iii) no Extension Period shall extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities. The Company shall give (i) the Holders of the Securities, (ii) the Trustee and (iii) the Property Trustee written notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least five (5) Business Days prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be payable but for such deferral.

 

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(b) In connection with any such Extension Period, the Company shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 10.6(a) .

SECTION 3.10. Right of Set-Off.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall have the right to set off any payment it is otherwise required to make in respect of any Security to the extent the Company has theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a payment under the Guarantee Agreement relating to such Security or to a holder of Preferred Securities pursuant to an action undertaken under Section 5.8 of this Indenture.

SECTION 3.11. Agreed Tax Treatment.

Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by its acceptance or acquisition of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a direct or indirect beneficial interest in, such Security, intend and agree to treat such Security as indebtedness of the Company for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes and to treat the Preferred Securities (including but not limited to all payments and proceeds with respect to the Preferred Securities) as an undivided beneficial ownership interest in the Securities (and payments and proceeds therefrom, respectively) for United States Federal, state and local tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention and agreement of the parties.

SECTION 3.12. CUSIP Numbers.

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption and other similar or related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided , that any such notice or other materials may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption or other materials and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

ARTICLE IV

Satisfaction and Discharge

SECTION 4.1. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

This Indenture shall, upon Company Request, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for and as otherwise provided in this Section 4.1 ) and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

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(a) either

(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (B) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust as provided in Section 10.2) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation

 

  (A) have become due and payable, or

 

  (B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year of the date of deposit, or

 

  (C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of subclause (ii)(A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose (x) an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Securities are payable, (y) Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than the due date of any payment, money in an amount or (z) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity (or any date of principal repayment upon early maturity) or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.6 , the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.11 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (a)(ii) of this Section 4.1 , the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and Section 10.2(e) shall survive.

 

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SECTION 4.2. Application of Trust Money.

Subject to the provisions of Section 10.2(e) , all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment in accordance with Section 3.1 , either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) for the payment of which such money or obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee. Moneys held by the Trustee under this Section 4.2 shall not be subject to the claims of holders of Senior Debt under Article XII .

ARTICLE V

Remedies

SECTION 5.1. Events of Default.

Event of Default ” means, wherever used herein with respect to the Securities, any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of thirty (30) days (subject to the deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or

(b) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security at its Maturity; or

(c) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty (20) or more consecutive quarterly interest payment periods; or

(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture and continuance of such default or breach for a period of thirty (30) days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least twenty-five percent (25%) in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

(e) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or the appointment of a receiver or conservator for a major depository institution subsidiary of the Company, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the

 

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Company under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of sixty (60) consecutive days; or

(f) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the appointment of a receiver or conservator for a major depository institution subsidiary of the Company, or the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it or the filing by the Company of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

(g) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence, except in connection with (1) the distribution of the Securities to holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (2) the redemption of all of the outstanding Preferred Securities or (3) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as and to the extent permitted by the Trust Agreement.

SECTION 5.2. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

(a) If an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.1(c), (e) or (f)  occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities may declare the principal amount of all the Securities to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided , that if, upon an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.1(c), (e) or (f) , the Trustee or the Holders of not less than twenty five percent (25%) in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities fail to declare the principal of all the Outstanding Securities to be immediately due and payable, the holders of at least twenty five percent (25%) in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Preferred Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such declaration the principal amount of and the accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities shall become immediately due and payable.

(b) At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article V , the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by written notice to the Indenture Trustee, or the Holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities, by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

(i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay:

 

  (A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities,

 

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  (B) any accrued Additional Interest on all Securities,

 

  (C) the principal of and any premium on any Securities that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest (including any Additional Interest) thereon at the rate borne by the Securities, and

 

  (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, the Property Trustee and their agents and counsel; and

(ii) all Events of Default with respect to Securities, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13 ;

provided , that if the Holders of such Securities fail to annul such declaration and waive such default, the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Preferred Securities then outstanding shall also have the right to rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences by written notice to the Property Trustee, the Company and the Trustee, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section 5.2 . No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.3. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

(a) The Company covenants that if:

(i) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of thirty (30) days, or

(ii) default is made in the payment of the principal of and any premium on any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) and, in addition thereto, all amounts owing the Trustee under Section 6.6 .

 

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(b) If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated.

(c) If an Event of Default with respect to Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

SECTION 5.4. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or similar judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized hereunder in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to first pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts owing the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6 .

SECTION 5.5. Trustee May Enforce Claim Without Possession of Securities.

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, subject to Article XII and after provision for the payment of all the amounts owing the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6 , be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 5.6. Application of Money Collected.

Any money or property collected or to be applied by the Trustee with respect to the Securities pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money or property on account of principal or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest), upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and other Persons under Section 6.6 ;

 

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SECOND: To the payment of all Senior Debt of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XII ;

THIRD: Subject to Article XII , to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest), respectively; and

FOURTH: The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled thereto.

SECTION 5.7. Limitation on Suits.

Subject to Section 5.8 , no Holder of any Securities shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities;

(b) the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

(d) the Trustee after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding for sixty (60) days; and

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such sixty (60)-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities;

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing itself of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

 

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SECTION 5.8. Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest; Direct Action by Holders of Preferred Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium on such Security at its Maturity and payment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security when due and payable and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder. Any registered holder of the Preferred Securities shall have the right, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 5.1(a) , Section 5.1(b) or Section 5.1(c) , to institute a suit directly against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder of principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Preferred Securities held by such holder.

SECTION 5.9. Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

If the Trustee, any Holder or any holder of Preferred Securities has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee, such Holder or such holder of Preferred Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee, such Holders and such holder of Preferred Securities shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee, such Holder and such holder of Preferred Securities shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

SECTION 5.10. Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 3.6(f) , no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 5.11. Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

No delay or omission of the Trustee, any Holder of any Securities or any holder of any Preferred Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders and the right and remedy given to the holders of Preferred Securities by Section 5.8 may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee, the Holders or the holders of Preferred Securities, as the case may be.

 

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SECTION 5.12. Control by Holders.

The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided , that:

(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture,

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(c) subject to the provisions of Section 6.2 , the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow such direction if a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee shall, in good faith, reasonably determine that the proceeding so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not joining in any such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability.

SECTION 5.13. Waiver of Past Defaults.

(a) The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities or the Holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Preferred Securities may waive any past Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except an Event of Default:

(i) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security (unless such Event of Default has been cured and the Company has paid to or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all installments of interest (including any Additional Interest) due and past due and all principal of and any premium on all Securities due otherwise than by acceleration), or

(ii) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof that under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each Holder of any Outstanding Security.

(b) Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities or, in the case of a waiver by holders of Preferred Securities issued by such Trust, by all holders of Preferred Securities.

(c) Upon any such waiver, such Event of Default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.14. Undertaking for Costs.

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his or her acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in

 

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such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than ten percent (10%) in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or any premium on the Security after the Stated Maturity or any interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security after it is due and payable.

SECTION 5.15. Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE VI

The Trustee

SECTION 6.1. Corporate Trustee Required.

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities. The Trustee shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state thereof, authorized to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority and having an office within the United States. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of such supervising or examining authority, then, for the purposes of this Section 6.1 , the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.1 , it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI .

SECTION 6.2. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

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(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; provided , that in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they substantially conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.

(b) If an Event of Default known to the Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall, prior to the receipt of directions, if any, from the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.2 . To the extent that, at law or in equity, the Trustee has duties and liabilities relating to the Holders, the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder for the Trustee’s good faith reliance on the provisions of this Indenture. The provisions of this Indenture, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Company and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Trustee.

(d) No provisions of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability with respect to matters that are within the authority of the Trustee under this Indenture for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:

(i) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good faith by an authorized officer of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee under this Indenture; and

(iii) the Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company and money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

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SECTION 6.3. Notice of Defaults.

Within ninety (90) days after the occurrence of any default actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give the Holders notice of such default unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided , that except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities, the Trustee shall be fully protected in withholding the notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interest of holders of Securities; and provided , that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) , no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least thirty (30) days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section 6.3 , the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default.

SECTION 6.4. Certain Rights of Trustee.

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.2 :

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith and in accordance with the terms hereof upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Indenture the Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee finds ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein or (iii) the Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Indenture, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders are entitled to decide under the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee shall deliver a notice to the Company requesting the Company’s written instruction as to the course of action to be taken and the Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Trustee shall be instructed in writing to take, or to refrain from taking, by the Company; provided , that if the Trustee does not receive such instructions from the Company within ten Business Days after it has delivered such notice or such reasonably shorter period of time set forth in such notice the Trustee may, but shall be under no duty to, take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Trustee shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct;

(c) any request or direction of the Company shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel (which counsel may be counsel to the Trustee, the Company or any of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees) and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction, including reasonable advances as may be requested by the Trustee;

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, indenture, note or other paper or document, but the Trustee in its discretion may make such inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys, custodians or nominees and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent, attorney, custodian or nominee appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(h) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action with respect to enforcing any remedy or right hereunder, the Trustees (i) may request instructions from the Holders (which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities as would be entitled to direct the Trustee under this Indenture in respect of such remedy, right or action), (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such action until such instructions are received and (iii) shall be protected in acting in accordance with such instructions;

(i) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Indenture;

(j) without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with any bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding referred to in clauses (e) or (f) of the definition of Event of Default, such expenses (including legal fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy laws or law relating to creditors rights generally;

(k) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate addressing such matter, which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Company;

 

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(l) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless either (i) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge or (ii) the Trustee shall have received notice thereof from the Company or a Holder; and

(m) in the event that the Trustee is also acting as Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent or Securities Registrar hereunder, the rights and protections afforded to the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall also be afforded such Paying Agent, Authenticating Agent, or Securities Registrar.

SECTION 6.5. May Hold Securities.

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Securities Registrar or such other agent.

SECTION 6.6. Compensation; Reimbursement; Indemnity.

(a) The Company agrees

(i) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder in such amounts as the Company and the Trustee shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(ii) to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and

(iii) to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, to indemnify the Trustee and its Affiliates, and their officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, damage, action, suit, liability, tax (other than income, franchise or other taxes imposed on amounts paid pursuant to (i) or (ii) hereof), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust or the performance of the Trustee’s duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

(b) The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

(c) In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including, but not limited to, lost profits, even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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(d) In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder because of circumstances beyond its control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, flood, war (whether declared or undeclared), terrorism, fire, riot, embargo, government action, including any laws, ordinances, regulations, governmental action or the like which delay, restrict or prohibit the providing of the services contemplated by this Indenture.

SECTION 6.7. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article VI shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.8 .

(b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company.

(c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may be removed at any time by the Company by a Board Resolution. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee may be removed by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

(d) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any reason, at a time when no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.8 . If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any reason, at a time when an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Holders, by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee, and such successor Trustee and the retiring Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.8 . If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment within sixty (60) days after the giving of a notice of resignation by the Trustee or the removal of the Trustee in the manner required by Section 6.8 , any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of such Holder and all others similarly situated, and any resigning Trustee may, at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

(e) The Company shall give notice to all Holders in the manner provided in Section 1.6 of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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SECTION 6.8. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, each successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

(b) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) of this Section 6.8 .

(c) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article VI .

SECTION 6.9. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided , that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VI . In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation or as otherwise provided above in this Section 6.9 to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated, and in case any Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor Trustee or in the name of such successor Trustee, and in all cases the certificate of authentication shall have the full force which it is provided anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture that the certificate of the Trustee shall have.

SECTION 6.10. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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SECTION 6.11. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

(a) The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to the Securities, which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6 , and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, or of any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.11 the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.11 , such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.11 .

(b) Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent shall be the successor Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.11 , without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

(c) An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.11 , the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.11 , which shall be acceptable to the Company, and shall give notice of such appointment to all Holders. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.

(d) The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.11 in such amounts as the Company and the Authenticating Agent shall agree from time to time.

 

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(e) If an appointment of an Authenticating Agent is made pursuant to this Section 6.11 , the Securities may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:

This is one of the Securities referred to in the within mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee

 

Authenticating Agent

By:

 

 

 

Authorized Officer

ARTICLE VII

Holder’s Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company

SECTION 7.1. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(a) semi-annually, on or before June 30 and December 31 of each year, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the delivery thereof, and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty (30) days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than fifteen (15) days prior to the time such list is furnished, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Company and has not otherwise been received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar.

SECTION 7.2. Preservation of Information, Communications to Holders.

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

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(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of information as to the names and addresses of the Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 7.3. Reports by Company and Trustee.

(a) The Company shall furnish to the Holders and to prospective purchasers of Securities, upon their request, the information required to be furnished pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. The Company shall furnish to the Trustee and, so long as the Property Trustee holds any of the Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Property Trustee, reports on Form FR Y-9C promptly following their filing with the Federal Reserve, provided however , the Company need not provide copies of such reports on FR Y-9C so long as they are available on the Federal Reserve’s website.

(b) The Company shall furnish to (i) the Holders, (ii) the Purchaser, and (iii) any designee of (i) or (ii) above, a duly completed and executed certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, including the financial statements referenced in such Exhibit, which certificate and financial statements shall be so furnished by the Company not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company and not later than ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, provided however , that as long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and such financial statements are available on EDGAR on the SEC’s website, it need not furnish such certificate to the parties listed above.

(c) The Trustee shall obtain all reports, certificates and information which it is entitled to receive under each of the Operative Documents (as defined in the Trust Agreement), and deliver to (i) the Purchaser, (ii) the Placement Agent and (iii) a designee of (i) or (ii) above, all such reports, certificates or information promptly upon receipt thereof.

ARTICLE VIII

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

SECTION 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:

(a) if the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires

 

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by conveyance or transfer, or that leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be an entity organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, any such supplemental indenture comply with this Article VIII and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with; and the Trustee may rely upon such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such transaction complies with this Section 8.1 .

SECTION 8.2. Successor Company Substituted.

(a) Upon any consolidation with or merger by the Company into any other Person, or any conveyance, transfer or lease by the Company of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1 and the execution and delivery to the Trustee of the supplemental indenture described in Section 8.1(a) , the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, following the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities.

(b) Such successor Person may cause to be executed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder that theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities that previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities that such successor Person thereafter shall cause to be executed and delivered to the Trustee on its behalf. All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.

(c) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance or lease, such changes in phraseology and form may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate to reflect such occurrence.

 

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ARTICLE IX

Supplemental Indentures

SECTION 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

(b) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, which shall not be inconsistent with the other provisions of this Indenture, provided , that such action pursuant to this clause (b) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities; or

(c) to add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Company or to add to the Events of Default, provided , that such action pursuant to this clause (c) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities; or

(d) to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Indenture or the Securities to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Securities are treated as indebtedness of the Company for United States Federal income tax purposes, provided , that such action pursuant to this clause (d) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any Holders or the holders of the Preferred Securities.

SECTION 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

(a) With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities under this Indenture; provided , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security,

(i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal or any premium of any Security or change the date of payment of any installment of interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or change the place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or interest thereon is payable, or restrict or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date, or

 

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(ii) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with any provision of this Indenture or of defaults hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or

(iii) modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.2 , Section 5.13 or Section 10.7 , except to increase any percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities, the consent of whose Holders is required for any reason, or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Security;

provided, further, that, so long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, no amendment under this Section 9.2 shall be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such amendment; provided, further, that if the consent of the holder of each Outstanding Security is required for any amendment under this Indenture, such amendment shall not be effective until the holder of each Outstanding Trust Security shall have consented to such amendment.

(b) It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

SECTION 9.3. Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture, and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such action have been complied with. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Copies of the final form of each supplemental indenture shall be delivered by the Trustee at the expense of the Company to each Holder, and, if the Trustee is the Property Trustee, to each holder of Preferred Securities, promptly after the execution thereof.

SECTION 9.4. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article IX , this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

SECTION 9.5. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX may, and shall, if required by the Company, bear a notation in form

 

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approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

ARTICLE X

Covenants

SECTION 10.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 10.2. Money for Security Payments to be Held in Trust.

(a) If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to the Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium or interest (including Additional Interest) so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its failure so to act.

(b) Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided in the Trust Indenture Act and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

(c) The Company will cause each Paying Agent for the Securities other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.2 , that such Paying Agent will (i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) during the continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities) in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities.

(d) The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

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(e) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company in trust for the payment of the principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and any premium or interest has become due and payable shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be paid on Company Request to the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall (unless otherwise required by mandatory provision of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law) be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 10.3. Statement as to Compliance.

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate covering the preceding fiscal year, stating whether or not to the knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder), and if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which they may have knowledge.

SECTION 10.4. Calculation Agent.

(a) The Company hereby agrees that for so long as any of the Securities remain Outstanding, there will at all times be an agent appointed to calculate LIBOR in respect of each Interest Payment Date in accordance with the terms of Schedule A (the “ Calculation Agent ”). The Company has initially appointed the Trustee as Calculation Agent for purposes of determining LIBOR for each Interest Payment Date. The Calculation Agent may be removed by the Company at any time. So long as the Property Trustee holds any of the Securities, the Calculation Agent shall be the Property Trustee. If the Calculation Agent is unable or unwilling to act as such or is removed by the Company, the Company will promptly appoint as a replacement Calculation Agent the London office of a leading bank which is engaged in transactions in Eurodollar deposits in the international Eurodollar market and which does not control or is not controlled by or under common control with the Company or its Affiliates. The Calculation Agent may not resign its duties without a successor having been duly appointed.

(b) The Calculation Agent shall be required to agree that, as soon as possible after 11:00 a.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date (as defined in Schedule A ), but in no event later than 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the Business Day immediately following each LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent will calculate the interest (rounded to the

 

55


nearest cent, with half a cent being rounded upwards) for the related Interest Payment Date, and will communicate the rate and amount to the Company, the Trustee, each Paying Agent and the Depositary. The Calculation Agent will also specify to the Company the quotations upon which the foregoing rates and amounts are based and, in any event, the Calculation Agent shall notify the Company before 5:00 p.m. (London time) on each LIBOR Determination Date that either: (i) it has determined or is in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts or (ii) it has not determined and is not in the process of determining the foregoing rates and amounts, together with its reasons therefor. The Calculation Agent’s determination of the foregoing rates and amounts for any Interest Payment Date will (in the absence of manifest error) be final and binding upon all parties. For the sole purpose of calculating the interest rate for the Securities, “Business Day” shall be defined as any day on which dealings in deposits in Dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

SECTION 10.5. Additional Tax Sums.

So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, if (a) the Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Securities and (b) a Tax Event described in clause (i) or (iii) in the definition of Tax Event in Section 1.1 hereof has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall pay to the Trust (and its permitted successors or assigns under the related Trust Agreement) for so long as the Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the registered holder of the Outstanding Securities, such amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions (including any Additional Interest Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement)) then due and payable by the Trust on the Preferred Securities and Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes arising from such Tax Event (additional such amounts payable by the Company to the Trust, the “ Additional Tax Sums ”). Whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of the Additional Tax Sums provided for in this Section 10.5 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Tax Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.5 and express mention of the payment of Additional Tax Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Tax Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided , that the deferral of the payment of interest pursuant to Section 3.9 on the Securities shall not defer the payment of any Additional Tax Sums that may be due and payable.

SECTION 10.6. Additional Covenants.

(a) The Company covenants and agrees with each Holder of Securities that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or the Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period with respect to the Securities and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, it shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of the Company’s capital stock, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or any interest or premium on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Securities (other than (A) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of

 

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capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (B) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor’s capital stock or the exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a Subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (C) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (D) any declaration of a dividend or distribution in connection with any Rights Plan, the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any Rights Plan or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (E) any dividend or distribution in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend or distribution stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend or distribution is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock).

(b) The Company also covenants with each Holder of Securities (i) to hold, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the Common Securities of the Trust, provided , that any permitted successor of the Company hereunder may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) as holder of such Common Securities, not to voluntarily dissolve, wind-up or liquidate the Trust other than (A) in connection with a distribution of the Securities to the holders of the Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust or (B) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations permitted by the Trust Agreement and (iii) to use its reasonable commercial efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Trust Agreement, to cause the Trust to continue to be taxable as a grantor trust and not as a corporation for United States Federal income tax purposes.

SECTION 10.7. Waiver of Covenants.

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any covenant or condition contained in Section 10.6 if, before or after the time for such compliance, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities shall, by Act of such Holders, and at least a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of the Preferred Securities then outstanding, by consent of such holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10.8. Treatment of Securities.

The Company will treat the Securities as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Securities as interest, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of the Securities will be made free and clear of U.S.

 

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withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-U.S. status for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

ARTICLE XI

Redemption of Securities

SECTION 11.1. Optional Redemption.

The Company may, at its option, on any Interest Payment Date, on or after June 30, 2011, redeem the Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the principal amount thereof (or of the redeemed portion thereof, as applicable), together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption; provided , that the Company shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve with respect to such redemption if then required.

SECTION 11.2. Special Event Redemption.

Upon the occurrence and during the continuation of a Special Event, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Securities, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to the Redemption Price specified in Section 11.1 above, together, in the case of any such redemption, with accrued interest, including any Additional Interest, to but excluding the date fixed for redemption (the “Special Event Redemption Price”); provided , that the Company shall have received the prior approval of the Federal Reserve with respect to such redemption if then required.

SECTION 11.3. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities, in whole or in part, shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, not less than forty five (45) days and not more than seventy five (75) days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee and the Property Trustee under the Trust Agreement in writing of such date and of the principal amount of the Securities to be redeemed and provide the additional information required to be included in the notice or notices contemplated by Section 11.5 . In the case of any redemption of Securities, in whole or in part, (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in this Indenture or the Securities or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in this Indenture or the Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

SECTION 11.4. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.

(a) If less than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than sixty (60) days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption, by such method as

 

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the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any or each Security, provided , that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

(b) The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed.

(c) The provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 11.4 shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

SECTION 11.5. Notice of Redemption.

(a) Notice of redemption shall be given not later than the thirtieth (30th) day, and not earlier than the sixtieth (60th) day, prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Property Trustee under the related Trust Agreement).

(b) With respect to Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part, each notice of redemption shall state:

(i) the Redemption Date;

(ii) the Redemption Price or, if the Redemption Price cannot be calculated prior to the time the notice is required to be sent, the estimate of the Redemption Price, as calculated by the Company, together with a statement that it is an estimate and that the actual Redemption Price will be calculated on the fifth Business Day prior to the Redemption Date (and if an estimate is provided, a further notice shall be sent of the actual Redemption Price on the date that such Redemption Price is calculated);

(iii) if less than all Outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(iv) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof, and that any interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Security or such portion, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue on and after said date; and

 

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(v) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price.

(c) Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable. The notice if mailed in the manner provided above shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, a failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.

SECTION 11.6. Deposit of Redemption Price.

Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in Section 11.5 , the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents (or if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.2 ) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and any accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) on, all the Securities (or portions thereof) that are to be redeemed on that date.

SECTION 11.7. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.

(a) If any notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 11.5 , the Securities or portion of Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a Place of Payment specified in such notice, the Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (including any Additional Interest) to the Redemption Date.

(b) Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented and having the same Original Issue Date, Stated Maturity and terms.

(c) If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal of and any premium on such Security shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

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ARTICLE XII

Subordination of Securities

SECTION 12.1. Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt.

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article XII , the payment of the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on each and all of the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt.

SECTION 12.2. No Payment When Senior Debt in Default; Payment Over of Proceeds upon Dissolution, Etc.

(a) In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of any principal of or any premium or interest on any Senior Debt (following any grace period, if applicable) when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then, upon written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of such Senior Debt or any trustee therefor, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise) shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the principal of or any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any of the Securities, or in respect of any redemption, repayment, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities.

(b) In the event of a bankruptcy, insolvency or other proceeding described in clause (e) or (f) of the definition of Event of Default (each such event, if any, herein sometimes referred to as a “ Proceeding ”), all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall be made to any Holder of any of the Securities on account thereof. Any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other entity provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would otherwise (but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities shall be paid or delivered directly to the holders of Senior Debt in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any Proceeding) shall have been paid in full.

(c) In the event of any Proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at the time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities

 

61


and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of any character or any security, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other entity provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior Debt at the time outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment) shall be received by the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms hereof and before all Senior Debt shall have been paid in full, such payment or distribution or security shall be received in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the holders of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior Debt (including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any Proceeding) in full. In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of Senior Debt is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the same.

(d) The Trustee and the Holders, at the expense of the Company, shall take such reasonable action (including the delivery of this Indenture to an agent for any holders of Senior Debt or consent to the filing of a financing statement with respect hereto) as may, in the opinion of counsel designated by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Senior Debt at the time outstanding, be necessary or appropriate to assure the effectiveness of the subordination effected by these provisions.

(e) The provisions of this Section 12.2 shall not impair any rights, interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Company in respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the provisions of this Indenture.

(f) The securing of any obligations of the Company, otherwise ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting, respectively, obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities.

SECTION 12.3. Payment Permitted If No Default.

Nothing contained in this Article XII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time, except during the pendency of the conditions described in paragraph (a) of Section 12.2 or of any Proceeding referred to in Section 12.2 , from making payments at any time of principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or (b) the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of and any premium or interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities or the retention of such payment by the Holders, if, at the time of such application by the Trustee, it did not have knowledge (in accordance with Section 12.8 ) that such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article XII , except as provided in Section 12.8 .

 

62


SECTION 12.4. Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.

Subject to the payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on all Senior Debt, or the provision for such payment in cash or cash equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Debt pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII (equally and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Company that by its express terms is subordinated to Senior Debt of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated to the Senior Debt and is entitled to like rights of subrogation by reason of any payments or distributions made to holders of such Senior Debt) to the rights of the holders of such Senior Debt to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities applicable to the Senior Debt until the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XII , and no payments made pursuant to the provisions of this Article XII to the holders of Senior Debt by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt.

SECTION 12.5. Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.

The provisions of this Article XII are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the one hand and the holders of Senior Debt on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XII or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall (a) impair, as between the Company and the Holders of the Securities, the obligations of the Company, which are absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of and any premium and interest (including any Additional Interest) on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, (b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than their rights in relation to the holders of Senior Debt or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security (or to the extent expressly provided herein, the holder of any Preferred Security) from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, including filing and voting claims in any Proceeding, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XII of the holders of Senior Debt to receive cash, property and securities otherwise payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

SECTION 12.6. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XII and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

63


SECTION 12.7. No Waiver of Subordination Provisions.

(a) No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.

(b) Without in any way limiting the generality of paragraph (a) of this Section 12.7 , the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without incurring responsibility to such Holders of the Securities and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XII or the obligations hereunder of such Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Debt, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding, (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing Senior Debt, (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the payment of Senior Debt and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company and any other Person.

SECTION 12.8. Notice to Trustee.

(a) The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XII or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder of Senior Debt or from any trustee, agent or representative therefor; provided , that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 12.8 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any monies may become payable for any purpose (including, the payment of the principal of and any premium on or interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

(b) The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee, agent, representative or attorney-in-fact therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee, agent, representative or attorney-in-fact therefor). In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Debt to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XII , the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the

 

64


reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XII , and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

SECTION 12.9. Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent.

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XII , the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such Proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XII .

SECTION 12.10. Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt.

The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XII or otherwise.

SECTION 12.11. Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of Trustee’s Rights.

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XII with respect to any Senior Debt that may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

SECTION 12.12. Article Applicable to Paying Agents.

If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “ Trustee ” as used in this Article XII shall in such case (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article XII in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided , that Sections 12.8 and 12.11 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

* * * *

 

65


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

FIRST CITIZENS BANCSHARES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

Name:   Kenneth A. Black
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee
By:  

/s/ W.T. Morris, II

Name:  

W. Thomas Morris, II

Title:   Assistant Vice President

 

66


Schedule A

DETERMINATION OF LIBOR

With respect to the Securities, the London interbank offered rate (“ LIBOR ”) shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions (in each case rounded to the nearest .000001%):

(1) On the second LIBOR Business Day (as defined below) prior to an Interest Payment Date (except, with respect to the first Interest Payment Date, on May 16, 2006) (each such day, a “LIBOR Determination Date”), LIBOR for any given security shall, for the next quarterly interest period, equal the rate, as obtained by the Calculation Agent from Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News, for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 1991 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions), or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date.

(2) If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Dow Jones Telerate Page 3750 or such other page as may replace such Page 3750, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal such arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that leading banks in the City of New York selected by the Calculation Agent are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the principal London offices of leading banks in the London interbank market; provided that, if the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR shall be LIBOR as determined on the previous LIBOR Determination Date.

(3) As used herein: “ Reference Banks ” means four major banks in the London interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent; and “ LIBOR Business Day ” means a day on which commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign exchange and foreign currency deposits) in London.

 

Schedule A-1


Exhibit A

Officer’s Certificate*

The undersigned, the [Chief Financial Officer] [Treasurer] [Executive Vice President] hereby certifies, pursuant to Section 7.3(b) of the Junior Subordinated Indenture, dated as of May 18, 2006, between First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Company”) and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee, that, as of [date], [20      ], the Company had the following ratios and balances:

BANK HOLDING COMPANY

As of [Quarterly Financial Dates]

 

Tier 1 Risk Weighted Assets

                        %

Ratio of Double Leverage

                        %

Non-Performing Assets to Loans and OREO

                        %

Tangible Common Equity as a Percentage of Tangible Assets

                        %

Ratio of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans

                        %

Ratio of Net Charge-Offs to Loans

                        %

Return on Average Assets (annualized)

                        %

Net Interest Margin (annualized)

                        %

Efficiency Ratio

                        %

Ratio of Loans to Assets

                        %

Ratio of Loans to Deposits

                        %

Total Assets

   $                     

Year to Date Income

   $                     

* A table describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page __

[ FOR FISCAL YEAR END : Attached hereto are the audited consolidated financial statements (including the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, and notes thereto, together with the report of the independent accountants thereon) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the three years ended                      , 20      .]

[ FOR FISCAL QUARTER END : Attached hereto are the unaudited consolidated and consolidating financial statements (including the balance sheet and income statement) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the fiscal quarter] ended [date], 20__.

The financial statements fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the date, and for the [          quarter interim] [annual] period ended [date], 20      , and such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied throughout the period involved (except as otherwise noted therein).

 

Ex. A-1


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Officer’s Certificate as of this          day of                      , 20     

 

 

Name:
Title:
First Citizens BancShares, Inc.
3128 Smoketree Court
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604
(919) 716-7336

* Pursuant to Section 7.3(b), as long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act and such financial statements are available on EDGAR on the SEC’s website, it need not furnish this Officer’s Certificate.

 

Ex. A-2


Financial Definitions

 

Report Item

  

Corresponding FRY-9C or LP Line

Items with Line Item corresponding Schedules

  

Description of Calculation

Tier 1 Risk

Weighted Assets

  

BHCK7206

Schedule HC-R

   Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/ Risk-Adjusted Assets
Ratio of Double Leverage   

(BHCP0365)/(BCHCP3210)

Schedule PC in the LP

   Total equity investments in subsidiaries divided by the total equity capital. This field is calculated at the parent company level. “Subsidiaries” include bank, bank holding company, and non-bank subsidiaries.
Non-Performing Assets to Loans and OREO   

(BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507+BHCK2744)/(BHCK2122+BHCK2744)

Schedules HC-C, HC-M & HC-N

   Total Nonperforming Assets (NPLs+Foreclosed Real Estate+Other Nonaccrual & Repossessed Assets)/Total Loans+Foreclosed Real Estate
Tangible Common Equity as a Percentage of Tangible Assets   

(BHDM3210-BHCK3163)/(BHCK2170-BHCK3163)

 

Schedule HC

   (Equity Capital – Goodwill)/(Total Assets – Goodwill)
Ratio of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans   

(BHCK3123+BHCK3128)/(BHCK5525-BHCK3506+BHCK5526-BHCK3507)

 

Schedules HC & HC-N & HC-R

  

Total Loan Loss and Allocated Transfer Risk Reserves/ Total Nonperforming Loans

(Nonaccrual + Restructured)

Ratio of Net Charge-Offs to Loans   

(BHCK4635-BHCK4605)/(BHCK3516)

 

Schedules HC-B & HC-K

   Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of average loans.
Return on Average Assets (annualized)   

(BHCK4340/BHCK3368)

 

Schedules HI & HC-K

   Net Income as a percentage of Assets.
Net Interest Margin (annualized)   

(BHCK4519)/(BHCK3515+BHCK3365+BHCK3516+BHCK3401+BHCKB985)

 

Schedules HI Memorandum and HC-K

   (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available/Average Earning Assets)
Efficiency Ratio   

(BHCK4093)/(BHCK4519+BHCK4079)

 

Schedule HI

   (Non-interest Expense)/(Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available, plus Non-interest Income)
Ratio of Loans to Assets   

(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHCK2170)

 

Schedule HC

   Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total Assets
Ratio of Loans to Deposits   

(BHCKB528+BHCK5369)/(BHDM6631+BHDM6636+BHFN6631+BHFN6636)

 

Schedule HC

   Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Gross of Reserve)/Total Deposits (Includes Domestic and Foreign Deposits)

 

1


Total Assets   

(BHCK2170)

 

Schedule HC

   The sum of total assets. Includes cash and balances due from depository institutions; securities; federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell; loans and lease financing receivables; trading assets; premises and fixed assets; other real estate owned; investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies; customer’s liability on acceptances outstanding; intangible assets; and other assets.
Net Income   

(BHCK4300)

 

Schedule HI

   The sum of income (loss) before extraordinary items and other adjustments and extraordinary items; and other adjustments, net of income taxes.

 

2


Financial Definitions

THRIFT HOLDING COMPANY

 

Report Item

  

Corresponding TFR

  

Description of

Calculation

Tier I Risk Weighted Assets -   

Schedule CCR – Consolidated Capital Requirement

CCR 830

   Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/Risk-adjusted assets
Ratio of Double Leverage    Not applicable    Not applicable
Non-performing assets to loans and OREO   

Schedule PD – Consolidated Past Due and Nonaccrual

Schedule SC – Consolidated Statement of Condition

PD30/(SC23+SC30+SC34+SC40)

   Total Non-performing assets (NPLs + Foreclosed Real Estate+Other Non-accrual & Repossessed assets+Foreclosed Real Estate)
Tangible Common Equity as a Percentage of Total Assets   

Schedule CCR

CCR 840

   (Equity Capital-Goodwill) / (Total assets – Goodwill)
Ratio of Reserves to Non-performing loans    SC283/PD30    Total loan loss reserves / Total Non-performing loans
Ratio of Net Charge-offs to Loans   

Schedule VA – Consolidated Valuation Allowances and Related Data

(VA155-VA135)/(SC23+SC30+SC34)

   Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of average loans
Return on Assets (annualized)   

Schedule SO – Consolidated Statements of Operations

SO91/SC60

   Net income as a percentage of assets
Net interest margin (annualized)    SO311/((SC10-SC110)+SC20+SC23+SC30+SC34)    Net interest income / Average earning assets
Efficiency Ratio    (SO51/(SO311+SO40))    (Non-interest expense) / (Net interest income + Non-interest income)
Ratio of Loans to Assets    (SC23+SC30+SC34)/(SC60)    Total Loan & Leases / Total assets
Ratio of Loans to Deposits    (SC23+SC30+SC34)/(SC710)    Total Loans & Leases / Total Deposits
Total Assets   

Schedule SC

SC60

   The sum of total assets.
Net Income   

Schedule SO

SO91

   The sum of income (loss).

 

3

Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Lewis R. Holding, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of First Citizens BancShares, Inc.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 7, 2006

 

/s/ Lewis R. Holding

Lewis R. Holding
Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

CERTIFICATION

I, Kenneth A. Black, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of First Citizens BancShares, Inc.;

 

  2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

  5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 7, 2006

 

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

Kenneth A. Black
Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32

CERTIFICATION

The undersigned hereby certifies that, to his or her knowledge, (i) the Form 10-Q filed by First Citizens BancShares, Inc. (the “Issuer”) for the quarter ended June 30, 2006, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (ii) the information contained in that report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Issuer on the dates and for the periods presented therein.

 

August 7, 2006  

/s/ Lewis R. Holding

  Lewis R. Holding
  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
 

/s/ Kenneth A. Black

  Kenneth A. Black
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer