UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

July 25, 2013 (July 22, 2013)

Date of Report

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Georgia   1-10312   58-1134883
(State of incorporation)   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1111 Bay Avenue, Suite 500, Columbus, Georgia 31901

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(706) 649-2311

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On July 22, 2013, Synovus Financial Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (collectively the “Underwriters”), pursuant to which the Underwriters agreed to purchase from the Company an aggregate of 5,200,000 shares of the Company’s Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, no par value and $25.00 liquidation preference per share (the “Series C Preferred Stock”).

The shares of Series C Preferred Stock were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Statement No. 333-190011) (as may be amended and/or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The material terms of the offer and sale of the Series C Preferred Stock are described in the Company’s final prospectus supplement, as filed with the Commission on July 24, 2013 pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) of the Securities Act, which supplements the Company’s prospectus, as filed with the Commission on July 18, 2013 and contained in the Registration Statement.

Pursuant to General Instruction F to the Commission’s Form 8-K, a copy of the Underwriting Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this “Report”), and is incorporated into this Item 1.01 by this reference. The foregoing description of the Underwriting Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to this Report.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

On July 24, 2013, the Company filed Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (the “Articles of Amendment”) with the Georgia Secretary of State Division of Corporations setting forth the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock.

The Series C Preferred Stock ranks senior to the Company’s common stock and equally with its Series A Preferred Stock, which the Company intends to redeem, and at least equally with each other series of preferred stock it may issue (except for any senior series that may be issued with the requisite consent of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock and all other parity stock), with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

Under the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, the ability of the Company to declare or pay dividends on, or purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, shares of its common stock or any preferred stock ranking on parity with or junior to the Series C Preferred Stock is subject to certain restrictions in the event that the Company fails to declare and pay dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock for the then-current dividend period. In addition, in the event the Company liquidates, dissolves or winds-up its business and affairs, either voluntarily or involuntarily, the Company is required to pay the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock a liquidating distribution of $25.00 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, before the Company makes any distribution of assets to the holders of the Company’s common stock or any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Series C Preferred Stock. These restrictions and requirements are set forth in the Articles of Amendment, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Report, and the information in the Articles of Amendment is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by this reference. The description of the terms of the Articles of Amendment in this Item 3.03 is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 3.1.


Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On July 24, 2013, the Company filed the Articles of Amendment with the Georgia Secretary of State Division of Corporations setting forth the terms of its Series C Preferred Stock consisting of 5,200,000 shares.

The Company will pay non-cumulative cash dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock, when, as and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board, based on the $25.00 liquidation preference at a per annum rate equal to (1) 7.875% for each dividend period from the original issue date to, but excluding August 1, 2018 (the “Fixed Rate Period”), and (2) three-month LIBOR plus 6.39% for each dividend period from and including August 1, 2018 through the redemption date of the Series C Preferred Stock, if any (the “Floating Rate Period”). Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will be payable when, as, and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board, in arrears, quarterly on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2013.

The Series C Preferred Stock has a liquidation preference of $25.00 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Liquidating distributions will be made on the Series C Preferred Stock only to the extent the Company’s assets are available after satisfaction of all liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any security ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Stock, and pro rata with any other shares of the Company’s stock ranking equal to the Series C Preferred Stock.

The Series C Preferred Stock is perpetual and does not have any maturity date. The Series C Preferred Stock is redeemable at the Company’s option (i) in whole or in part, from time to time, on any dividend payment date on or after August 1, 2018, or (ii) in whole, but not in part, at any time within 90 days following a regulatory capital treatment event (as defined in the Articles of Amendment), in each case at a redemption price equal to $25.00 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Accordingly, the Series C Preferred Stock will remain outstanding indefinitely unless and until the Company decides to redeem it and receives the prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System applicable to bank holding companies to do so. The Series C Preferred Stock has no preemptive or conversion rights.

The Series C Preferred Stock has no voting rights except with respect to (i) in the case of certain dividend non-payments only, the election of two directors; (ii) authorizing, increasing the authorized amount of, or issuing senior stock; (iii) authorizing material and adverse changes to the terms of the Series C Preferred Stock, whether by merger consolidation or otherwise; and (iv) as otherwise required under Georgia law.

A copy of the Articles of Amendment designating the Series C Preferred Stock is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Report, and the information in the Articles of Amendment is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by this reference. The description of the terms of the Articles of Amendment in this Item 5.03 is qualified in its entirety by reference to Exhibit 3.1. A copy of the form of certificate representing the Series C Preferred Stock is filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Report, and the information in the form of certificate is incorporated into this Item 5.03 by this reference.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with this Report pursuant to Item 601 of the Commission’s Regulation S-K in lieu of filing the otherwise required exhibits to the Registration Statement. This Report is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and, as such, the Company is filing the following exhibits to cause them to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement as exhibits thereto. By filing this Report, and the exhibits hereto, however, the Company does not believe that any of the information set forth herein or the exhibits hereto represent, either individually or in the aggregate, a “fundamental change” (as such term is used in Item 512(a)(1)(ii) of the Commission’s Regulation S-K) in the information set forth in, and incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated July 22, 2013 by and between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named in the agreement.
3.1    Articles of Amendment with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock.
4.1    Form of Certificate representing the Series C Preferred Stock.
5.1    Opinion of Alana L. Griffin, Deputy General Counsel of the Company, regarding validity of the shares.
23.1    Consent of Alana L. Griffin (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereof).
99.1    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution (as required by Item 14 of Part II of Form S-3).


SIGNATURES

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

 

    SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
Date: July 25, 2013     By:   /s/ Samuel F. Hatcher
      Name:   Samuel F. Hatcher
      Title:  

Executive Vice President,

General Counsel and Secretary


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

1.1    Underwriting Agreement dated July 22, 2013 by and between the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as representative of the several underwriters named in the agreement.
3.1    Articles of Amendment with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock.
4.1    Form of Certificate representing the Series C Preferred Stock.
5.1    Opinion of Alana L. Griffin, Deputy General Counsel of the Company, regarding validity of the shares.
23.1    Consent of Alana L. Griffin (included in Exhibit 5.1 hereof).
99.1    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution (as required by Item 14 of Part II of Form S-3).

Exhibit 1.1

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

5,200,000 Shares of

Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C

Underwriting Agreement

July 22, 2013

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

as Representative of the several Underwriters

listed in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Synovus Financial Corp., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representative (the “Representative”), an aggregate of 5,200,000 shares (the “Underwritten Shares”) of Fixed-To-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, with a liquidation preference of $25 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”).

The Company also proposes, subject to the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of FINRA (as defined below) and all other applicable laws, rules and regulations, that a portion of the Underwritten Shares (the “Directed Shares”) shall be offered for sale by the Underwriters to certain officers, directors and other persons designated by the Company (“Directed Share Purchasers”).

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Underwritten Shares, as follows:

1. Registration Statement . The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-190011), including a prospectus, relating to the Underwritten Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) or (b) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Underwritten Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.


At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing term sheet set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated July 22, 2013 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.

“Applicable Time” means 6:00 p.m., New York City time, on July 22, 2013.

2. Purchase of the Underwritten Shares by the Underwriters .

(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price per share (the “Purchase Price”) set forth in Schedule 1.

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Underwritten Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representative is advisable, and initially to offer the Underwritten Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Underwritten Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c) Payment for the Underwritten Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representative in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, 51 West 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on July 25, 2013, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”

(d) Payment for the Underwritten Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date shall be made against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Underwritten Shares to be purchased on such date in such names and in such denominations as the Representative shall request in writing not later than two full business days prior to the Closing Date, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Underwritten Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Underwritten Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Underwritten Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representative at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

(e) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Underwritten Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

 

- 2 -


3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus . No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package . The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Underwritten Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representative. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Underwritten Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or

 

- 3 -


omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(e) Incorporated Documents . The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) Financial Statements . The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby. The interactive data in eXtensbile Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(g) No Material Adverse Change . Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock (other than routine quarterly dividends on its Common Stock and Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, in a manner and amount consistent with past practice), or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Organization and Good Standing . The Company and each of its subsidiaries are incorporated and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization and, in the case of Synovus Trust Company, N.A. is validly chartered as a national bank. The Company and each of its subsidiaries are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such

 

- 4 -


qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and is a financial holding company pursuant to Section 4(l) of the BHCA and meets the applicable requirements for qualification as such. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed on Annex B. The Company does not have any significant subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (each a “Significant Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Significant Subsidiaries”) other than those listed as such on Annex B.

(i) Capitalization . The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(j) Stock Options . With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.

(k) Due Authorization . The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken.

(l) Underwriting Agreement . This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(m) The Underwritten Shares . The Underwritten Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will

 

- 5 -


be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Underwritten Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

(n) No Violation or Default . Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) No Conflicts . The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) No Consents Required . No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the filing of the Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the Preferred Stock with the Georgia Secretary of State prior to the Closing Date and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Underwritten Shares by the Underwriters.

(q) Legal Proceedings . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(r) Independent Accountants . KPMG LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

- 6 -


(s) Title to Real and Personal Property . The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Title to Intellectual Property . The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, and the conduct of their respective businesses will not conflict in any material respect with any such rights of others. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(v) Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Underwritten Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will not be required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).

(w) Taxes . The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof except with respect to any taxes that are currently being contested in good faith or as would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for tax deficiencies that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(x) Licenses and Permits . The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the failure to renew would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) No Labor Disputes . No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, in each case except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

- 7 -


(z) Compliance with and Liability under Environmental Laws . (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (a) are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and the common law relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources or human health or safety, including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, use, handling, transportation, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (b) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (c) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, (d) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, and (e) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (b) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws, including the Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position of the Company and its subsidiaries, and (c) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.

(aa) Hazardous Materials . There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb) Compliance with ERISA . (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the applicable minimum funding standard of Sections 412, 430 and 431 of the Code or Sections 302, 303 and 304 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver

 

- 8 -


thereof or extension of any amortization period), and no Plan is currently, and none is reasonably expected to be, in “at risk status” within the meaning of Section 303(i) of ERISA or Section 430(i) of the Code; (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan subject to Section 401(a) of the Code exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (vii) there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or its subsidiaries. None of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (y) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations” (within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year.

(cc) Disclosure Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(dd) Accounting Controls . The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. There are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

(ee) Insurance . The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate, in the reasonable belief of the Company, to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other material expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company reasonably believes that it will be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

 

- 9 -


(ff) No Unlawful Payments . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(gg) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(hh) Compliance with OFAC . None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Underwritten Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(ii) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . Except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.

(jj) No Broker’s Fees . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Underwritten Shares.

(kk) No Registration Rights . Other than the U.S. Department of the Treasury, no person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Underwritten Shares.

(ll) No Stabilization . The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Underwritten Shares.

(mm) Margin Rules . The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Underwritten Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

 

- 10 -


(nn) Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(oo) Statistical and Market Data . The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably believes are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(pp) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(qq) Status under the Securities Act . At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Underwritten Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act or will pay such fee within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(rr) Bank Regulatory Authorities . Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws administered by, and all rules and regulations of, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (the “OCC”), the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance and any other federal or state bank regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”), except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or where such noncompliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The deposit accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured up to applicable limits by the FDIC and no proceedings for the termination or revocation of such insurance are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board of director resolutions at the request of, any Bank Regulatory Authority which currently restricts the conduct of its business, or relates to its capital adequacy, its credit policies or its management, in each case that are applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries specifically rather than to banks and bank holding companies generally.

4. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings . The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act; will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Underwritten Shares; and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

 

- 11 -


(b) Delivery of Copies . The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed electronic copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representative may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Underwritten Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Underwritten Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Underwritten Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses . Before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.

(d) Notice to the Representative . The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Underwritten Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Underwritten Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance . (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure

 

- 12 -


Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(f) Blue Sky Compliance . The Company will qualify the Underwritten Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Underwritten Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

(g) Earning Statement . The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(h) Clear Market . For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Preferred Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Preferred Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, other than the Underwritten Shares to be sold hereunder or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Underwritten Shares or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Underwritten Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representative.

(i) Use of Proceeds . The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Underwritten Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds.”

(j) No Stabilization . The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock.

(k) Reports . So long as the Underwritten Shares are outstanding, the Company will make available to the Representative, promptly after they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Underwritten Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(l) Record Retention . The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(m) Filing of Articles of Amendment . The Company will file, prior to the Closing Date, the Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the Preferred Stock with the Georgia Secretary of State.

 

- 13 -


5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Underwritten Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission.

(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations . The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order . No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.

(b) Representations and Warranties . The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Downgrade . Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(d) No Material Adverse Change . No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

- 14 -


(e) Officers’ Certificate . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

(f) Comfort Letters . On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date KPMG LLP shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided , that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date.

(g) CFO Certificate . The Representative shall have received on and as of the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date a certificate of the chief financial officer of the Company, in the form set forth in Annex D hereto.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement . Alston & Bird LLP, special counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, a written opinion and a 10b-5 statement, and Alana L. Griffin, Deputy General Counsel of the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, a written opinion, each dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect set forth in Annex C-1 and Annex C-2, respectively, hereto.

(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance . No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date prevent the issuance or sale of the Underwritten Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date prevent the issuance or sale of the Underwritten Shares.

(k) Good Standing . The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(l) Filing of Articles of Amendment . The Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the Preferred Stock shall have been filed with the Georgia Secretary of State prior to the Closing Date and shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

(m) Lock-up Agreements . The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, from certain officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

- 15 -


(n) Additional Documents . On or prior to the Closing Date the Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended) or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or prospectus wrapper material distributed in connection with the reservation and sale of the Directed Shares or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, when considered in conjunction with the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Company . Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information contained in the paragraph beginning with the phrase “The underwriters will be permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the Preferred Stock…” under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) Notice and Procedures . If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than

 

- 16 -


under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution . If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Underwritten Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Underwritten Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Underwritten Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

- 17 -


(e) Sale of Directed Shares . In connection with the offer and sale of Directed Shares, the Company agrees promptly upon written notice, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by them as a result of (i) the violation of any applicable laws or regulations of any foreign jurisdictions where Directed Shares have been offered or (ii) the failure of any Directed Share Purchaser, who has agreed to purchase Directed Shares, to pay for and accept delivery of the Directed Shares. Under no circumstances will the Representative or any Underwriter be liable to the Company or to any Directed Share Purchaser for any action taken or omitted to be taken in connection with the Directed Shares or any transaction effected with any Directed Share Purchaser, except to the extent found in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Representative or such Underwriter, as the case may be.

(f) Limitation on Liability . The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Underwritten Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(g) Non-Exclusive Remedies . The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter .

(a) If, on the Closing Date any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Underwritten Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Underwritten Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 24 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting

 

- 18 -


Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Underwritten Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 24 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Underwritten Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Underwritten Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Underwritten Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Underwritten Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date does not exceed one-tenth of the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Underwritten Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Underwritten Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Underwritten Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Underwritten Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate amount of Underwritten Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Underwritten Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Underwritten Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate, the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum and any offering of Directed Shares outside of the United States (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters); (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA; (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; (ix) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Underwritten Shares on the Exchange; and (x) all expenses related to the offering of Directed Shares and (xi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Underwritten Shares.

 

- 19 -


(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Underwritten Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Underwritten Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Underwritten Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival . The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Underwritten Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

15. Miscellaneous .

(a) Authority of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC . Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices . All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 (fax: (212) 622-8358); Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 1111 Bay Avenue, Suite 500, Columbus, Georgia 31902 (fax: (706) 644-1957; Attention: Chief Financial Officer (with a copy to General Counsel)).

(c) Governing Law . This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

(d) Counterparts . This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Amendments or Waivers . No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings . The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

(g) USA Patriot Act . In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

 

- 20 -


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,
SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. Prescott

  Name:   Thomas J. Prescott
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Accepted: July 22, 2013
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC
For itself and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
By:  

/s/ Stephen L. Sheiner

  Authorized Signatory
  Stephen L. Sheiner
  Executive Director


Schedule 1

The initial public offering price per share for the Underwritten Shares shall be $25.00.

The purchase price per share to be paid by the several Underwriters for the shares of Preferred Stock sold to institutional investors shall be $24.3750, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $0.6250 per share. The purchase price per share for the shares of Preferred Stock sold to retail investors shall be $24.2125, being an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $0.7875 per share.

 

Underwriter

   Number of Underwritten Shares  

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

     4,420,000   

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

     390,000   

Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P.

     390,000   
  

 

 

 

Total

     5,200,000   


Annex A

Filed Pursuant to Rule 433

Registration No. 333-190011

Dated: July 22, 2013

 

LOGO

Pricing Term Sheet

5,200,000 Underwritten Shares of

Fixed-To-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C

 

Issuer:    Synovus Financial Corp. (the “Company”), a Georgia corporation.
Expected Issue Ratings*:   

Moody’s Investors Service: Caa1

Standard & Poor’s: B-

Securities Offered:    5,200,000 shares of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C
Liquidation Preference:    $25 per share of Preferred Stock
Maturity Date:    Perpetual
Dividend Rate (Non-Cumulative):    From July 25, 2013 to, but excluding, August 1, 2018, 7 7/8% and from and including August 1, 2018, Three-Month LIBOR plus 639 basis points
Dividend Payment:    Beginning November 1, 2013, each February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1
Day Count:    From July 25, 2013 to, but excluding, August 1, 2018, 30/360 and from and including August 1, 2018, Actual/360
Optional Redemption:    Redeemable in whole or in part, at $25 per share plus, any declared and unpaid dividends, on August 1, 2018, or any dividend payment date thereafter. Also, redeemable in whole upon the occurrence of a “regulatory capital treatment event” (as defined in the prospectus supplement) at $25 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends
Trade Date:    July 22, 2013
Settlement Date:    July 25, 2013
Public Offering Price:    $25 per Underwritten Share
Underwriting Commission:    For all sales, except to institutions, 3.15%; for sales to institutions, 2.50%
Net Proceeds (before expenses) to the Issuer:    $126,632,187.50
Bookrunning Manager:    J.P. Morgan Securities LLC


Co-Managers:   

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P.

CUSIP/ISIN:    87161C402 / US87161C4024

 

* Note: A Securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold Securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

THE ISSUER HAS FILED A REGISTRATION STATEMENT (INCLUDING A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND A PROSPECTUS) WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION FOR THE OFFERING TO WHICH THIS COMMUNICATION RELATES. BEFORE YOU INVEST, YOU SHOULD READ THESE DOCUMENTS AND THE OTHER DOCUMENTS THE ISSUER HAS FILED WITH THE SEC FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ISSUER AND THIS OFFERING. YOU MAY GET THESE DOCUMENTS FOR FREE BY VISITING EDGAR ON THE SEC WEB SITE AT WWW.SEC.GOV. ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN REQUEST THE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS BY CALLING J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC AT 1-212-834-4533 .

 

A-2


Annex B

SUBSIDIARIES OF SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

Synovus Bank (Significant Subsidiary)

Synovus Trust Company, National Association

BOP Investment Company, Inc.

BOP Mortgage Investment Corporation

Synovus Mortgage Corp.

Synovus Title, LLC

Synovus Title II, LLC

Dadeville Asset Management, LLC

Sterling Place, L.L.C.

W.L. Properties, Inc.

U.O.S. Properties, Inc.

Orchid, LLC

The Summerton Inn, Inc.

DAL LLC

KDC LLC

Lake Property Holdings, LLC

BOP Properties, Inc.

BNG Beltline, LLC

Synovus Lofts of Greenville, LLC

Azalea Park Partners, L.L.C.

CB&T Special Limited Partner, L.L.C.

West End Redevelopment Partnership, L.P.

Synovus Burger-Phillips, LLC

Burger-Phillips Building, LLC

Tuscaloosa Riverfront Development, LLC

Pine Cone Apartments Tuscaloosa, Ltd.

FCB Heritage 1901 Redevelopment LLC

Heritage 1901 Redevelopment, LLC

CB&T Housing Fund Investor, L.L.C.

Tall Pines Apartments, L.P.

Boston Capital Columbus Tax Credit Fund, L.P.

New Northgate Village Development Company, L.P.

CB&T State Tax Credit Fund, L.L.C.

Ashton Avalon, LP

Baker Village Apartments I, LP

Synovus Equity Investments, Inc.

Synovus Special Limited Partner LLC

Synovus Callier Forest, LLC

Callier Forest, L.P.

Synovus Union Hill, L.L.C.

Union Hill Apartments, LTD

Synovus Pointe Apartments, L.L.C.

The Pointe Apartments, LTD

Synvous South Mall Apartments, L.L.C.

Summit South Mall Apartments, LP

Synovus Aspenwood Square, LLC

Aspenwood Square Apartments, LP

ST GA Fund I, LLC

ST GA Fund III, LLC

Synovus Securities, Inc.

Broadway Asset Management, Inc.


Banking Corporation of Florida Capital Trust

Synovus Georgia State Tax Credit Fund, LLC

JT Tax Credits, LLC

TTP Fund II, L.P.

GAA Real Estate Partners, L.P.

Cordova Intellimedia Ventures, L.P.

 

B-2


Annex D

Form of CFO Certificate

CFO CERTIFICATE

July 22, 2013

The undersigned, Chief Financial Officer of Synovus Financial Corp. (the “ Company ”), hereby certifies pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated July 22, 2013 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, as the Representative of the several underwriters named therein, that as of the date hereof (Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Underwriting Agreement):

 

  1. I have reviewed the information set forth in the Company’s Preliminary Prospectus under the captions “Summary – Synovus Financial Corp. – Our business”, “Summary – Synovus Financial Corp. – Recent developments”, “Summary – Synovus Financial Corp. – The offering”, “Description of the preferred stock” (collectively, the “ Prospectus Sections ”). The information presented in the Prospectus Sections, when viewed together with the remainder of the Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein, provides a fair and accurate summary of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2013 and the financial data presented therein is accurately derived from the Company’s accounting records.

 

  2. I have compared each item marked on the attached copy of the Prospectus Sections with the amount included in the Company’s accounting records or on a schedule or report prepared by the Company from its accounting records and found them to be in agreement.

 

  3. No facts have come to my attention that have caused me to believe that the historical financial data presented in the Prospectus Sections is not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles on a basis substantially consistent with that of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries audited by KPMG LLP and included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012.


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this certificate on the date first written above.

 

 

Name:   Thomas J. Prescott
Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

D-2

Exhibit 3.1

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT

TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

1. The name of the corporation is Synovus Financial Corp. (the “ Corporation ”). The Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Georgia.

2. The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “ Articles ”) are amended by adding a new paragraph to the end of Article 4 that reads as follows and by adding Designation C attached to this amendment as an attachment to the Articles:

“Creation of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (hereinafter called “ Series C Preferred Stock ”): The powers, rights, and preferences, and the qualifications, limitations, and restrictions thereof, of the Series C Preferred Stock are as set forth in Designation C attached hereto.”

3. The amendment was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation on July 22, 2013, without shareholder action, in accordance with Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code

[Signature on following page]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Synovus Financial Corp. has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 24 th day of July, 2013.

 

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.
By:   /s/ Thomas J. Prescott
  Thomas J. Prescott
 

Executive Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

2


DESIGNATION C

DESIGNATIONS, POWERS, PREFERENCES,

LIMITATIONS, RESTRICTIONS, AND RELATIVE RIGHTS

OF

FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK,

SERIES C

OF

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES

Section 1.  Designation and Number of Shares . A series of Preferred Stock designated the “Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C” (hereinafter called “ Series C Preferred Stock ”) shall be established and the authorized number of shares that shall constitute such series shall be 5,200,000 shares, no par value per share, and having a liquidation preference of $25 per share. The number of shares constituting the Series C Preferred Stock may be increased from time to time in accordance with law up to the maximum number of shares of Preferred Stock authorized to be issued under the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, less all shares at the time authorized of any other series of Preferred Stock. Shares of Series C Preferred Stock will be dated the date of issue, which shall be referred to herein as the “ original issue date ”. Shares of outstanding Series C Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation, or converted into another series of Preferred Stock, shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.

Section 2.  Ranking . The shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall rank:

(a) senior, as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up, to the common stock and to any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, does not expressly provide that it ranks senior or pari passu  with the Series C Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up, as the case may be (collectively, “ Series C Junior Securities ”); and

(b) on a parity, as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up, with the Corporation’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A (the “ Series A Preferred Stock ”) and with any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks  pari passu  with the Series C Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up, as the case may be (collectively, “ Series C Parity Securities ”).

The Corporation may authorize and issue additional shares of Series C Junior Securities and Series C Parity Securities without the consent of the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.


Section 3.  Dividends . (a) Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends under Georgia law, non-cumulative cash dividends based on the liquidation preference of the Series C Preferred Stock at a rate equal to (1) 7.875% per annum for each Series C Dividend Period (as defined below) from the original issue date of the Series C Preferred Stock to, but excluding, August 1, 2018 (the “ Fixed Rate Period ”), and (2) three-month LIBOR plus a spread of 639 basis points per annum, for each Series C Dividend Period from August 1, 2018 to, and including, the redemption date of the Series C Preferred Stock, if any (the “ Floating Rate Period ”). If the Corporation issues additional shares of the Series C Preferred Stock after the original issue date, dividends on such shares will accrue from the date such additional shares are issued.

(b) If declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, dividends will be payable on the Series C Preferred Stock on the following dates (each, a “ Series C Dividend Payment Date ”): during the Fixed Rate Period, dividends will be payable quarterly, in arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2013; and during the Floating Rate Period, dividends will be payable quarterly, in arrears, on February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1 of each year beginning on November 1, 2018. If any date on which dividends would otherwise be payable is not a Business Day, then the Series C Dividend Payment Date will be the next Business Day, without any adjustment to the amount of such dividends. A “ Business Day ” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

(c) Dividends will be payable to holders of record of Series C Preferred Stock as they appear on the Corporation’s books on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15 th  calendar day before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date, no earlier than 30 calendar days before the applicable Dividend Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

(d) A “ Series C Dividend Period ” is the period from and including a Series C Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Series C Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Series C Dividend Period will commence on and include the original issue date of Series C Preferred Stock. Dividends payable on Series C Preferred Stock for the Fixed Rate Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dividends payable on the Series C Preferred Stock for the Floating Rate Period will be computed based on the actual number of days in a dividend period and a 360-day year. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upwards. Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will cease to accrue on the redemption date, if any, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price of the Series C Preferred Stock called for redemption.

(e) The dividend rate for each Series C Dividend Period in the Floating Rate Period will be determined by the calculation agent using three-month LIBOR as in effect on the second London banking day prior to the beginning of the Series C Dividend Period, which date is the “ dividend determination date ” for the Series C Dividend Period. The calculation agent then will add the spread of 639 basis points per annum to the three-month LIBOR rate as determined on the dividend determination date. Absent manifest error, the calculation agent’s determination of the dividend rate for a Series C Dividend Period will be binding and conclusive on holders of Series C Preferred Stock, the transfer agent and the Corporation. A “London banking day” is any day on which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market.

 

2


The term “three-month LIBOR” means the London interbank offered rate for deposits in U.S. dollars having an index maturity of three months in amounts of at least $1,000,000, as that rate appears on Reuters screen page “LIBOR01” at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the relevant dividend determination date. If no offered rate appears on Reuters screen page “LIBOR01” on the relevant dividend determination date at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, then the calculation agent, after consultation with the Corporation, will select four major banks in the London interbank market and will request each of their principal London offices to provide a quotation of the rate at which three-month deposits in U.S. dollars in amounts of at least $1,000,000 are offered by it to prime banks in the London interbank market, on that date and at that time, that is representative of single transactions at that time. If at least two quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided. Otherwise, the calculation agent will select three major banks in New York City and will request each of them to provide a quotation of the rate offered by it at approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the dividend determination date for loans in U.S. dollars to leading European banks having an index maturity of three months for the applicable Series C Dividend Period in an amount of at least $1,000,000 that is representative of single transactions at that time. If three quotations are provided, three-month LIBOR will be the arithmetic average (rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest .00001 of 1%) of the quotations provided. Otherwise, three-month LIBOR for the next Series C Dividend Period will be equal to three-month LIBOR in effect for the then-current Series C Dividend Period.

(f) Dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. If the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors does not declare a dividend on the Series C Preferred Stock in respect of a Series C Dividend Period, then no dividend shall be deemed to have accrued for such dividend period, be payable on the applicable Dividend Payment Date or be cumulative, and the Corporation will have no obligation to pay any dividend for that Series Dividend Period, whether or not the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors declares a dividend for any future Series C Dividend Period with respect to the Series C Preferred Stock.

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, dividends on the Series C Preferred Stock shall not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the Corporation to fail to comply with the laws and regulations applicable thereto, including applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

(h) During a Series C Dividend Period, so long as any share of Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless, in each case, the full dividends for the then-current Series C Dividend Period on all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock have been declared and paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside:

(1) no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment, and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment, on any Series C Junior Securities, other than (i) a dividend payable solely in Series C Junior Securities or (ii) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a shareholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under such plan;

 

3


(2) no shares of Series C Junior Securities shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Series C Junior Securities for or into other Series C Junior Securities, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Series C Junior Securities for or into another share of Series C Junior Securities, (iii) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Series C Junior Securities, (iv) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Series C Junior Securities in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants, (v) purchases of shares of Series C Junior Securities pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Series C Junior Securities existing prior to the preceding Series C Dividend Period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan, or (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Series C Junior Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation; and

(3) no shares of Series C Parity Securities shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Corporation, directly or indirectly, other than pursuant to  pro rata  offers to purchase all, or a  pro rata  portion, of Series C Preferred Stock and such Series C Parity Securities, other than (i) as a result of a reclassification of Series C Parity Securities for or into other Series C Parity Securities, (ii) the exchange or conversion of one share of Series C Parity Securities for or into another share of Series C Parity Securities, (iii) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Series C Parity Securities, (iv) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Series C Parity Securities in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants, (v) purchases of shares of Series C Parity Securities pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Series C Parity Securities existing prior to the preceding Series C Dividend Period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan, (vi) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Series C Parity Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged, or (vii) the redemption of the Corporation’s outstanding Series A Preferred Stock.

(i) When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series C Preferred Stock and any Series C Parity Securities, all dividends declared upon shares of Series C Preferred Stock and any Series C Parity Securities will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the then-current Series C Dividend Period per share on the Series C Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, on any Series C Parity Securities, bear to each other.

(j) Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, may be declared and paid on the common stock and any other class or series of capital stock ranking equally with or junior to Series C Preferred Stock from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the holders of Series C Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

 

4


Section 4.  Liquidation . (a) Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, holders of Series C Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of assets of the Corporation available for distribution to shareholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any securities ranking senior to Series C Preferred Stock, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any Series C Junior Securities, a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $25 per share plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from the Corporation after they have received their full liquidating distribution. In addition, the Series C Preferred Stock may be fully subordinate to interests held by the U.S. government in the event of a receivership, insolvency, liquidation or similar proceeding, including a proceeding under the “orderly liquidation authority” provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

(b) In any such distribution, if the assets of the Corporation are not sufficient to pay the liquidation preferences plus declared and unpaid dividends in full to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock and all holders of any Series C Parity Securities, the amounts paid to the holders of Series C Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Series C Parity Securities will be paid  pro rata  in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders. If the liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends has been paid in full to all holders of Series C Preferred Stock and any Series C Parity Securities, the holders of the Corporation’s Series C Junior Securities shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(c) For purposes of this section, the merger or consolidation of the Corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series C Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation for cash, securities or other property, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 5.  Redemption . (a) Series C Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Series C Preferred Stock is not redeemable prior to August 1, 2018. On and after that date, Series C Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the option of the Corporation, in whole or in part, from time to time, on any Series C Dividend Payment Date, at a redemption price equal to $25 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without accumulation of any undeclared dividends. Holders of Series C Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of Series C Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, the Corporation, at its option, may redeem, at any time, all (but not less than all) of the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at a redemption price equal to $25 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends without accumulation of any undeclared dividends, upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below.

 

5


A “Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” means the good faith determination by the Corporation that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of the Series C Preferred Stock; (ii) any proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of the Series C Preferred Stock; or (iii) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of the Series C Preferred Stock, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation value of the shares of the Series C Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “ Federal Reserve ”) set forth in Regulation Y, 12 CFR 225 (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor appropriate federal banking agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of the Series C Preferred Stock is outstanding. Redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock is subject to the Corporation’s receipt of any required prior approvals from the Federal Reserve and to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth in the capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve applicable to the redemption of the Series C Preferred Stock.

(b) If shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail to the holders of record of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed, mailed not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof (provided that, if the shares representing Series C Preferred Stock are held in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company, or “ DTC ”, the Corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC). Each notice of redemption will include a statement setting forth: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series C Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series C Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date. If notice of redemption of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock has been duly given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock so called for redemption so as to be and continue to be available therefor, then, on and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series C Preferred Stock, such shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price, plus any declared and unpaid dividends.

(c) In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either  pro rata or by lot.

Section 6.  Voting Rights . (a) Except as provided below or as expressly required by law, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have no voting power, and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate series or class or together with any other series or class of shares of capital stock, and shall not be entitled to call a meeting of such holders for any purpose, nor shall they be entitled to participate in any meeting of the holders of the Common Stock.

 

6


(b) So long as any shares of Series C Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of all of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required to: (1) authorize or increase the authorized amount of, or issue shares of any class or series of stock ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase, any class or series of stock ranking senior to the Series C Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation; (2) amend the provisions of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series C Preferred Stock, taken as a whole, provided, however, that with respect to the events set forth in (b)(2): (i) so long as shares of Series C Preferred Stock remains outstanding with the terms thereof materially unchanged or new shares of the surviving corporation or entity are issued with the same terms as the Series C Preferred Stock, in each case taking into account that upon the occurrence of this event the Corporation may not be the surviving entity, the occurrence of any such event shall not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series C Preferred Stock or the holders thereof; and (ii) any increase in the amount of the authorized or issued shares of Series C Preferred Stock or authorized common or preferred stock or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, of other series of Preferred Stock ranking equally with or junior to Series C Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation will not be deemed to materially and adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or rights of Series C Preferred Stock or the holders thereof. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been irrevocably set aside by the Corporation separate and apart from its other assets, in trust for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series C Preferred Stock so called for redemption so as to be and continue to be available therefor.

(c) If the Corporation fails to pay, or declare and set apart for payment, dividends on outstanding shares of the Series C Preferred Stock or any other series of Preferred Stock for six quarterly dividend periods, or their equivalent, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors of the Corporation shall be increased by two at the Corporation’s first annual meeting of the shareholders held thereafter, and at such meeting and at each subsequent annual meeting until cumulative dividends payable for all past dividend periods and continuous noncumulative dividends for at least one year on all outstanding shares of Preferred Stock entitled thereto shall have been paid, or declared and set apart for payment, in full, the holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting as a class with holders of any other equally ranked series of Preferred Stock that have similar voting rights, to elect such two additional members of the Board of Directors to hold office for a term of one year. Upon such payment, or such declaration and setting apart for payment, in full, the terms of the two additional directors so elected shall forthwith terminate, and the number of directors shall be reduced by two, and such voting right of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock shall cease, subject to increase in

 

7


the number of directors of the Corporation as described above and to revesting of such voting right in the event of each and every additional failure in the payment of dividends for six quarterly dividend periods, or their equivalent, whether or not consecutive, as described above. Any director elected by the Preferred Stock under this Section 6 may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Series C Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Series C Parity Securities, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any director elected by the Preferred Stock under this Section 6 becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining director elected by the Preferred Stock under this Section 6 may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

Section 7.  Conversion Rights . The holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class or series of securities of the Corporation.

Section 8.  Preemptive Rights . The holders of shares of Series C Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the Corporation’s capital stock or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock.

Section 9.  Certificates . The Corporation may at its option issue shares of Series C Preferred Stock without certificates.

Section 10.  Transfer Agent and Registrar . The duly appointed transfer agent for the Series C Preferred Stock shall be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the transfer agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the transfer agent; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.

Section 11.  Registrar . The duly appointed registrar for the Series C Preferred Stock shall be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the registrar in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the registrar; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor registrar who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.

Section 12.  Calculation Agent . The duly appointed calculation agent for the Series C Preferred Stock shall be Synovus Bank. The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the calculation agent in accordance with the agreement between the Corporation and the calculation agent; provided that the Corporation shall appoint a successor calculation agent who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the Corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series C Preferred Stock.

 

8

Exhibit 4.1

 

Number *0*   Shares *0*  

SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA

SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK, NO PAR VALUE

**Specimen**

is the owner of

**Zero (0)**

FULLY PAID AND NONASSESSABLE SHARES OF FIXED-TO-FLOATING RATE NON-CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES C, LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE $25 PER SHARE, OF SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

(the “Corporation”) transferable on the books of the Corporation by the holder hereof in person or by its duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed. This Certificate and the shares represented hereby are issued and shall be held subject to all of the provisions of the charter of the Corporation and the bylaws of the Corporation and any amendments thereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate to be executed on its behalf by its duly authorized officers this      day of             , 2013.

 

 

   

 

  (SEAL)  
[Name]     [Name]    
Secretary     President    


SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP. WILL FURNISH TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE A FULL STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SHARES OF EACH CLASS AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED BY SYNOVUS FINANCIAL CORP.

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this certificate, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

 

TEN COM

    - as tenants in common   UNIF GIFT MIN ACT -    

 

  Custodian        

TEN ENT

    - as tenants by the entireties       (Cust)       (Minor)  

JT TEN

    - as joint tenants with rights of survivorship     under Uniform Gift to Minors Act        
   

and not as tenants in common

            (State)  
      UNIF TRF MIN ACT -    

 

  Custodian (until age                     )  

                 

          (Cust)           (Minor)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though

not in the above list.

   under Uniform Transfers to Minors Act      
        (State)

For Value Received,                      hereby sell, assign and transfer unto

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

 

 

 

(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)

 

 

 

 

  shares
of the capital stock represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint  

 

  Attorney
to transfer said stock on the books of the within named Corporation with full power of substation in premises.  

Date:              20     

 

 

Signature:

 

Signature:

 

SIGNATURE(S) GUARANTEED:

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 SEC RULE 17Ad-15.

NOTE: THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE, IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT, OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

  Alana L. Griffin   P.O. Box 120  
  Deputy General Counsel   Columbus, GA 31902  
    706.644.2485  
    706.644.1957 Fax  
    alanagriffin@synovus.com  

July 25, 2013

Board of Directors

Synovus Financial Corp.

1111 Bay Avenue

Suite 500

Columbus, Georgia 31901

 

  Re: Synovus Financial Corp. - Registration Statement on Form S-3

(File No. 333-190011)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am the Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary to Synovus Financial Corp., a Georgia corporation (the “Company”). This opinion is being rendered on behalf of the Company in connection with the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, (File No. 333-190011) (the “Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to item 16 of the Commission’s Form S-3 and Item 601(b)(5) of the Commission’s Regulation S-K in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of 5,200,000 shares of the Company’s Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, no par value (the “Shares”). The Shares are issued and sold pursuant to the Company’s prospectus, dated July 18, 2013 (the “Prospectus”) included in the Registration Statement and the related preliminary prospectus supplement dated July 22, 2013 and the related final prospectus supplement dated July 22, 2013 (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Shares are being issued and sold to the several underwriters (the “Underwriters”) named in the Underwriting Agreement dated as of July 22, 2013 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) by and among the Company and the Underwriters.

In rendering the opinions expressed herein, and except as hereinafter limited, I have examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Company’s Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (in each case as amended or restated), and the records of proceedings of the Board of Directors (including committees thereof) and shareholders of the Company deemed by me to be relevant to this opinion letter. I have also made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries as I have deemed necessary for purposes of expressing the opinions set forth herein.

As to certain factual matters relevant to this opinion letter, I have relied conclusively upon the representations, warranties and statements made in originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such records, agreements, documents and instruments, including certificates or comparable documents of officers of the Company and of public officials, as I have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth. Except to the extent expressly set forth herein, I have made no independent investigations with regard thereto, and, accordingly, I do not express any opinion or belief as to matters that might have been disclosed by independent verification.


Page 2

July 25, 2013

 

In my examination of the relevant documents, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the accuracy and completeness of all documents submitted to me, the authenticity of all original documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to me as copies (including facsimile and electronic copies). This opinion letter is given, and all statements herein are made, in context of the foregoing.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, with no pre-emptive rights attaching thereto.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Georgia, and no opinion is expressed with respect to the laws of any other jurisdiction or any effect which such laws may have on the opinions expressed herein. This opinion is limited to the matters expressly opined on herein, and no opinion may be implied or inferred beyond that expressly stated.

This opinion is delivered for use solely in connection with the issuance of the Shares in the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement and the Underwriting Agreement and may not be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose without my prior express written consent. This opinion is delivered as of the date hereof, and I make no undertaking and expressly disclaim any duty to supplement or update such opinion, if, after the date hereof, facts or circumstances come to my attention or changes in the law occur which could affect this opinion and the other statements expressed herein. This opinion is being rendered solely for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to or relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose without my prior express written consent.

I consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the caption “Validity of securities” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving my consent, I do not hereby admit that I am in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Alana L. Griffin
Alana L. Griffin

Exhibit 99.1

OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

The estimated expenses incurred by Synovus Financial Corp. (the “Company”) in connection with its issuance and sale of 5,200,000 shares of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C, no par value per share, are set forth in the following table:

 

Securities and Exchange Commission Registration Fee

   $ 17,732   

Legal Fees and Expenses

     400,000   

Accounting Fees and Expenses

     288,000   

Printing and Engraving Expenses

     14,632   

Other

     379,636   

Total

   $ 1,100,000