425

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 25, 2012

CRESCENT FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	000-32951	45-2915089
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300

Raleigh, North Carolina 27612

(Address of principal executive offices)

(919) 659-9000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(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:

þ 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 September 25, 2012, Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) and ECB Bancorp, Inc. (“ECB”) entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, ECB will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, merge with and into the Company so that the Company is the surviving bank holding corporation in the merger (the “Merger”). Immediately following the Merger, The East Carolina Bank, a North Carolina banking corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECB, will be merged with and into Crescent State Bank, a North Carolina banking corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Bank”). The Company and ECB anticipate that the Merger will close in the first quarter of 2013, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval and approval of shareholders of each of the Company and ECB.

At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock, par value $3.50 per share, of ECB issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (the “ECB Common Stock”), except for shares of ECB Common Stock owned by ECB or the Company (other than certain trust account shares), will be converted into the right to receive 3.55 shares of the common stock, par value $0.001 per share of the Company (the “Common Stock”).

The Merger Agreement requires each of the Company and ECB to call a meeting of its respective shareholders to be held after the date of the Merger Agreement for the purpose of obtaining the requisite shareholder approval required in connection with the Merger.  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, prior to the Effective Time, each of A. Dwight Utz, President and Chief Executive Officer of ECB; Thomas M. Crowder, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of ECB; James J. Burson, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of ECB, and T. Olin Davis, Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of ECB, shall have entered into an employment agreement, or an amendment to their existing employment/severance arrangement(s) with ECB, with the Company and the Bank. All of the foregoing agreements will become effective only upon consummation of the Merger at the Effective Time.

The Merger Agreement also requires the Company to offer three members of the ECB board of directors (the “ECB Board”) seats as non-management members on the Company’s board of directors until the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders following the Effective Time, and the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to arrange for such members to sit for election to a regular term at the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders. The Company is also required to offer, for a concurrent period of time (but not to exceed two years), three members of the ECB Board seats as members on the board of directors of the Bank, with one such member, Mr. Utz, to serve as Chairman of the board of directors of the Bank.

The Merger Agreement includes detailed representations, warranties and covenants of the Company and ECB and termination provisions customary for transactions of this type. From the date of the Merger Agreement to the Effective Time, ECB has agreed to, among other things, conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects and use reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization and advantageous business relationships and retain the services of its key officers and key employees. ECB has also agreed not to solicit or initiate discussions with third parties regarding other proposals to acquire ECB and it has agreed to certain restrictions on its ability to respond to such proposals, as more fully described in the Merger Agreement.

The foregoing summary of the Merger Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, the Company will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will contain a joint proxy statement/prospectus of the Company and ECB. The companies will file with the SEC other relevant materials in connection with the proposed merger, and will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective shareholders.  SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH THE COMPANY AND ECB ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE COMPANY, ECB AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The documents can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a written request to either Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27612, Attention: Terry Earley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or ECB Bancorp, Inc., Post Office Box 337, Engelhard, NC 27824, Attention: Tom Crowder, Chief Financial Officer.

The Company, ECB and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of the Company and ECB in favor of the merger.  Information about the directors and executive officers of ECB and their ownership of ECB common stock is set forth in ECB’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012 and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from ECB at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Information about the directors and executive officers of Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. and their ownership of the Company common stock is set forth in the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 5, 2012 and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from the Company at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company cautions readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving the Company and ECB, the Company’s and ECB’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction and other statements that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in the Company’s and ECB’s filings with the SEC. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: the ability to obtain the requisite Company and ECB shareholder approvals; the risk that the Company or ECB may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger; the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the timing to consummate the proposed merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers and employees; the diversion of management time on merger-related issues; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; and other factors discussed or referred to in the “Risk Factors” section of each of the Company’s and ECB’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and except as may be required by law, neither the Company nor ECB undertakes any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

On September 25, 2012, the Company issued a press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement. A copy of that press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

On September 25, 2012, the Company issued a slide presentation to certain investors in connection with the Merger. A copy of that slide presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2. The slide presentation shall not be treated as “filed” for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 9.01.Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No	Description
2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 25, 2012, by and between ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.
99.1	Press Release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement, dated September 25, 2012
99.2	Slide Presentation. dated September 25, 2012

SIGNATURE

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

	CRESCENT FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.
Dated: September 25, 2012
	By:	/s/ Terry S. Earley
		Terry S. Earley Executive Vice President and
		Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No	Description
2.1	Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 25, 2012, by and between ECB Bancorp, Inc. and Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.
99.1	Press Release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement, dated September 25, 2012
99.2	Slide Presentation. dated September 25, 2012

EX-2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND BETWEEN

ECB BANCORP, INC.

AND

CRESCENT FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.

DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Table of Contents

		Page
ARTICLE I THE MERGER		1
1.1	The Merger	2
1.2	Effective Time	2
1.3	Effects of the Merger	2
1.4	Conversion of Shares	2
1.5	Stock Options, Other Stock-Based Awards and Warrants	3
1.6	Articles of Incorporation of Buyer	4
1.7	Bylaws of Buyer	4
1.8	Tax Consequences	4
Article II DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION		5
2.1	Exchange Procedures	5
2.2	Rights of Former Seller Shareholders	5
Article III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER		6
3.1	Corporate Organization	6
3.2	Capitalization	7
3.3	Authority; No Violation	8
3.4	Consents and Approvals	9
3.5	Reports; Regulatory Matters	9
3.6	Financial Statements	11
3.7	Broker’s Fees	11
3.8	Absence of Certain Changes or Events	12
3.9	Legal Proceedings	13
3.10	Taxes and Tax Returns	13
3.11	Employee Matters	14
3.12	Compliance with Applicable Law	19
3.13	Certain Contracts	19
3.14	Risk Management Instruments	20
3.15	Investment Securities and Commodities	20
3.16	Loan Portfolio	20
3.17	Property	21
3.18	Insurance	22
3.19	Intellectual Property	22
3.20	Environmental Liability	23
3.21	Leases	23
3.22	Privacy of Customer Information	23
3.23	Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act; Money Laundering	23
3.24	CRA Compliance	24
3.25	Securitizations	24
3.26	State Takeover Laws	24
3.27	Reorganization; Approvals	24
3.28	Opinion	24
3.29	Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity	24
Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER		24

i

4.1	Corporate Organization	24
4.2	Capitalization	25
4.3	Authority; No Violation	26
4.4	Consents and Approvals	26
4.5	Reports; Regulatory Matters	27
4.6	Financial Statements	28
4.7	Broker’s Fees	29
4.8	Absence of Certain Changes or Events	29
4.9	Legal Proceedings	30
4.10	Taxes and Tax Returns	30
4.11	Compliance with Applicable Law	30
4.12	Assets	31
4.13	Reorganization; Approvals	31
4.14	Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act; Money Laundering	31
4.15	CRA Compliance	31
4.16	Opinion	31
Article V COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS		31
5.1	Conduct of Business Before the Effective Time	31
5.2	Seller Forbearances	32
5.3	Buyer Forbearances	35
Article VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS		35
6.1	Regulatory Matters	35
6.2	Access to Information; Confidentiality	36
6.3	Shareholder Approval	37
6.4	The NASDAQ Global Market Listing	38
6.5	Employee Matters	38
6.6	Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance	39
6.7	Additional Agreements	40
6.8	Advice of Changes	40
6.9	No Solicitation	41
6.10	Buyer’s and Buyer Bank’s Board	43
6.11	Reasonable Best Efforts; Cooperation	43
Article VII CONDITIONS PRECEDENT		44
7.1	Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger	44
7.2	Conditions to Obligations of Buyer	44
7.3	Conditions to Obligations of Seller	45
Article VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT		46
8.1	Termination	46
8.2	Effect of Termination	47
8.3	Fees and Expenses	47
8.4	Amendment	48
8.5	Extension; Waiver	48
Article IX GENERAL PROVISIONS		49
9.1	Closing	49
9.2	Standard	49
9.3	Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements	49
9.4	Notices	49

ii

9.5	Interpretation	50
9.6	Counterparts	50
9.7	Entire Agreement	50
9.8	Governing Law; Jurisdiction	51
9.9	Publicity	51
9.10	Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries	51
9.11	Enforcement	51

iii

Defined Term	Section
Adverse Recommendation Change	6.9(b)
Advisory Board	6.10
Alternative Proposal	6.9(a)
Alternative Transaction	6.9(d)
Agreement	Preamble
Articles of Merger	1.2
Bank Merger	1.1(b)
Bank Merger Certificates	1.1(b)
Bank Secrecy Act	3.23
Benefit Plan	9.10(b)
BHC Act	3.1(b)
Buyer	Preamble
Buyer Articles	4.1(b)
Buyer Bank	Recitals
Buyer Bank Board	6.10
Buyer Board	Recitals
Buyer Bylaws	4.1(b)
Buyer Capitalization Date	4.2(a)
Buyer Common Stock	1.4(a)
Buyer Disclosure Schedule	Art. IV
Buyer Preferred Stock	4.2(a)
Buyer Proxy Statement	4.14
Buyer Regulatory Agreement	4.5(b)
Buyer Requisite Regulatory Approvals	7.2(d)
Buyer Series B Preferred Stock	1.4(f)
Buyer SEC Reports	4.5(c)
Buyer Shares	1.4(f)
Buyer Stock Plans	4.2(a)
Buyer Subsidiary	3.1(c)
Certificate	1.4(d)
Claim	6.6(a)
Classified Assets	7.2(i)
Closing	9.1
Closing Date	9.1
COBRA	3.11(c)
Code	Recitals
Common Stock Merger Consideration	1.4(c)
Confidentiality Agreement	6.2(b)
Covered Employees	6.5(a)
Derivative Transactions	3.14(a)
DGCL	1.1(a)
Effective Time	1.2
ERISA	3.11(a)
ERISA Affiliate	3.11(a)
Exchange Act	3.5(c)
Exchange Ratio	1.4(c)
Expense Reimbursement	8.3(b)
Fair Credit Reporting Act	3.22
FDIC	3.1(d)
FFIEC	3.29
Federal Reserve Board	3.4
Form S-4	4.4

iv

Defined Term	Section
GAAP	3.1(c)
Governmental Entity	3.4
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act	3.22
IIPI	3.22
Indemnified Parties	6.6(a)
Injunction	7.1(d)
Insurance Amount	6.6(c)
Intellectual Property	3.19
IRS	3.10(a)
Knowledge	9.5
Leased Properties	3.17
Liens	3.2(b)
Loans	3.16(a)
Material Adverse Effect	3.8(a)
Materially Burdensome Regulatory Condition	6.1(b)
Merger	Recitals
Merger Consideration	1.4(f)
NCBCA	1.1(a)
NYSE	3.4
Other Regulatory Approvals	3.4
Owned Properties	3.17
Party(ies)	Preamble
Patriot Act	3.23
Permitted Encumbrances	3.17
Person	9.5
Policies, Practices and Procedures	3.15(b)
Preferred Stock Merger Consideration	1.4(f)
Property Lease	3.21
Proxy Statements	4.14
Real Property	3.17
Regulatory Agencies	3.5(a)
Regulatory Approvals	7.3(d)
Sarbanes-Oxley Act	3.5(c)
SEC	3.5(a)
Section 409(A)	3.11(m)
Securities Act	3.2(a)
Seller	Preamble
Seller Articles	3.1(b)
Seller Bank	Recitals
Seller Benefit Plans	3.11(a)
Seller Board	Recitals
Seller Bylaws	3.1(b)
Seller Capital Stock	3.2(a)
Seller Capitalization Date	3.2(a)
Seller Common Stock	1.4(b)
Seller Contract	3.13(a)
Seller Disclosure Schedule	Art. III
Seller Non-Voting Common Stock	3.2(a)
Seller Options	1.5(b)
Seller Policies	3.18
Seller Preferred Stock	3.2(a)
Seller Proxy Statement	3.30

v

Defined Term	Section
Seller Regulatory Agreement	3.5(b)
Seller Requisite Regulatory Approvals	7.3(d)
Seller SEC Reports	3.5(c)
Seller Series A Preferred Stock	1.4(f)
Seller Shares	1.4(f)
Seller Stock Plans	1.5(a)
Seller Subsidiary	3.1(c)
Seller Warrant	1.5(c)
SERP	3.11(c)
Shareholder Meeting	6.3(a)
SRO	3.4
Subsidiary	3.1(c)
Subsidiary Plan of Merger	1.1(b)
Superior Proposal	6.9(d)
Surviving Corporation	Recitals
Tax Return	3.10(c)
Tax(es)	3.10(b)
Termination Fee	8.3(b)
Treasury Department	1.5(c)
Trust Account Common Shares	1.4(b)

vi

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER is dated as of September 25, 2012 (this “Agreement”), by and between ECB Bancorp, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“Seller”), and Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”). Each of Buyer and Seller are referred to herein as a “Party” and, together, as the “Parties.”

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Seller and Buyer have determined that it is in the best interests of their respective companies and their shareholders to consummate the strategic business combination transaction provided for in this Agreement in which Seller will, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, merge with and into Buyer (the “Merger”), so that Buyer is the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to in such capacity as the “Surviving Corporation”);

WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Seller and Buyer (the “Seller Board” and the “Buyer Board”, respectively) have adopted this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and have resolved to recommend that the shareholders of each of the Seller and Buyer approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.

WHEREAS, it is intended that, immediately following the Merger, or as soon as is practicable thereafter, The East Carolina Bank, a North Carolina banking corporation (“Seller Bank”), will be merged with and into Crescent State Bank, a North Carolina banking corporation (“Buyer Bank”);

WHEREAS, for federal income Tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and including the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”); and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and agreements in connection with the Merger and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as follows:

Article I
THE MERGER

1.1          The Merger.

(a)          Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in accordance with Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) and the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the “NCBCA”), at the Effective Time Seller shall merge with and into Buyer. Buyer shall be the Surviving Corporation in the Merger and shall continue its corporate existence under the laws of the State of Delaware. As of the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Seller shall cease.

1

(b)          Immediately following the Effective Time, Seller Bank will merge (the “Bank Merger”) with and into Buyer Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer. Buyer Bank shall be the surviving entity in the Bank Merger and shall continue its corporate existence, and, following the Bank Merger, the separate corporate existence of the Seller Bank shall cease. The parties agree that the Bank Merger shall become effective immediately after the Effective Time. The Bank Merger shall be implemented pursuant to a subsidiary plan of merger, in a form to be specified by Buyer in consultation with Seller (the “Subsidiary Plan of Merger”). In order to obtain the necessary Regulatory Approvals for the Bank Merger, the parties hereto shall cause the following to be accomplished prior to the filing of applications for such Regulatory Approvals: (i) Seller shall cause the Seller Bank to approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger; (ii) Seller, as the sole shareholder of the Seller Bank, shall approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger; (iii) Seller shall cause the Subsidiary Plan of Merger to be duly executed by the Seller Bank and delivered to Buyer; (iv) Buyer shall cause Buyer Bank to approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger; (v) Buyer, as the sole shareholder of Buyer Bank, shall approve the Subsidiary Plan of Merger; and (vi) Buyer shall cause Buyer Bank to duly execute and deliver the Subsidiary Plan of Merger to Seller. Prior to the Effective Time, Seller shall cause the Seller Bank, and Buyer shall cause Buyer Bank, to execute such certificates of merger and articles of combination and such other documents and certificates as are necessary to make the Bank Merger effective (“Bank Merger Certificates”) immediately after the Effective Time.

(c)          Buyer may at any time change the method of effecting the combination (including by providing for the merger of Seller and a wholly owned subsidiary of Buyer) if and to the extent Buyer deems such change to be desirable; provided, however, that no such change shall (i) alter or change the amount or kind of the Merger Consideration provided for in this Agreement, (ii) materially affect, in an adverse manner, the Tax treatment of Seller’s shareholders as a result of receiving the Merger Consideration or the Tax treatment of either Party pursuant to this Agreement or (iii) materially impede or delay consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

1.2          Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective as set forth in the articles of merger (the “Articles of Merger”) that shall be filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and the North Carolina Secretary of State, respectively, on the Closing Date. The term “Effective Time” shall be the date and time when the Merger becomes effective as set forth in the Articles of Merger.

1.3          Effects of the Merger. At and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in this Agreement and in the relevant provisions of the DGCL and the NCBCA. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of Seller shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of Seller shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

1.4          Conversion of Shares. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Buyer, Seller or the holder of any of the following securities:

(a)          Each share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Buyer (the “Buyer Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time shall remain issued and outstanding and shall not be affected by the Merger.

(b)          All shares of common stock, par value $3.50 per share, of Seller issued and outstanding immediately before the Effective Time (the “Seller Common Stock”) that are owned, directly or indirectly, by Seller or Buyer (other than shares of Seller Common Stock held in trust accounts (including grantor or rabbi trust accounts)), managed accounts and the like, or otherwise held in a fiduciary or agency capacity, that are beneficially owned by third parties (any such shares, “Trust Account Common Shares”)) shall no longer be outstanding, shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no stock of Buyer and no other consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

2

(c)          Subject to Sections 1.4(e), each share of Seller Common Stock, except for shares of Seller Common Stock owned by Seller or Buyer or any of their respective wholly owned Subsidiaries (other than Trust Account Common Shares), shall be converted into the right to receive 3.55 shares (the “Exchange Ratio) of Buyer Common Stock (the “Common Stock Merger Consideration”).

(d)          All of the shares of Seller Common Stock converted into the right to receive the Common Stock Merger Consideration pursuant to this Article I shall no longer be outstanding, shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist as of the Effective Time, and each certificate previously representing any such shares of Seller Common Stock (each, a “Certificate”) shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the Common Stock Merger Consideration into which the shares of Seller Common Stock represented by such Certificate have been converted pursuant to this Section 1.4, as well as any dividends to which holders of Seller Common Stock become entitled in accordance with Section 2.2.

(e)          If, between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock shall have been increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities as a result of a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in capitalization, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made to the Exchange Ratio. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, the Exchange Ratio shall not be adjusted as a result of the transactions contemplated by that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among VantageSouth Bank, Buyer Bank, and Buyer, dated as of August 10, 2012 (the “VantageSouth Merger Agreement”).

(f)          In the event each issued and outstanding share of the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $0.01 per share, stated liquidation amount $1,000 per share, of Seller (the “Seller Series A Preferred Stock” and, together with the Seller Common Stock, the “Seller Shares”) is not purchased or redeemed prior to or contemporaneous with the Effective Time, then each share of the Seller Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall as of the Effective Time automatically be converted into and shall thereafter represent the right to receive, subject to the other provisions of this Article I, one share (the “Preferred Stock Merger Consideration” and, together with the Common Stock Merger Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”) of the Buyer Preferred Stock to be designated, prior to the Closing Date, as Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, stated liquidation amount $1,000 per share (the “Buyer Series B Preferred Stock” and, together with the Buyer Common Stock, the “Buyer Shares”), and otherwise having rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers such that the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the Seller Series A Preferred Stock are not adversely affected by such conversion and having rights, preferences and privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favorable than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions of the Seller Series A Preferred Stock immediately prior to such conversion, taken as a whole.

1.5          Stock Options, Other Stock-Based Awards and Warrants.

(a)          Unless otherwise noted, the provisions of this Section 1.5 pertain to all plans sponsored by Seller under which options and other stock-based awards are granted, including Seller’s Omnibus Stock Ownership and Long Term Incentive Plan, which expired on January 21, 2008, but under which stock options and restricted stock awards remain outstanding that were granted prior to that date, and the 2008 Omnibus Equity Plan, all as amended, and the award agreements thereunder (collectively, the “Seller Stock Plans”); provided, however, that any accelerated vesting performed pursuant to this Section 1.5 shall only be performed if required by the terms of the Seller Stock Plans as in effect on the date hereof without any further action by Seller.

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(b)          As of the Effective Time, Buyer shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to (i) either assume any options or other stock-based awards (“Seller Options”) substantially in accordance with the terms of the Seller Stock Plans and the option grant or other award agreement by which it is evidenced in accordance with the terms of the Seller Stock Plans or (ii) substitute the Seller Options for substantially identical awards under any Buyer Stock Plans, such that after the Merger and without any action on the part of the holders of any Seller Options, the Seller Options shall be converted into and become rights with respect to Buyer Common Stock. From and after the Effective Time, (i) each Seller Option assumed or substituted by Buyer may be exercised solely for shares of Buyer Common Stock, (ii) the number of shares of Buyer Common Stock subject to such Seller Option shall be equal to the number of shares of Seller Common Stock subject to such Seller Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange Ratio (rounded down to the nearest whole share), and (iii) the per share exercise price under each such Seller Option shall be adjusted to reflect the Exchange Ratio (rounded up to the nearest whole cent). It is intended that the foregoing assumption shall be undertaken in a manner that will not constitute a "modification" as defined in Section 424 of the Internal Revenue Code, as to any stock option which is an "incentive stock option." Seller and Buyer agree to take all necessary steps to effect the provisions of this Section 1.5.

(c)          The right of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (the “Treasury Department”) to receive Seller Common Stock upon exercise of that certain Warrant (the “Seller Warrant”) issued on January 16, 2009 to the Treasury Department in connection with the issuance of Seller’s Series A Preferred Stock, to the extent the Warrant Purchase is not consummated at or prior to the Effective Time, shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any person, be converted automatically into the right of the Treasury Department to exercise the Seller Warrant to acquire that number of shares of Buyer Common Stock equal to the product of (x) the number of shares of Seller Common Stock that were purchasable pursuant to the Seller Warrant immediately prior to the Effective Time and (y) the Exchange Ratio, rounded to the nearest one-hundredth (1/100th) of a share; and Buyer shall otherwise assume the rights and obligations of Seller under the Seller Warrant subject to and in accordance with the provisions of the Seller Warrant; provided, however, that after the Effective Time, the provisions of the Seller Warrant shall be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the foregoing and Section 13(E) of the Seller Warrant.

(d)          At or prior to the Effective Time, Seller, the Seller Board and the compensation committee of such board, as applicable, shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions (including obtaining any Seller or Seller Bank employee or other participant consents) that may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 1.5.

1.6          Articles of Incorporation of Buyer. At the Effective Time, the Buyer Articles shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.

1.7          Bylaws of Buyer. At the Effective Time, the Buyer Bylaws shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable law.

1.8          Tax Consequences. It is intended that the Merger shall constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and that this Agreement shall constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code.

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Article II
DELIVERY OF MERGER CONSIDERATION

2.1          Exchange Procedures. Unless the parties otherwise agree, promptly, but no later than three business days, after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall mail to the former holders of Seller Shares appropriate transmittal materials which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the certificates theretofore representing the Seller Shares shall pass, only upon proper delivery of such certificates to the Surviving Corporation or its duly authorized agent. After the Effective Time, each holder of Seller Shares issued and outstanding at the Effective Time shall surrender the certificate or certificates representing such shares to the Surviving Corporation and shall promptly upon surrender thereof receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration, together with all undelivered dividends or distributions in respect of such shares (without interest thereon) pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement. The Surviving Corporation shall not be obligated to deliver the consideration to which any former holder of Seller Shares is entitled as a result of the Merger until such holder surrenders his or her certificate or certificates representing the Seller Shares for exchange as provided in this Section 2.1. The certificate or certificates of Seller Shares so surrendered shall be duly endorsed as the Surviving Corporation may require. Any other provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, the Surviving Corporation shall not be liable to a holder of the Seller Shares for any amounts paid or property delivered in good faith to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, no certificates representing fractional shares of Buyer Common Stock shall be issued upon the surrender for exchange of the Seller Shares, and such fractional Buyer Common Stock interests will not entitle the owner thereof to vote or to any rights of a shareholder of the Surviving Corporation. Each holder of Seller Shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive a fractional share of Buyer Common Stock shall instead receive an amount of cash, without interest, equal to the product obtained by multiplying (a) the fractional share of Buyer Common Stock to which such holder (after taking into account all Seller Shares held at the Effective Time by such holder) would otherwise be entitled by (b) $5.00.

2.2          Rights of Former Seller Shareholders. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of Seller shall be closed as to holders of Seller Shares immediately prior to the Effective Time and no transfer of Seller Shares by any such holder shall thereafter be made or recognized. Until surrendered for exchange in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.1 of this Agreement, each certificate theretofore representing shares of Seller Shares shall from and after the Effective Time represent for all purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration in exchange therefor. To the extent permitted by law, former holders of record of Seller Shares shall be entitled to vote after the Effective Time at any meeting of Buyer shareholders the number of whole shares of Buyer Shares into which their respective shares of Seller Shares are converted, regardless of whether such holders have exchanged their certificates representing Seller Shares for certificates representing Buyer Shares in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Whenever a dividend or other distribution is declared by the Buyer on the Buyer Shares, the record date for which is at or after the Effective Time, the declaration shall include dividends or other distributions on all shares issuable pursuant to this Agreement, but no dividend or other distribution payable to the holders of record of Buyer Shares as of any time subsequent to the Effective Time shall be delivered to the holder of any certificate representing shares of Seller Shares issued and outstanding at the Effective Time until such holder surrenders such certificate for exchange as provided in Section 2.1 of this Agreement. However, upon surrender of such Seller Shares certificate, the Buyer Shares certificate, together with all such undelivered dividends or other distributions without interest, shall be delivered and paid with respect to each share represented by such certificate.

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Article III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

Except as disclosed in the disclosure schedule (the “Seller Disclosure Schedule”) delivered by Seller to Buyer before the execution of this Agreement, Seller, and to the extent applicable, each Subsidiary of Seller, hereby represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:

3.1          Corporate Organization.

(a)          Seller is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina. Seller has the corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

(b)          Seller is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). True, complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation of Seller, as amended (the “Seller Articles”), and the bylaws of Seller (the “Seller Bylaws”), as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available to Buyer. Seller Bank is incorporated under the laws of the State of North Carolina.

(c)          Each of Seller’s Subsidiaries (i) is duly incorporated or duly formed, as applicable to each such Subsidiary, and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly licensed or qualified to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions (whether federal, state, local or foreign) where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so licensed or qualified and (iii) has all requisite corporate power or other power and authority to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. The articles of incorporation, bylaws and similar governing documents of each Seller Subsidiary, copies of which have previously been made available to Buyer, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as of the date of this Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the word “Subsidiary”, when used with respect to either Party, means any bank, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that is consolidated with such Party for financial reporting purposes under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), and the terms “Seller Subsidiary” and “Buyer Subsidiary” shall mean any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Seller or Buyer, respectively.

(d)          The deposit accounts of Seller Bank are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”) through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due.

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3.2          Capitalization.

(a)          The authorized capital stock of Seller consists of 50,000,000 shares of Seller Common Stock, of which, as of the date of this Agreement (the “Seller Capitalization Date”), 2,849,841 shares were issued and outstanding, 2,000,000 shares of Mandatorily Convertible Non-Voting Common Shares (the “Seller Non-Voting Common Stock”), of which, as of the Seller Capitalization Date, no shares were issued and outstanding, and 2,000,000 Preferred Shares (the “Seller Preferred Stock”), of which, as of the Seller Capitalization Date, 17,949 shares of Seller Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. As of the Seller Capitalization Date, no shares of Seller Common Stock, Seller Non-Voting Common Stock or Seller Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance, except for 3,500 shares of Seller Common Stock underlying options currently outstanding; 386,600 shares of Seller Common Stock available in connection with future grants of stock options, restricted stock and other equity-based awards (of which 55,000 shares have been approved for issuance in the form of performance-based restricted stock grants), in each case reserved for issuance pursuant to the Seller Stock Plans; 144,984 shares of Seller Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection with a warrant granted to the Treasury Department; and no shares of Seller Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection with the conversion of the Seller Non-Voting Common Stock. The Seller Common Stock, the Seller Non-Voting Common Stock, and the Seller Preferred Stock are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the “Seller Capital Stock.” All of the issued and outstanding shares of Seller Capital Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights. As of the date of this Agreement, no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Seller having the right to vote on any matters on which its shareholders may vote are issued or outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of this Agreement, except pursuant to this Agreement, including with respect to the Seller Stock Plans as set forth herein, Seller does not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of, or the payment of any amount based on, any shares of Seller Capital, or any other equity securities of Seller or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Seller Capital Stock, or other equity securities of Seller. As of the date of this Agreement, there are no contractual obligations of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (i) to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of Seller or any equity security of Seller or its Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of Seller or its Subsidiaries or (ii) pursuant to which Seller or any of its Subsidiaries is or could be required to register shares of Seller capital stock or other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Other than as set forth on Section 3.2(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no options or other equity-based awards are outstanding as of the Seller Capitalization Date. Except as set forth on Section 3.2(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2011 through the date hereof, Seller has not (A) issued or repurchased any shares of Seller Capital Stock, or other equity securities of Seller or (B) issued or awarded any options, restricted shares or any other equity-based awards under the Seller Stock Plans.

(b)          Section 3.2(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth each Subsidiary of Seller. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Subsidiary of Seller are owned by Seller, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any material liens, pledges, charges and security interests and similar encumbrances (“Liens”), and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable (except to the extent set forth in Section 53-42 of the North Carolina General Statutes) and free of preemptive rights. No such Seller Subsidiary has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary.

(c)          Section 3.2(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth Seller’s and its Subsidiaries’ capital stock, equity interest or other direct or indirect ownership interest in any person other than a Subsidiary of Seller, where such ownership interest is equal to or greater than five percent of the total ownership interest of such person.

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(d)          Section 3.2(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of the date of this Agreement, of: (i) the number of shares of Seller Common Stock issued under the Seller Stock Plans, the number of shares of Seller Common Stock subject to outstanding awards granted under the Seller Stock Plans and the number of shares of Seller Common Stock reserved for future issuance under the Seller Stock Plans; (ii) all outstanding awards granted under the Seller Stock Plans, indicating with respect to each such award the name of the holder thereof, the number of shares of Seller Common Stock subject to such award and, to the extent applicable, the exercise price, the date of grant and the vesting schedule; and (iii) all outstanding warrants, indicating with respect to each such warrant the name of the holder thereof, the number and type of shares of Seller Common Stock subject to such warrant and the exercise price thereof. Seller has provided to the Buyer complete and accurate copy of the Seller Stock Plan and the forms of all award agreements related thereto and copies of all warrants.

3.3          Authority; No Violation.

(a)          Seller has requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly, validly authorized and approved by the Seller Board. The Seller Board has determined that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, is in the best interests of Seller and its shareholders. The Seller Board has directed that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, be submitted to Seller’s shareholders for consideration at a duly held meeting of such shareholders and has recommended that Seller’s shareholders vote in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for the approval of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Seller Common Stock entitled to vote at such meeting, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Seller are necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Seller and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or by 12 U.S.C. Section 1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor statute) and any bank regulatory powers and subject to general principles of equity).

(b)          Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Seller nor the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Seller with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i) assuming that shareholder approval referred to in Section 3.3(a) has been obtained, violate any provision of the Seller Articles or the Seller Bylaws or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 3.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or Injunction applicable to Seller, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Seller or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets is bound.

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3.4          Consents and Approvals. Except for (a) the filing of applications and notices, as applicable, with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) under the BHC Act, as amended, (b) the filing of any required applications, filings or notices with the FDIC and any other federal or state banking, insurance or other regulatory or self-regulatory authorities or any courts, administrative agencies or commissions or other governmental authorities or instrumentalities (each a “Governmental Entity”) and approval of such applications, filings and notices (the “Other Regulatory Approvals”), (c) the filing with the SEC of a proxy statement in definitive form relating to the meeting of Seller’s stockholders to be held in connection with this Agreement and of the Form S-4 in which such proxy statement will be included as a prospectus, and declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, (d) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and the North Carolina Secretary of State pursuant to the DGCL and NCBCA, (e) the filing of the Bank Merger Certificates, and (f) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws relating to the regulation of broker-dealers, investment advisers or transfer agents, and federal commodities laws relating to the regulation of futures commission merchants and the rules and regulations thereunder and of any applicable industry self-regulatory organization (“SRO”), and the rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), or that are required under consumer finance, mortgage banking and other similar laws, if any, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the consummation by Seller of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement.

3.5          Reports; Regulatory Matters.

(a)          Seller and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they were required to file since January 1, 2010 with (i) the Federal Reserve Board, (ii) the FDIC, (iii) any state insurance commission or other state regulatory authority, (iv) any foreign regulatory authority, (v) any SRO and (vi) the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) (collectively, “Regulatory Agencies”) and with each other applicable Governmental Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be filed by them since January 1, 2010, including any report or statement required to be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the United States, any state, foreign entity or Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity, and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity in the ordinary course of the business of Seller and its Subsidiaries, or as disclosed in the Seller SEC Reports, no Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity has initiated since January 1, 2010 or has pending any proceeding, enforcement action or, to the knowledge of Seller, investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2010, except as disclosed in the Seller SEC Reports, no Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity has resolved any proceeding, enforcement action or, to the knowledge of Seller, investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries. Seller and its Subsidiaries have fully complied with, and there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity with respect to, any report or statement relating to any examinations or inspections of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2010, there have been no formal or informal inquiries by, or disagreements or disputes with, any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity with respect to the business, operations, policies or procedures of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (other than normal examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity in Seller’s ordinary course of business or as disclosed in the Seller SEC Reports).

(b)          Except as disclosed in the Seller SEC Reports, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and desist or other order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has been since January 1, 2009 a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has been ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or since January 1, 2009 has adopted any policies, procedures or board resolutions at the request or suggestion of, any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business, other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated bank holding companies or their Subsidiaries (each, a “Seller Regulatory Agreement”), nor has Seller or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 2009 by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering or requesting any such Seller Regulatory Agreement.

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(c)          Seller has made available to Buyer an accurate and complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, report schedule, information statement, and proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by Seller pursuant to the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) and before the date of this Agreement (the “Seller SEC Reports”). No such Seller SEC Report, at the time filed or furnished (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except that information as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. As of their respective effective or filed dates, all Seller SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with respect thereto.

(d)          Since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Seller, and each of its officers and directors, have been and are in compliance in all material respects with (i) the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, including, without limitation, Section 404 thereof, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of the NYSE.

(e)          Except as disclosed in the Seller SEC Reports, Seller has not received notice in writing from the SEC that either the Seller itself or any of the Seller SEC Reports is the subject of any ongoing review by the SEC or of any outstanding SEC investigation (whether formal or informal, including but not limited to a voluntary document request), and as of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the SEC staff with respect to any of the Seller SEC Reports. Seller has made available to Buyer correct and complete copies of all material correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the Seller and any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, occurring since the December 31, 2011 and prior to the date hereof.

(f)          Neither the Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, partnership agreement or any similar contract (including any contract relating to any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among the Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand (such as any arrangement described in Section 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act)) where the purpose or effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving the Seller or any of its Subsidiaries in the Seller’s consolidated financial statements.

(g)          The Seller has made available to Buyer a complete and correct copy of any amendments or modifications to any agreements, reports or schedules which previously had been filed by the Seller with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, which amendments or modifications have not yet been filed with the SEC but which are required to be filed.

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3.6           Financial Statements

(a)          The financial statements of Seller and its Subsidiaries or Seller’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable, included (or incorporated by reference) in the Seller SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) (i) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of Seller and its Subsidiaries or Seller’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in shareholders’ equity and consolidated financial position of Seller and its Subsidiaries or Seller’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable, for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth (subject in the case of unaudited statements to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and amount); (iii) complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC or the FDIC, as applicable, with respect thereto; and (iv) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. The books and records of Seller and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions. Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP has served as independent registered public accountant for Seller or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, for all periods covered in the Seller SEC Reports; such firm has not resigned or been dismissed as independent public accountants of Seller or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, as a result of or in connection with any disagreements with Seller or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

(b)          Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due), except for those liabilities that are reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of Seller included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012 (including any notes thereto) and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since June 30, 2012 or in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(c)          Since June 30, 2012, (i) through the date hereof, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the officers of Seller, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Seller or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (ii) no attorney or auditor representing Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by Seller or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Board of Directors of Seller or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of Seller.

3.7           Broker’s Fees. Neither Seller nor any Seller Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with the Merger or related transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than as set forth on Section 3.7 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and pursuant to letter agreements, true, complete and correct copies of which have been previously delivered to Buyer.

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3.8           Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a)          Since June 30, 2012, except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, no event or events have occurred that have had or are reasonably likely to have, either individually or in the aggregate with all other events, a Material Adverse Effect on Seller. As used in this Agreement, the term “Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to Buyer, Seller or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, any fact, event, change, condition, development, circumstance or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, (i) is material and adverse to the business, assets, liabilities, properties, results of operations or financial condition of such Party and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole (provided, however, that, with respect to this clause (i), a Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include any event, change or effect to the extent arising from (A) changes, after the date hereof, in GAAP or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks or savings associations and their holding companies, generally, (B) changes, after the date hereof, in laws, rules or regulations of general applicability to banks or savings associations and their holding companies, generally, or interpretations thereof by courts or Governmental Entities, (C) changes, after the date hereof, in global or national political conditions (including the outbreak of war or acts of terrorism) or in general economic or market conditions affecting banks, savings associations or their holding companies generally, in each case except to the extent such Party is affected in a disproportionate manner as compared to other community banks in the southeastern United States or (D) the direct effects of compliance with this Agreement on the operating performance of Seller and its Subsidiaries) or (ii) materially impairs the ability of such Party to timely consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(b)          Other than as set forth on Section 4.8 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, since June 30, 2012 through and including the date of this Agreement, Seller and its Subsidiaries have carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with their past practice.

(c)          Except as set forth on Section 3.8(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, since June 30, 2012, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) except for (A) normal increases for employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or (B) as required by applicable law or pre-existing contractual obligations, increased the wages, salaries, compensation, bonus opportunities (whether annual or long-term, or in the form of cash or property) pension, nonqualified deferred compensation or other fringe benefits or perquisites payable to any current, former or retired executive officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor, other service provider or director from the amount thereof in effect as of December 31, 2011, granted any severance, retirement or termination pay, entered into any contract to make or grant any severance, retirement or termination pay (in each case, except as required under the terms of agreements or severance plans listed on Section 3.11(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, as in effect as of the date hereof), obligated itself to pay or paid any bonus other than the customary year-end bonuses in amounts consistent with past practice, (ii) granted, amended, accelerated, modified or terminated any stock appreciation rights or options to purchase shares of Seller Common Stock, any restricted, performance or fully vested shares of Seller Common Stock, any phantom or restricted stock units, or any right to acquire any shares of its capital stock with respect to any current, former or retired executive officer, director, consultant, independent contractor or other service provider or employee, (iii) changed any accounting methods, principles or practices of Seller or its Subsidiaries affecting its assets, liabilities or businesses, including any reserving, renewal or residual method, practice or policy, (iv) suffered any strike, work stoppage, slow-down or other labor disturbance, (v) adopted, amended, modified or terminated any Seller Benefit Plan, except as required by applicable laws, or (vi) hired, terminated, promoted or demoted any employee, consultant, independent contractor, executive officer, director or other service provider (other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice).

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3.9           Legal Proceedings.

(a)          Except as disclosed on Section 3.9(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the best of Seller’s knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other material proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation any lender liability claims, or otherwise challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations set forth on Section 3.9(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Seller.

(b)          There is no Injunction, judgment or regulatory restriction (other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated bank holding companies or their Subsidiaries) imposed upon Seller, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries.

3.10         Taxes and Tax Returns.

(a)          Each of Seller and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (including all applicable extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or before the date of this Agreement (all such returns being accurate and complete in all material respects), has paid all Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities (including, if and to the extent applicable, those due in respect of its properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits, franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls) other than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been finally determined and have been adequately reserved against. Seller and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any ongoing or unresolved examination or audit by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). There are no material disputes pending, or claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon Seller or any of its Subsidiaries for which Seller does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax-sharing, -allocation or -indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among Seller and its Subsidiaries). Within the past five years, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the Code. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has been submitted by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1). Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent, or would be reasonably likely to prevent, the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.

(b)          As used in this Agreement, the term “Tax” or “Taxes” means (i) all federal, state, local and foreign income, bank, estimated, excise, gross receipts, gross income, ad valorem, profits, gains, property, escheat, unclaimed property, capital, sales, transfer, use, payroll, employment, severance, withholding, duties, intangibles, franchise, backup-withholding, value-added and other taxes, charges, levies or like assessments together with all penalties and additions to tax and interest thereon and (ii) any liability for Taxes described in clause (i) above under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law).

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(c)          As used in this Agreement, the term “Tax Return” means a report, return or other information (including any amendments) required to be supplied to a Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes including, where permitted or required, combined or consolidated returns for any group of entities that includes Seller or any of its Subsidiaries.

3.11         Employee Matters.

(a)          Section 3.11(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of each “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended and including the regulations promulgated thereunder (“ERISA”), whether or not written or unwritten or subject to ERISA, as well as each employee or director benefit or compensation plan, arrangement or agreement (whether written or unwritten) and each employment, consulting, bonus, supplemental income, collective-bargaining, incentive or deferred compensation, vacation, stock purchase, stock option or other equity-based, severance, termination, retention, change-in-control, profit-sharing, fringe benefit, workers’ compensation, voluntary employees’ beneficiary association, health, welfare, accident, sickness, death benefit, hospitalization, insurance, personnel policy, disability benefit or other similar plan, program, agreement, arrangement or commitment (whether written or unwritten) for the benefit of any current, former or retired employee, consultant, independent contractor, other service provider or director of Seller or any of its ERISA Affiliates (as defined herein) entered into, maintained or contributed to by Seller or any of its ERISA Affiliates or to which Seller or any of its ERISA Affiliates is obligated to contribute (such plans, programs, agreements, arrangements and commitments, collectively, the “Seller Benefit Plans”). For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ERISA Affiliate” means any entity that is a member of (i) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (ii) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code), (iii) an affiliated service group (as defined under Section 414(m) of the Code or the regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code) or (iv) a “controlled group” within the meaning of Section 4001 of ERISA, any of which includes Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. No other Seller Benefit Plan exists.

(b)          With respect to each Seller Benefit Plan, Seller has made available to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of the following (as applicable): (i) the written document evidencing such Seller Benefit Plan or, with respect to any such plan that is not in writing, a written description thereof; (ii) the summary plan description; (iii) any related trust agreements, insurance contracts or documents of any other funding arrangements; (iv) all amendments, modifications or supplements to any such document; (v) the two most recent actuarial reports; (vi) the most recent determination letter from the IRS; (vii) the three most recent Forms 5500 required to have been filed with the IRS, including all schedules thereto; (viii) any notices to or from the IRS or any office or representative of the Department of Labor or any other Governmental Entity relating to any compliance issues in respect of any such Seller Benefit Plan; and (ix) a list of each person who has options to purchase Seller Common Stock or has units or other awards outstanding under any stock-option or other equity-based plan, program or arrangement sponsored by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, noting for each person the number of options, units and other awards available and the strike price, if any, associated therewith. Section 3.11(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of August 31, 2012 the accrued liability for any such plans, programs and arrangements.

(c)          With respect to each Seller Benefit Plan:

(i)          each Seller Benefit Plan is being and has been administered in all respects in accordance with ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and in all material respects in accordance with its governing documents, and all material obligations, whether arising by operation of law or by contract, required to be performed with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan have been timely performed, and there have been no material defaults, omissions or violations by any party with respect to any Seller Benefit Plan, and each Seller Benefit Plan;

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(ii)         each Seller Benefit Plan that is intended to be “qualified” under Section 401 and/or 409 of the Code is so qualified and has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS to such effect and, to the knowledge of Seller, no fact, circumstance or event has occurred since the date of such determination letter or exists that would reasonably be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of any such Seller Benefit Plan;

(iii)        either an application for a new determination letter was filed by the end of such Seller Benefit Plan’s applicable remedial amendment cycle as determined under Revenue Procedure 2005-66 or the deadline for filing such an application has not yet arrived and all requirements for relying on such extended filing date have been satisfied;

(iv)        each Seller Benefit Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(2)(A) of ERISA and is not qualified under Code Section 401(a) is exempt from Part 2, 3 and 4 of Title I of ERISA as an unfunded plan that is maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation or life insurance for a select group of management or highly compensated employees, pursuant to Sections 201(2), 301(a)(3) and 401(a)(1) of ERISA, and for each such plan Section 3.11(c)(iv) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains (A) a list of assets that are maintained or used to informally fund such plan, (B) an analysis of the emerging liabilities of any supplemental executive retirement plans (the “SERPs”) and (C) an analysis of the cash surrender value of the split-dollar insurance policies held pursuant to the SERPs. Any trust agreement supporting such plan has been provided as described in Section 3.11(b)(iii);

(v)         no claim, lawsuit, arbitration or other action has been threatened, asserted, instituted or, to Seller’s or any ERISA Affiliate’s knowledge, is anticipated against any of the Seller Benefit Plans (other than routine claims for benefits and appeals of such claims), any trustee or fiduciaries thereof, Seller (including any Subsidiary thereof), any ERISA Affiliate, any director, officer or employee thereof, or any of the assets of any trust of any of the Seller Benefit Plans;

(vi)        all contributions, premiums and other payments required to be made with respect to any Seller Benefit Plan have been made on or before their due dates under applicable law and the terms of such Seller Benefit Plan, and with respect to any such contributions, premiums or other payments required to be made with respect to any Seller Benefit Plan that are not yet due, to the extent required by GAAP, adequate reserves are reflected on the consolidated balance sheet of Seller for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 (including any notes thereto) or liability therefor was incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since December 31, 2011;

(vii)       no Seller Benefit Plan is under, and Seller (including any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate thereof) has not received any notice of, an audit or investigation by the IRS, Department of Labor or any other Governmental Entity and no such completed audit, if any, has resulted in the imposition of any Tax or penalty;

(viii)      no Seller Benefit Plan is a self-funded or self-insured arrangement, and, with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan that is funded in whole or in part through an insurance policy, neither Seller (including any Subsidiary thereof) nor any ERISA Affiliate has any liability in the nature of retroactive rate adjustment, loss-sharing arrangement or other actual or contingent liability arising wholly or partially out of events occurring on or before the date of this Agreement or is reasonably expected to have such liability with respect to periods through the Effective Time;

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(ix)         all reports and disclosures relating to each Seller Benefit Plan required to be filed with or furnished to Governmental Entities (including the IRS, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and the Department of Labor), Seller Benefit Plan participants or beneficiaries have been filed or furnished in all material respects in a timely manner in accordance with applicable law;

(x)          neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Seller nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (either alone or in connection with any other event) will (A) require Seller to make a larger contribution to, or pay greater benefits or provide other rights under, any Seller Benefit Plan than it otherwise would, whether or not some other subsequent action or event would be required to cause such payment or provision to be triggered, (B) create or give rise to any additional vested rights or service credits under any Seller Benefit Plan or (C) conflict with the terms of any Seller Benefit Plan;

(xi)         all obligations of Seller, each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate and each fiduciary under each Seller Benefit Plan, whether arising by operation of law or by contract, required to be performed under Section 4980B of the Code, as amended, and Sections 601 through 609 of ERISA, or similar state law (“COBRA”), including such obligations that may arise by virtue of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, have been or will be timely performed in all material respects;

(xii)        to the knowledge of Seller, Seller and each Subsidiary and ERISA Affiliate of Seller, as applicable, has maintained in all material respects all employee data necessary to administer each Seller Benefit Plan, including all data required to be maintained under Section 107 of ERISA, and such data are true and correct and are maintained in usable form; and

(xiii)       except as disclosed on Section 3.11(c)(xiii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no Seller Benefit Plan provides for any gross-up payment associated with any Taxes.

(d)          No Seller Benefit Plan is subject to Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or is a multiemployer plan or multiple employer plan within the meaning of Sections 4001(a)(3) or 4063/4064 of ERISA, respectively, and neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has ever maintained, contributed to, sponsored or had an obligation to contribute to any such plan. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates has incurred, either directly or indirectly (including as a result of any indemnification or joint and several liability obligation), any liability pursuant to Title I or IV of ERISA or the penalty tax, excise tax or joint and several liability provisions of the Code relating to employee benefit plans, in each case, with respect to the Seller Benefit Plans and no event, transaction or condition has occurred or exists that could reasonably be expected to result in any such liability to Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates.

(e)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as disclosed on Section 3.11(e) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution or delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will, either alone or in conjunction with any other event, (i) result in any payment or benefit becoming due or payable, or required to be provided, to any current, former or retired director, executive officer, employee, consultant, independent contractor or other service provider of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates, (ii) increase the amount or value of any benefit or compensation otherwise payable or required to be provided to any such director, employee or independent contractor, (iii) result in the acceleration of the time of payment, vesting or funding of any such benefit or compensation or (iv) result in any amount failing to be deductible by reason of Section 280G of the Code or be subject to the sanctions imposed under Section 4999 of the Code.

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(f)          Neither Seller, any other “disqualified person” (as defined in Section 4975 of the Code), any “party-in-interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) and, to the knowledge of Seller, any trustee or administrator of any Seller Benefit Plan, has engaged in a nonexempt “prohibited transaction,” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA, in each case, such as could reasonably be expected to give rise to any tax or penalty under Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA. All “fiduciaries,” as defined in Section 3(21) of ERISA, with respect to the Seller Benefit Plans have complied in all respects with the requirements of Section 404 of ERISA. Seller and its ERISA Affiliates have in effect fiduciary liability insurance covering each fiduciary of the Seller Benefit Plans.

(g)          No payment made or to be made in respect of any employee or former employee of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to be nondeductible by reason of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(h)          With respect to Seller and each of its Subsidiaries:

(i)          Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any labor or collective bargaining agreement and there are no organizational campaigns, petitions or other unionization activities seeking recognition of a collective bargaining unit with respect to, or otherwise attempting to represent, any of the employees of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no labor-related controversies, strikes, slowdowns, walkouts or other work stoppages pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened and neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has experienced any such labor-related controversy, strike, slowdown, walkout or other work stoppage within the past three years.

(ii)         Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or otherwise bound by, any consent decree or conciliation agreement with, or citation, injunction or order by, any Governmental Entity relating to employees or employment practices.

(iii)        Each of Seller and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules, regulations, policies or guidelines of any Governmental Entity relating to labor, employment, wages, overtime pay, employee classification, immigration, nondiscrimination, affirmative action, plant closings, mass layoffs, termination of employment or similar matters and have not engaged in any unfair labor practices or other prohibited practices related to employees, except where the failure to comply would not, either individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(iv)        Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has any workers’ compensation liability outside the ordinary course of business.

(v)         To the knowledge of Seller, no executive of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries: (A) has any present intention to terminate his or her employment or (B) is a party to any noncompetition, noninterference, confidentiality, proprietary rights or other such agreement with a third party that would, if complied with, materially interfere with the performance of such executive’s current duties.

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(vi)        Section 3.11(h)(vi) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a true, complete and correct list of the following information for each employee of Seller and each of its Subsidiaries: name; employing entity; job title; primary work location; current compensation rate; Seller or expected bonus; and Seller’s or its Subsidiary’s classification of such employee as exempt or not exempt from applicable minimum wage and overtime laws.

(i)          Section 3.11(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, complete and correct list of all noncompetition, non-solicitation, noninterference, nondisclosure and similar agreements between Seller or its Subsidiaries and any of their employees, directors or independent contractors (including, for this purpose, any former employees, directors or independent contractors to the extent such agreements are currently in effect), copies of which have been made available to Buyer. Each of the agreements set forth on Section 3.11(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule is valid and binding and in full force and effect (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity).

(j)          Except as disclosed in Section 3.11(j) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule (which shall contain the actual value of the obligations of all such benefits other than health benefits, with respect to which current payment amounts and duration of payment obligation are provided), neither Seller nor its Subsidiaries (i) provides health or welfare benefits for any retired or former employee or (ii) is obligated to provide health or welfare benefits to any active employees after their retirement or other termination of service, unless required to do so under COBRA.

(k)          Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates maintains any employee benefit plan or arrangement that is governed by the laws of any government outside of the United States.

(l)          Any individual who performs services for Seller or any of Seller’s Subsidiaries and who is not treated as an employee for federal income tax purposes by Seller or any of Seller’s Subsidiaries is not an employee under applicable law or for any purpose including for tax withholding purposes or Seller Benefit Plan purposes.

(m)          (i) Each Seller Benefit Plan that is a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” (as defined in Section 409A(d)(1) of the Code), including each award thereunder, has been operated since its date of inception in good faith compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code and the Treasury Regulations and other official guidance issued thereunder (collectively, “Section 409A”) and has been since January 1, 2009, in documentary compliance with the applicable provisions of Section 409A; (ii) neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries (1) have been required to report to any government entity or authority any corrections made or Taxes due as a result of a failure to comply with Section 409A and (2) have any indemnity or gross-up obligation for any Taxes or interest imposed or accelerated under Section 409A; (iii) nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, or is reasonably expected or intended to occur, that would subject an individual having rights under any such Seller Benefit Plan to accelerated Tax as a result of Section 409A or a Tax imposed under Section 409A; and (iv) for any Seller Benefit Plan that is not intended to be subject to Section 409A because it is not a nonqualified deferred compensation plan under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(a)(2) through 1.409A-1 (a)(5), or due to the application of Treasury Regulations Section 1.409A-1(b), all the conditions required to retain such treatment remain in effect and are not reasonably expected to change so as to subject such Seller Benefit Plan to Section 409A.

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3.12         Compliance with Applicable Law.

(a)          Seller and each of its Subsidiaries hold all material licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and pursuant to each, and have complied in all material respects with and are not in default in any material respect under any, applicable law, statute, order, rule, regulation, policy or guideline of any Governmental Entity relating to Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. Other than as required by (and in conformity with) law, neither Seller nor any Seller Subsidiary acts, or has acted since January 1, 2007, as a fiduciary for any person, or administers any account for which it acts as a fiduciary, including as a trustee, agent, custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor.

(b)          Section 3.12(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date hereof, a schedule of all officers and directors of Seller or entities controlled by executive officers and directors of Seller who have outstanding loans from Seller or its Subsidiaries, and there has been no default on, or forgiveness or waiver of, in whole or in part, any such loan during the three years immediately preceding the date hereof.

3.13         Certain Contracts.

(a)          Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or as disclosed on Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding (whether written or oral) (i) with respect to the employment of any directors, officers, employees, consultants, independent contractors or other service providers other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) that, upon execution of this Agreement or consummation or shareholder approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional acts or events) result in any payment or benefits (whether of severance pay or otherwise) becoming due from Buyer, Seller, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any current, former or retired officer, employee, director, consultant, independent contractor or other service provider of Seller or any Subsidiary thereof, (iii) that is a contract material to the business of Seller to be performed after the date of this Agreement, (iv) that materially restricts the conduct of any line of business, or the area in which such business is conducted, by Seller or, to the knowledge of Seller, upon consummation of the Merger will materially restrict the ability of the Surviving Corporation to engage in any line of business in which a bank holding company may lawfully engage, (v) with or to a labor union or guild (including any collective bargaining agreement) or (vi) including any stock option plan, stock appreciation rights plan, restricted stock plan, performance stock, phantom or restricted stock units, stock purchase plan, employee stock ownership plan or benefits plan in which any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the execution of this Agreement, the occurrence of any shareholder approval or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of or affected by any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each contract, arrangement, commitment or understanding of the type described in this Section 3.13(a), whether or not set forth in the Seller Disclosure Schedule, is referred to as a “Seller Contract,” and neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries knows of, or has received notice of, any material violation of any Seller Contract by any of the other parties thereto.

(b)          (i) Each Seller Contract is valid and binding on Seller or its applicable Subsidiary and is in full force and effect, (ii) Seller and each of its Subsidiaries has in all material respects performed all obligations required to be performed by it to date under each Seller Contract and (iii) no event or condition exists that constitutes or, after notice or lapse of time or both, will constitute, a material default on the part of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries under any such Seller Contract.

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3.14         Risk Management Instruments.

(a)          “Derivative Transactions” means any swap transaction, option, warrant, forward purchase or sale transaction, futures transaction, cap transaction, floor transaction or collar transaction relating to one or more currencies, commodities, bonds, equity securities, loans, interest rates, prices, values, or other financial or nonfinancial assets, credit-related events or conditions or any indexes, or any other similar transaction or combination of any of these transactions, including collateralized mortgage obligations or other similar instruments or any debt or equity instruments evidencing or embedding any such types of transactions, and any related credit support, collateral or other similar arrangements related to such transactions.

(b)          All Derivative Transactions, whether entered into for the account of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or for the account of a customer of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, were entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable laws, rules, regulations and policies of any Regulatory Authority and in accordance with the investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures employed by Seller and its Subsidiaries, and with counterparties believed at the time to be financially responsible and able to understand (either alone or in consultation with their advisers) and to bear the risks of such Derivative Transactions. All of such Derivative Transactions are legal, valid and binding obligations of Seller or one of its Subsidiaries enforceable against it in accordance with their terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity), and are in full force and effect. Seller and its Subsidiaries have duly performed their obligations under the Derivative Transactions to the extent that such obligations to perform have accrued and, to Seller’s knowledge, there are no breaches, violations or defaults or allegations or assertions of such by any party thereunder.

3.15         Investment Securities and Commodities.

(a)          Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller, each of Seller and its Subsidiaries has good title to all securities and commodities owned by it (except those sold under repurchase agreements or held in any fiduciary or agency capacity), free and clear of any Liens, except to the extent such securities or commodities are pledged in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations of Seller or its Subsidiaries. Such securities and commodities are valued on the books of Seller in accordance with GAAP in all material respects.

(b)          Seller and its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses employ and have acted in compliance in all material respects with investment, securities, commodities, risk management and other policies, practices and procedures (the “Policies, Practices and Procedures”) that Seller believes are prudent and reasonable in the context of such businesses. Before the date hereof, Seller has made available to Buyer in writing the material Policies, Practices and Procedures.

3.16         Loan Portfolio.

(a)          Section 3.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of August 31, 2012 (i) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all loan agreements, notes or borrowing arrangements (including leases, credit enhancements, commitments, guarantees and interest-bearing assets) payable to Seller or its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Loans”), other than “nonaccrual” Loans, (ii) the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all “nonaccrual” Loans, (iii) a summary of all Loans designated as of such date by Seller as “Special Mention”, “Substandard”, “Doubtful”, “Loss” or words of similar import by category of Loan (e.g., commercial, consumer, etc.), together with the aggregate principal amount of such Loans by category and the amount of specific reserves with respect to each such category of Loans and (iv) each asset of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries that is classified as “Other Real Estate Owned” and the book value thereof.

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(b)          Each Loan (i) is evidenced by notes, agreements or other evidences of indebtedness that are true, genuine and what they purport to be, (ii) to the extent secured, has been secured by valid liens and security interests that have been perfected, (iii) where required by applicable law, has been based on an appraisal and (iv) is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the obligor named therein, enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity). All Loans originated by Seller or its Subsidiaries, and all such Loans purchased by Seller or its Subsidiaries, were made or purchased in accordance with customary lending standards. All such Loans (and any related guarantees) and payments due thereunder are, and on the Closing Date will be, free and clear of any Lien, and Seller or its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects, and on the Closing Date will have complied in all material respects, with all laws and regulations relating to such Loans.

(c)          Since June 30, 2012, none of the Seller Subsidiaries has incurred any unusual or extraordinary loan losses that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller; to Seller’s knowledge and in light of each of the Seller Subsidiaries’ historical loan loss experience and its management’s analysis of the quality and performance of its loan portfolio, the reserves for loan losses shown on the Seller SEC Reports were, on the respective dates thereof, adequate in all respects under the requirements of GAAP and applicable regulatory accounting practices, in each case consistently applied, to provide for probable loan losses as of such date, and were in accordance with the safety and soundness standards administered by, and the practices, procedures, requests and requirements of, the applicable Regulatory Agency.

3.17         Property.  Seller or one of its Subsidiaries (a) has fee simple title to all the real property assets reflected in the latest audited balance sheet included in the Seller SEC Reports as being owned by Seller or one of its Subsidiaries or acquired after the date thereof (except properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date thereof in the ordinary course of business) (the “Owned Properties”), free and clear of all Liens of any nature whatsoever, except (i) statutory Liens securing payments not yet due, (ii) Liens for real property taxes not yet delinquent, (iii) easements, rights of way and other similar encumbrances and matters of record that do not materially adversely affect the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby as used by Seller on the date hereof or otherwise materially impair business operations at such properties, as conducted by Seller on the date hereof and (iv) such imperfections or irregularities of title or Liens as do not materially affect the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair business operations at such properties as used by Seller on the date hereof (collectively, “Permitted Encumbrances”), and (b) is the lessee of all leasehold estates reflected in the latest audited financial statements included in such Seller SEC Reports or acquired after the date thereof (except for leases that have expired by their terms since the date thereof) (the “Leased Properties” and, collectively with the Owned Properties, the “Real Property”), free and clear of all Liens of any nature whatsoever encumbering Seller’s or its Subsidiaries’ leasehold estate, except for Permitted Encumbrances, and is in possession of the properties purported to be leased thereunder, and each such lease is valid without default thereunder by Seller or one of its Subsidiaries or, to Seller’s knowledge, the lessor. The Real Property is in material compliance with all applicable zoning laws and building codes, and the buildings and improvements located on the Real Property are in good operating condition and in a state of good working order, ordinary wear and tear and casualty excepted. There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Seller, threatened condemnation proceedings against the Real Property. Seller and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with all applicable health and safety related requirements for the Real Property, including those under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Occupational Health and Safety Act of 1970.

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Seller currently maintains insurance on all its property, including the Real Property, in amounts, scope and coverage reasonably necessary for its operations. Seller has not received any notice of termination, nonrenewal or material premium adjustment for such policies.

3.18         Insurance.  Seller and each of its Subsidiaries are insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as constitute reasonably adequate coverage against all risks customarily insured against by banking institutions and their subsidiaries of comparable size and operations to Seller and its Subsidiaries. Seller has a true and complete list of all insurance policies applicable and available to Seller and each of its Subsidiaries with respect to its business or that are otherwise maintained by or for Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Seller Policies”) and has provided true and complete copies of all such Seller Policies to Buyer. Except as set forth in Section 3.18 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there is no claim for coverage by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries pending under any of such Seller Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such Seller Policies or in respect of which such underwriters have reserved their rights. Each Seller Policy is in full force and effect and all premiums payable by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely paid, by Seller or its Subsidiaries, as applicable. To the knowledge of the Seller, neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries have received written notice of any threatened termination of, material premium increase with respect to, lapse of coverage under, or material alteration of coverage under, any of such Seller Policies. To the best of Seller’s knowledge, no Seller Policy has been issued by a company that is rated less than “A-” by A.M. Best & Co.

3.19         Intellectual Property.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller, Seller and each of its Subsidiaries owns, or is licensed to use (in each case, free and clear of any Liens), all Intellectual Property used in or necessary for the conduct of its business as currently conducted, and all license fees in connection with Seller’s Intellectual Property have been paid. The use of any Intellectual Property by Seller and its Subsidiaries does not, to the knowledge of Seller, infringe on or otherwise violate the rights of any person and is in accordance with any applicable license pursuant to which Seller or any Subsidiary acquired the right to use any Intellectual Property. To Seller’s knowledge, no person is challenging, infringing on or otherwise violating any right of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by and/or licensed to Seller or its Subsidiaries. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of any pending claim with respect to any Intellectual Property used by Seller and its Subsidiaries and, to Seller’s knowledge, no Intellectual Property owned and/or licensed by Seller or its Subsidiaries is being used or enforced in a manner that would result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability of such Intellectual Property. For purposes of this Agreement, “Intellectual Property” means trademarks, service marks, brand names, certification marks, trade dress and other indications of origin, the goodwill associated with the foregoing and registrations in any jurisdiction of, and applications in any jurisdiction to register, the foregoing, including any extension, modification or renewal of any such registration or application; inventions, discoveries and ideas, whether patentable or not, in any jurisdiction; patents, applications for patents (including divisions, continuations, continuations in part and renewal applications), and any renewals, extensions or reissues thereof, in any jurisdiction; nonpublic information, trade secrets and confidential information and rights in any jurisdiction to limit the use or disclosure thereof by any person; writings and other works, whether copyrightable or not, in any jurisdiction; and registrations or applications for registration of copyrights in any jurisdiction, and any renewals or extensions thereof; and any similar intellectual property or proprietary rights.

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3.20         Environmental Liability.  There are no legal, administrative, arbitral or other proceedings, claims, actions, causes of action, orders, assessments (including penalty assessments) or notices of any kind with respect to any environmental, health or safety matters or any private or governmental environmental, health or safety investigations or remediation activities of any nature seeking to impose, or that are reasonably likely to result in, any material liability or obligation of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries arising under common law or under any local, state or federal environmental, health or safety statute, regulation or ordinance, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, pending or, to Seller’s knowledge, threatened against Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of Seller, there is no reasonable basis for, or circumstances that are reasonably likely to give rise to, any such proceeding, claim, action, investigation or remediation by any Governmental Entity or any third party that would give rise to any material liability or obligation on the part of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any agreement, order, judgment, decree, letter or memorandum by or with any Governmental Entity or third party imposing any liability or obligation with respect to any of the foregoing. Each of Seller and its Subsidiaries, and, to Seller’s knowledge (except as set forth in written third-party environmental reports included in the relevant loan documentation regarding real property securing a Loan made in the ordinary course of business to a third party that is not an affiliate of Seller), any property in which Seller or any of its Subsidiaries holds a security interest, is in material compliance with all local, state or federal environmental, health or safety Laws, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.

3.21         Leases.  Section 3.21 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth (a) a list of each personal property lease involving annual payments in excess of $50,000 to which Seller or any Subsidiary is a party and (b) a list of each parcel of real property leased by Seller or any of its Subsidiaries together with the current annual rent (each, a “Property Lease”). Each Property Lease is valid and binding on Seller or its applicable Subsidiary and is in full force and effect. Seller and each of its Subsidiaries has performed, in all material respects, all obligations required to be performed by it to date under each Property Lease. Neither Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries is in material default under any Property Lease.

3.22         Privacy of Customer Information.  Seller is the sole owner or, in the case of participated loans, a co-owner with the other participant(s), of all individually identifiable personal information (“IIPI”) relating to customers, former customers and prospective customers that will be transferred to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement and the other transactions contemplated hereby. For purposes of this Section 3.22, “IIPI” shall include any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. Neither Seller nor the Seller Subsidiaries have any reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause the collection and use of such IIPI by Seller, the transfer of such IIPI to Buyer, and the use of such IIPI by Buyer as contemplated by this Agreement not to comply with all applicable privacy policies, the Fair Credit Reporting Act of 1970, as amended (the “Fair Credit Reporting Act”), the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999 (the “Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act”) and all other applicable state, federal and foreign privacy laws, and any contract or industry standard relating to privacy. In accordance with the requirements of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, Seller and Seller Bank (i) maintain the security and confidentiality of customer records and information; (ii) protect against any anticipated threats or hazards to the security or integrity of such records; and (iii) protect against unauthorized access to or use of such records or information, which could result in substantial harm or inconvenience to any customer.

3.23         Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act; Money Laundering.  Neither Seller nor any Seller Subsidiary has any reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause Seller or the Seller Subsidiaries to be deemed to be operating in violation in any material respect of the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970, as amended and its implementing regulations (31 C.F.R. Part 103) (the “Bank Secrecy Act”), the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Patriot Act”), any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering law. Furthermore, the Board of Directors of Seller Bank has adopted and Seller Bank has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures, that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the Patriot Act.

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3.24         CRA Compliance.  Neither Seller nor any Seller Subsidiary has received any notice of non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. As of the date hereof, Seller is “well-capitalized” (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 225.2(r)) and its and each Seller Subsidiary’s most recent examination rating under the CRA was “satisfactory” or better. Seller knows of no fact or circumstance or set of facts or circumstances which would be reasonably likely to cause Seller or any Seller Subsidiary to receive any notice of non-compliance with such provisions of the CRA or cause the CRA rating of Seller or any Seller Subsidiary to decrease below the “satisfactory” level.

3.25         Securitizations.  Seller is not a party to any agreement securitizing any of its assets.

3.26         State Takeover Laws.  The Seller Board has rendered inapplicable to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby any “moratorium,” “control share,” “fair price,” “takeover” or “interested shareholder” law.

3.27         Reorganization; Approvals.  As of the date of this Agreement, Seller (a) is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (b) knows of no reason why all regulatory approvals from any Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement should not be obtained on a timely basis.

3.28         Opinion.  Before the execution of this Agreement, the Seller Board has received an opinion from Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. to the effect that as of the date thereof and based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair to the shareholders of Seller from a financial point of view. Such opinion has not been amended or rescinded as of the date of this Agreement.

3.29         Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity.  Seller has developed and implemented a contingency planning program to evaluate the impact of significant events that may adversely affect Seller’s customers, assets, or employees. To the best of Seller’s knowledge, such program ensures that Seller and Seller Bank can recover its mission critical functions, and complying with the requirements of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (“FFIEC”), the SEC, and the FDIC.

Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER

Except as disclosed in the disclosure schedule (the “Buyer Disclosure Schedule”) delivered by Buyer to Seller before the execution of this Agreement, Buyer hereby represents and warrants to Seller as follows:

4.1           Corporate Organization.

(a)          Buyer is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Buyer has the corporate power and authority to own or lease all of its properties and assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted by it or the character or location of the properties and assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary.

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(b)          Buyer is duly registered as a bank holding company under the BHC Act. True, complete and correct copies of the Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Buyer Articles”) and Bylaws of Buyer, as amended (the “Buyer Bylaws”), as in effect as of the date of this Agreement, have previously been made available to Seller.

(c)          Except as set forth on Section 4.1(c) of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, each Buyer Subsidiary (i) is duly incorporated or duly formed, as applicable to each such Subsidiary, and validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, (ii) is duly qualified to do business and in good standing in all jurisdictions (whether federal, state, local or foreign) where its ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of its business requires it to be so qualified and (iii) has all requisite corporate power or other power and authority to own or lease its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. The articles of incorporation, bylaws and similar governing documents of each Buyer Subsidiary, copies of which have previously been made available to Seller, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as of the date of this Agreement.

(d)          The deposit accounts of Buyer Bank are insured by the FDIC through the Deposit Insurance Fund to the fullest extent permitted by law, and all premiums and assessments required to be paid in connection therewith have been paid when due.

4.2           Capitalization.

(a)          The authorized capital stock of Buyer consists of 75,000,000 shares of Buyer Common Stock, of which, as of the date of this Agreement (the “Buyer Capitalization Date”), 28,386,195.1806 shares were issued and outstanding, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, (the “Buyer Preferred Stock”), of which, as of the Buyer Capitalization Date, 24,900 shares of Buyer Series A Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. As of the Buyer Capitalization Date, no shares of Buyer Common Stock or Buyer Preferred Stock were reserved for issuance, except for 233,377 shares of Buyer Common Stock underlying options currently outstanding; 484,356 shares of Buyer Common Stock available in connection with future grants of stock options, in each case reserved for issuance pursuant to employee and director stock plans of Buyer in effect as of the date of this Agreement (the “Buyer Stock Plans”); and 833,705 shares of Buyer Common Stock reserved for issuance in connection with a warrant granted to the Treasury Department. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights. As of the Buyer Capitalization Date, except pursuant to this Agreement, the Buyer Stock Plans, the VantageSouth Merger Agreement, and as disclosed in Section 4.2 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, Buyer does not have and is not bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of Buyer Common Stock, Buyer Preferred Stock, or any other equity securities of Buyer or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of Buyer Common Stock, Buyer Preferred Stock, or other equity securities of Buyer. The shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger will be duly authorized and validly issued and, at the Effective Time, all such shares will be fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive rights, with no personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof.

(b)          All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity ownership interests of each Subsidiary of Buyer are owned by Buyer, directly or indirectly, free and clear of any Liens, and all of such shares or equity ownership interests are duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable except to the extent set forth in Section 53-42 of the North Carolina General Statutes) and free of preemptive rights. No such Buyer Subsidiary has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments or agreements of any character calling for the purchase or issuance of any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary or any securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares of capital stock or any other equity security of such Subsidiary.

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4.3           Authority; No Violation.

(a)          Buyer has requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly, validly authorized and approved by the Buyer Board. The Buyer Board has determined that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, is advisable and in the best interests of Buyer and its shareholders, and that the Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are at a price and terms that are fair to and in the best interest of the Buyer and its shareholders. The Buyer Board has directed that the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, be submitted to Buyer’s shareholders for consideration at a duly held meeting of such shareholders and has recommended that Buyer’s shareholders vote in favor of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Except for the approval of this Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Buyer Common Stock entitled to vote at such meeting, no other corporate proceedings on the part of Buyer are necessary to approve this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer and (assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller) constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms (except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally or by 12 U.S.C. Section 1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor statute) and any bank regulatory powers and subject to general principles of equity).

(b)          Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer, nor the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor compliance by Buyer with any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, will (i) violate any provision of the Buyer Articles or the Buyer Bylaws or (ii) assuming that the consents, approvals and filings referred to in Section 4.4 are duly obtained and/or made, (A) violate any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ, decree or Injunction applicable to Buyer, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or (B) violate, conflict with, result in a breach of any provision of or the loss of any benefit under, constitute a default (or an event that, with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) under, result in the termination of or a right of termination or cancellation under, accelerate the performance required by, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the respective properties or assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties or assets is bound.

4.4           Consents and Approvals. Except for (a) the filing of applications and notices, as applicable, with the Federal Reserve Board under the BHC Act, as amended, and the Federal Reserve Act, as amended, and approval of such applications and notices, (b) the Other Regulatory Approvals, (c) the filing with the SEC of a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Form S-4”), and declaration of effectiveness of the Form S-4, (d) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Delaware Secretary of State and the North Carolina Secretary of State pursuant to the DGCL and NCBCA, (e) the filing of the Bank Merger Certificates, (f) any consents, authorizations, approvals, filings or exemptions in connection with compliance with the applicable provisions of federal and state securities laws relating to the regulation of broker-dealers, investment advisers or transfer agents, and federal commodities laws relating to the regulation of futures commission merchants and the rules and regulations thereunder and of any applicable SRO, and the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Global Market, or that are required under consumer finance, mortgage banking and other similar laws, (g) notices or filings under the HSR Act, if any, and (h) such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under the securities or “blue sky” laws of various states in connection with the issuance of the shares of Buyer Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement and approval of listing of such Buyer Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Market, no consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the consummation by Buyer of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No consents or approvals of or filings or registrations with any Governmental Entity are necessary in connection with the execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement.

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4.5           Reports; Regulatory Matters.

(a)          Except as set forth on Section 4.5 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries have timely filed all reports, registrations and statements, together with any amendments required to be made with respect thereto, that they were required to file since January 1, 2010 with the Regulatory Agencies and each other applicable Governmental Entity, and all other reports and statements required to be filed by them since January 1, 2010, including any report or statement required to be filed pursuant to the laws, rules or regulations of the United States, any state, foreign entity or Regulatory Agency, and have paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. Except for normal examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity in the ordinary course of the business of Buyer and its Subsidiaries, or as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, no Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity has initiated since January 1, 2010 or has pending any proceeding, enforcement action or, to the knowledge of Buyer, investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2010, except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, no Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity has resolved any proceeding, enforcement action or, to the knowledge of Buyer, investigation into the business, disclosures or operations of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries. Buyer and its Subsidiaries have fully complied with, and there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity with respect to, any report or statement relating to any examinations or inspections of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2010, there have been no formal or informal inquiries by, or disagreements or disputes with, any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity with respect to the business, operations, policies or procedures of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries (other than normal examinations conducted by a Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity in Buyer’s ordinary course of business or as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports).

(b)          Except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any cease-and desist or other order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any written agreement, consent agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or has been since January 1, 2009 a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has been ordered to pay any civil money penalty by, or since January 1, 2009 has adopted any policies, procedures or board resolutions at the request or suggestion of, any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies, its internal controls, its management or its business, other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated bank holding companies or their Subsidiaries (each, a “Buyer Regulatory Agreement”), nor has Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 2009 by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering or requesting any such Buyer Regulatory Agreement.

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(c)          Buyer has made available to Seller an accurate and complete copy of each registration statement, prospectus, report, schedule, information statement and proxy statement filed with or furnished to the SEC by Buyer pursuant to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and before the date of this Agreement (the “Buyer SEC Reports”). No such Buyer SEC Report, at the time filed or furnished (and, in the case of registration statements and proxy statements, on the dates of effectiveness and the dates of the relevant meetings, respectively), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, except that information as of a later date (but before the date of this Agreement) shall be deemed to modify information as of an earlier date. As of their respective effective or filed dates, all Buyer SEC Reports complied as to form in all material respects with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, with respect thereto.

(d)          Since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Buyer, and each of its officers and directors, have been and are in compliance in all material respects with (i) the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) the applicable listing and corporate governance rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

(e)          Buyer has not received notice in writing from the SEC that either the Buyer itself or any of the Buyer SEC Reports is the subject of any ongoing review by the SEC or of any outstanding SEC investigation (whether formal or informal, including but not limited to a voluntary document request), and as of the date hereof, there are no material outstanding or unresolved comments in comment letters from the SEC staff with respect to any of the Buyer SEC Reports. Buyer has made available to Seller correct and complete copies of all material correspondence between the SEC, on the one hand, and the Buyer and any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, occurring since the June 30, 2012 and prior to the date hereof.

(f)          Neither the Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, partnership agreement or any similar contract (including any contract relating to any transaction, arrangement or relationship between or among the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or Person, on the other hand (such as any arrangement described in Section 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act)) where the purpose or effect of such arrangement is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries in the Buyer’s consolidated financial statements.

(g)          The Buyer has made available to Seller a complete and correct copy of any amendments or modifications to any agreements, reports or schedules which previously had been filed by the Buyer with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, which amendments or modifications have not yet been filed with the SEC but which are required to be filed.

4.6           Financial Statements.

(a)          The financial statements of Buyer and its Subsidiaries or Buyer’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable, included (or incorporated by reference) in the Buyer SEC Reports (including the related notes, where applicable) (i) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of Buyer and its Subsidiaries or Buyer’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable; (ii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated results of operations, cash flows, changes in shareholders’ equity and consolidated financial position of Buyer and its Subsidiaries or Buyer’s bank Subsidiary, as applicable, for the respective fiscal periods or as of the respective dates therein set forth (subject in the case of unaudited statements to recurring year-end audit adjustments normal in nature and amount); (iii) complied as to form, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and regulations of the SEC or the FDIC, as applicable, with respect thereto; and (iv) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied during the periods involved, except, in each case, as indicated in such statements or in the notes thereto. The books and records of Buyer and its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with GAAP and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions. Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP has served as independent registered public accountant for Buyer or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, for all periods covered in the Buyer SEC Reports; such firm has not resigned or been dismissed as independent public accountants of Buyer or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, as a result of or in connection with any disagreements with Buyer or its bank Subsidiary, as applicable, on a matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure.

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(b)          Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has any material liability of any nature whatsoever (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise and whether due or to become due), except for those liabilities that are reflected or reserved against on the consolidated balance sheet of Buyer included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2012 (including any notes thereto) and for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since June 30, 2012 or in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(c)          Since June 30, 2012, (i) through the date hereof, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the officers of Buyer, any director, officer, employee, auditor, accountant or representative of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has received or otherwise had or obtained knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices, and (ii) no attorney representing Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by Buyer or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Board of Directors of Buyer or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of Buyer.

4.7           Broker’s Fees. Neither Buyer nor any Buyer Subsidiary nor any of their respective officers or directors has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for any broker’s fees, commissions or finder’s fees in connection with the Merger or related transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than as set forth on Section 4.7 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule.

4.8           Absence of Certain Changes or Events.

(a)          Since June 30, 2012, except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, no event or events have occurred that have had or are reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer.

(b)          Other than as set forth on Section 4.8 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, since June 30, 2012 through and including the date of this Agreement, Buyer and its Subsidiaries have carried on their respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with their past practice.

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4.9           Legal Proceedings.

(a)          Except as disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports or as previously disclosed to Seller, none of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any, and there are no pending or, to the best of Buyer’s knowledge, threatened, legal, administrative, arbitral or other material proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations of any nature against Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, including, without limitation any lender liability claims, or otherwise challenging the validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. None of the proceedings, claims, actions or governmental or regulatory investigations set forth on Section 4.9(a) of the Buyer’s Disclosure Schedule would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer.

(b)          There is no Injunction, judgment or, as otherwise disclosed in the Buyer SEC Reports, regulatory restriction (other than those of general application that apply to similarly situated bank holding companies or their Subsidiaries) imposed upon Buyer, any of its Subsidiaries or the assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.

4.10         Taxes and Tax Returns. Except as set forth on Section 4.5 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries has duly and timely filed (including all applicable extensions) all Tax Returns required to be filed by it on or before the date of this Agreement (all such returns being accurate and complete in all material respects), has paid all Taxes shown thereon as arising and has duly paid or made provision for the payment of all material Taxes that have been incurred or are due or claimed to be due from it by federal, state, foreign or local taxing authorities (including, if and to the extent applicable, those due in respect of its properties, income, business, capital stock, deposits, franchises, licenses, sales and payrolls) other than Taxes that are not yet delinquent or are being contested in good faith, have not been finally determined and have been adequately reserved against. Buyer and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any ongoing or unresolved examination or audit by the IRS. There are no material disputes pending, or claims asserted, for Taxes or assessments upon Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries for which Buyer does not have reserves that are adequate under GAAP. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by any Tax-sharing, -allocation or -indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than such an agreement or arrangement exclusively between or among Buyer, Piedmont Community Bank Holdings, Inc. and its Subsidiaries). Within the past five years, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in a distribution intended to qualify under Section 355(a) of the Code. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is required to include in income any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code, no such adjustment has been proposed by the IRS and no pending request for permission to change any accounting method has been submitted by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has participated in a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1). Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken or agreed to take any action or is aware of any fact or circumstance that would prevent, or would be reasonably likely to prevent, the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code.

4.11         Compliance with Applicable Law. Buyer and each of its Subsidiaries hold all material licenses, franchises, permits and authorizations necessary for the lawful conduct of their respective businesses under and pursuant to each, and have complied in all respects with and are not in default in any material respect under any, applicable law, statute, order, rule, regulation, policy or guideline of any Governmental Entity relating to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.

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4.12         Assets. Since June 30, 2012, none of the Buyer Subsidiaries has incurred any unusual or extraordinary loan losses that are material to Buyer and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; to Buyer’s knowledge and in light of each of the Buyer Subsidiaries’ historical loan loss experience and its management’s analysis of the quality and performance of its loan portfolio, the reserves for loan losses shown on the Buyer Financial Statements were, on the respective dates thereof, adequate in all respects under the requirements of GAAP and applicable regulatory accounting practices, in each case consistently applied, to provide for probable loan losses as of such date, and were in accordance with the safety and soundness standards administered by, and the practices, procedures, requests and requirements of, the applicable Regulatory Agency.

4.13         Reorganization; Approvals. As of the date of this Agreement, Buyer (a) is not aware of any fact or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (b) knows of no reason why all regulatory approvals from any Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement should not be obtained on a timely basis.

4.14         Bank Secrecy Act; Patriot Act; Money Laundering. Neither Buyer nor any Buyer Subsidiary has any reason to believe that any facts or circumstances exist, which would cause Buyer or the Buyer Subsidiaries to be deemed to be operating in violation in any material respect of the Bank Secrecy Act, the Patriot Act, any order issued with respect to anti-money laundering by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or any other applicable anti-money laundering law. Furthermore, the Board of Directors of Buyer Bank has adopted and Buyer Bank has implemented an anti-money laundering program that contains adequate and appropriate customer identification verification procedures, that has not been deemed ineffective by any Governmental Authority and that meets the requirements of Sections 352 and 326 of the Patriot Act.

4.15         CRA Compliance. Neither Buyer nor any Buyer Subsidiary has received any notice of non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the Community Reinvestment Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder. As of the date hereof, Seller is “well-capitalized” (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 225.2(r)) and its and each Buyer Subsidiary’s most recent examination rating under the CRA was “satisfactory” or better. Buyer knows of no fact or circumstance or set of facts or circumstances which would be reasonably likely to cause Buyer or any Buyer Subsidiary to receive any notice of non-compliance with such provisions of the CRA or cause the CRA rating of Buyer or any Buyer Subsidiary to decrease below the “satisfactory” level.

4.16         Opinion. Before the execution of this Agreement, the Buyer has received an opinion from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. to the effect that as of the date thereof, and based upon and subject to the matters set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair to Buyer from a financial point of view. Such opinion has not been amended or rescinded as of the date of this Agreement.

Article V
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

5.1           Conduct of Business Before the Effective Time. Except as expressly contemplated by or permitted by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, each of the Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries, to:

(a)          conduct its business in the ordinary course in all material respects; and

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(b)          use commercially reasonable best efforts to maintain and preserve intact its business organization and advantageous business relationships and retain the services of its key officers and key employees.

5.2           Seller Forbearances. During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement, Seller shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, without the prior written consent of Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld):

(a)          other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other individual, corporation or other entity, or make any loan or advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any person (it being understood and agreed that incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice shall include the creation of deposit liabilities, purchases of federal funds, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, sales of certificates of deposit and entering into repurchase agreements);

(b)          adjust, split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock;

(c)          make, declare or pay any dividend, or make any other distribution on, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of its capital stock or any securities or obligations convertible (whether currently convertible or convertible only after the passage of time or the occurrence of certain events) into or exchangeable for any shares of its capital stock (except (A) dividends paid by any of the Subsidiaries of Seller to Seller or to any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries, (B) the acceptance of shares of Seller Common Stock in payment of the exercise price or withholding taxes incurred by any employee or director in connection with the vesting of equity-based awards in respect of Seller Common Stock granted under a Seller Stock Plans, in each case in accordance with past practice and the terms of the applicable Seller Stock Plans and related award agreements and (C) regular quarterly cash dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms thereof);

(d)          except for restricted shares that may be granted to directors of Seller or Seller Bank in lieu of cash for earned board of director and committee fees, grant any stock options, restricted shares or other equity-based award with respect to shares of Seller Common Stock under the Seller Stock Plans, or otherwise, or grant any individual, corporation or other entity any right to acquire any shares of its capital stock; or

(e)          issue any additional shares of capital stock or other securities except pursuant to the settlement of equity-based awards previously granted under the Seller Stock Plans, or as provided in Section 5.2(d);

(f)          hire any employees with a title of Vice President or above or an annualized base salary in excess of $120,000, enter into any new employment or independent contractor agreements or arrangements, or enter into any collective-bargaining agreements;

(g)          make any loan or extension of credit in an amount in excess of $1,000,000 (excluding any loan or extension of credit of a smaller amount on an outstanding loan or line of credit in excess of $1,000,000), or renew or amend any existing loan or extension of credit in an amount in excess of $500,000; provided, however, that, if Seller shall request the prior approval of Buyer in accordance with this Section 5.2 to make a loan or extend credit in an amount in excess of $1,000,000, or amend or renew any existing loan in an amount in excess of $500,000, and Buyer shall not have disapproved such request in writing within four business days upon receipt of such request from Seller, then such request shall be deemed to be approved by Buyer and thus Seller or its Subsidiary, may make the loan or extend the credit referenced in such request on the terms described in such request;

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(h)          except as required by applicable law or the terms of any Seller Benefit Plan as in effect on the date of this Agreement and, except for normal increases made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (i) except as disclosed in Section 5.2(h)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, increase the wages, salaries, incentive compensation, incentive compensation opportunities of, or benefits provided to, any current, former or retired employee, director, consultant, independent contractor or other service provider of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates, or, except for payments in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, pay or provide, or increase or accelerate the accrual rate, vesting or timing of payment or funding of, any compensation, benefits or other rights of any current, former or retired employee, director, consultant, independent contractor or other service provider of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or ERISA Affiliates; (ii) except as disclosed in Section 5.2(h)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, establish, adopt or become a party to any new employee benefit or compensation plan, program, commitment or agreement or amend, modify, change or terminate any Seller Benefit Plan; (iii) take any action other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, to fund or in any way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Seller Benefit Plan; (iv) amend, alter or modify any warrant or other equity-based right to purchase any capital stock or other equity interests in Seller or any securities exchangeable for or convertible into the same or other Seller Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof, except as otherwise permitted in this Agreement; (v) enter into any collective-bargaining agreement; or (vi) other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, enter, amend, modify, alter, terminate or change any third-party vendor or service agreement related to any Seller Benefit Plan;

(i)          sell, transfer, mortgage, encumber or otherwise dispose of any material amount of its properties or assets to any person other than a Subsidiary, or cancel, release or assign any material amount of indebtedness to any such person or any claims held by any such person, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or pursuant to contracts in force at the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that, if Seller or any of its Subsidiaries shall request the prior approval of Buyer in accordance with this Section 5.2 to make sell, transfer or dispose of any “Other Real Estate Owned” of Seller, and Buyer shall not have disapproved such request in writing within five business days upon receipt of such request from Seller or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, then such request shall be deemed to be approved by Buyer in writing and thus Seller or its Subsidiary, as applicable, may effect the sale, transfer or disposal referenced in such request on the terms described in such request; provided, further, prior approval is not required for (i) transactions disclosed in Section 5.2(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule or (ii) transactions with respect to any real estate valued at less than $250,000, in each case, so long as the sale or transfer price is at least 80% of the carrying value for such real estate on Seller’s financial statements as of June 30, 2012;

(j)          enter into any new line of business or change in any material respect its lending, investment, underwriting, risk and asset liability management and other banking, operating and servicing policies, except as required by applicable law, regulation or policies imposed by any Governmental Entity;

(k)          except for de minimus expenditures in each case not exceeding $10,000 and except as disclosed in Section 5.2(k) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, make capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate, other than pursuant to binding commitments existing on the date hereof and expenditures reasonably necessary to maintain existing assets in good repair;

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(l)          take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code;

(m)          amend the Seller Articles or Seller Bylaws, or otherwise take any action to exempt any person (other than Buyer or its Subsidiaries) or any action taken by any person from any Takeover Statute or similarly restrictive provisions of its organizational documents or terminate, amend or waive any provisions of any confidentiality or standstill agreements in place with any third parties;

(n)          other than in prior consultation with Buyer, restructure or materially change its investment securities portfolio or its gap position, through purchases, sales or otherwise, or the manner in which the portfolio is classified or reported;

(o)          other than commencement or settlement of foreclosure actions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, commence or settle any claim, action or proceeding where the amount in dispute is in excess of $50,000 or subjecting Seller or any of its Subsidiaries to any material restrictions on its current or future business operations (including the future business and operations of the Surviving Corporation);

(p)          take any action or fail to take any action that is intended or may reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied;

(q)          implement or adopt any material change in its tax accounting or financial accounting principles, practices or methods, other than as may be required by applicable law, GAAP or regulatory guidelines;

(r)          file or amend any Tax Return other than in the ordinary course of business, make any significant change in any method of Tax or accounting (other than as may be required by applicable law, GAAP or regulatory guidelines), make or change any Tax election or settle or compromise any Tax liability in excess of $50,000;

(s)          except for transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, terminate, or waive any material provision of, any Seller Contract or make any change in any instrument or agreement governing the terms of any of its securities, or material lease or contract, other than normal renewals of contracts and leases without material adverse changes of terms;

(t)          take any action that would materially impede or materially delay the ability of the Parties to obtain any necessary approvals of any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity required for the transactions, contemplated hereby; or

(u)          agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.2.

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5.3           Buyer Forbearances. Except as expressly permitted by this Agreement or with the prior written consent of Seller, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, Buyer shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, (a) amend, repeal or otherwise modify any provision of the Buyer Articles or the Buyer Bylaws in a manner that would adversely affect the shareholders of Seller or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (b) take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action, which action or failure to act is reasonably likely to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code; (c) take any action that is intended or may reasonably be expected to result in any of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article VII not being satisfied; (d) take any action that would be reasonably expected to prevent, materially impede, materially impact or materially delay the ability of the Parties to obtain any necessary approvals of any Regulatory Agency or any Governmental Entity required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or cause any other application to a bank Regulatory Agency for approval of a merger to be submitted for filing before the application related to the Merger is approved by such bank Regulatory Agency (except if such bank Regulatory Agency requires in writing a prior submission as a condition to its approval of the application related to the Merger); (e) other than in the ordinary course of business of Buyer or Buyer Bank consistent with past practice or as disclosed in Section 5.3 of the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, incur any indebtedness for borrowed money, assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other individual, corporation or other entity, or make any loan or advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any person (it being understood and agreed that incurrence of indebtedness in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice shall include the creation of deposit liabilities, purchases of federal funds, borrowings from the Federal Home Loan Bank, sales of certificates of deposit and entering into repurchase agreements); or (f) agree to take, make any commitment to take, or adopt any resolutions of its board of directors in support of, any of the actions prohibited by this Section 5.3 (it being understood that Buyer’s pursuit, negotiation, and/or consummation of other acquisitions shall not constitute a violation of this Section 5.3.

Article VI
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

6.1           Regulatory Matters.

(a)          Buyer shall promptly (and in any event within 60 days after the date hereof) prepare and file with the SEC the Form S-4. Buyer shall use its reasonable best efforts to have the Form S-4 declared effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable after such filing. Seller and Buyer shall promptly prepare and thereafter mail or deliver the Proxy Statements, as applicable, to each of its shareholders. Buyer shall also use its reasonable best efforts to obtain all necessary state securities law or “Blue Sky” permits and approvals required to carry out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Seller shall furnish all information concerning Seller and the holders of Seller Common Stock as may be reasonably requested in connection with any such action.

(b)          The Parties shall cooperate with each other and use their respective reasonable best efforts to promptly prepare and file all necessary documentation, to effect all applications, notices, petitions and filings, to obtain as promptly as practicable all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Entities that are necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger and the Bank Merger), and to comply with the terms and conditions of all such permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all such third parties or Governmental Entities provided, however, that Buyer and Buyer Bank, as applicable, shall file applications with (i) the Federal Reserve Board, (ii) the North Carolina Office of the Commissioner of Banks, and (iii) the FDIC, in each case no later than 30 days following the date of this Agreement. Seller and Buyer shall have the right to review in advance and, to the extent practicable, each will consult the other on, in each case subject to applicable laws relating to the confidentiality of information, all the information relating to Seller or Buyer, as the case may be, and any of their respective Subsidiaries, that appears in any filing made with, or written materials submitted to, any third party or any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. In exercising the foregoing right, each of the Parties shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable. The Parties shall consult with each other with respect to the obtaining of all permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of all third parties and Governmental Entities necessary or advisable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and each Party will keep the other apprised of the status of matters relating to completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, provided, further, that the Parties shall promptly notify each other in writing of any material notice (written or otherwise) or material communication (written or otherwise) from any Governmental Entity in connection with the consents and approvals to be obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require Buyer to take any action, or commit to take any action, or agree to any condition or restriction, in connection with obtaining the foregoing permits, consents, approvals and authorizations of third parties or Governmental Entities, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Buyer, giving effect to the Merger (a “Materially Burdensome Regulatory Condition”).

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(c)          Each of Buyer and Seller shall, upon request, furnish to the other all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries, directors, officers and shareholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the Proxy Statements, the Form S-4 or any other statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of Buyer, Seller or any of their respective Subsidiaries to any Governmental Entity in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d)          Each of Buyer and Seller shall promptly advise the other upon receiving any communication from any Governmental Entity the consent or approval of which is required for consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that causes such Party to believe that there is a reasonable likelihood that any Buyer Requisite Regulatory Approval or Seller Requisite Regulatory Approval, respectively, will not be obtained or that the receipt of any such approval may be materially delayed or subject to a Materially Burdensome Regulatory Condition.

(e)          The information relating to each Party and their respective Subsidiaries that is provided by such Party or its representative for inclusion in any application, notification or other document filed with any Regulatory Agency or Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading.

6.2           Access to Information; Confidentiality.

(a)          Upon reasonable notice and subject to applicable laws relating to the confidentiality of information, each of Seller and Buyer shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, afford to the officers, employees, accountants, counsel, advisors, agents and other representatives of the other Party, reasonable access, during normal business hours during the period before the Effective Time, to all its properties, books, contracts, commitments and records, and, during such period, such Party shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, make available to the other Party (i) a copy of each report, schedule, registration statement and other document filed or received by it during such period pursuant to the requirements of federal securities laws or federal or state banking or insurance laws (other than reports or documents that such Party is not permitted to disclose under applicable law) and (ii) all other information concerning its business, properties and personnel as the other Party may reasonably request (in the case of a request by Seller, information concerning Buyer that is reasonably related to the prospective value of Buyer Common Stock or to Buyer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby). Neither Seller nor Buyer, nor any of their Subsidiaries, shall be required to provide access to or to disclose information where such access or disclosure would jeopardize the attorney-client privilege of such Party or its Subsidiaries or contravene any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree, fiduciary duty or binding agreement entered into before the date of this Agreement. The Parties shall make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances in which the restrictions of the preceding sentence apply.

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(b)          Each Party shall, and shall cause its respective agents and representatives to, maintain in confidence all information received from the other Party (other than disclosure to that Party’s agents and representatives in connection with the evaluation and consummation of the Merger) in connection with this Agreement or the Merger (including the existence and terms of this Agreement) and use such information solely to evaluate the Merger, unless (i) such information is already known to the receiving Party or its agents and representatives, (ii) such information is subsequently disclosed to the receiving Party or its agents and representatives by a third party that, to the knowledge of the receiving Party, is not bound by a duty of confidentiality, (iii) such information becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving Party, (iv) the receiving Party in good faith believes that the use of such information is necessary or appropriate in making any filing or obtaining any consent required for the Merger (in which case the receiving Party shall advise the other party before making the disclosure) or (v) the receiving Party in good faith believes that the furnishing or use of such information is required by or necessary or appropriate in connection with any applicable laws or any listing or trading agreement concerning its publicly traded securities (in which case the receiving Party shall advise the other Party before making the disclosure).

All information and materials provided by Seller pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement entered into between Buyer and Seller dated July 19, 2012.

(c)          No investigation by a Party or its representatives shall affect the representations and warranties of the other Party set forth in this Agreement.

6.3           Shareholder Approval.

(a)          Each of Seller and Buyer shall call a meeting of its shareholders to be held as soon as reasonably practicable after the date the Form S-4 is declared effective by the SEC for the purpose of obtaining the requisite shareholder approvals required in connection with the Merger (including any meeting that occurs after any adjournment or postponement, each a “Shareholder Meeting”), on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause such meetings to occur as soon as reasonably practicable. Except to the extent provided otherwise in Section 6.9(b), each of the Seller Board and Buyer Board shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from its shareholders the shareholder vote approving the Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Seller Board and the Buyer Board have adopted resolutions approving the Merger and recommending its approval by their respective shareholders, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, and directing that the Merger, on such terms and conditions, be submitted to each of its shareholders for their consideration.

(b)          Each of Buyer and Seller shall, and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries to, use their reasonable best efforts (i) to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary, proper or advisable to comply promptly with all legal requirements that may be imposed on such Party or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Merger and, subject to the conditions set forth in Article VII, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) to obtain (and to cooperate with the other Party to obtain) any material consent, authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any Governmental Entity and any other third party that is required to be obtained by Seller or Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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6.4           The NASDAQ Global Market Listing. Buyer shall cause the shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be approved for listing on The NASDAQ Global Market, subject to official notice of issuance, before the Effective Time.

6.5           Employee Matters.

(a)          All individuals employed by, or on an authorized leave of absence from, Seller or any of its Subsidiaries immediately before the Effective Time (collectively, the “Covered Employees”) shall automatically become employees of Buyer and its affiliates as of the Effective Time. Immediately following the Effective Time, Buyer shall, or shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, provide to those Covered Employees employee benefits, rates of base salary or hourly wage and annual bonus opportunities that are substantially similar, in the aggregate, to the aggregate rates of base salary or hourly wage and the aggregate employee benefits and annual bonus opportunities provided to such Covered Employees under the Seller Benefit Plans as in effect immediately before the Effective Time; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein shall (i) be treated as an amendment of any particular Seller Benefit Plan, (ii) give any third party any right to enforce the provisions of this Section 6.5, (iii) limit the right of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate the employment of any Covered Employee at any time or require Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to provide any such employee benefits, rates of base salary or hourly wage or annual bonus opportunities for any period following any such termination or (iv) obligate Seller, Buyer or any of their respective Subsidiaries to (A) maintain any particular Seller Benefit Plan or (B) retain the employment of any particular Covered Employee.

(b)          If a Covered Employee who does not have an employment, change-of-control or severance agreement with Seller or any of its Subsidiaries (i) is terminated by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries due to a permanent or indefinite reduction in staff resulting in job elimination, reduction of a position (including a position that had been held at Seller or any of its Subsidiaries) as the result of an organizational or business restructuring or the integration of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries with Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, discontinuance of an operation, relocation of all or a part of Buyer’s or its Subsidiaries’ business, sale of an operation to another company, or sale or other change in ownership of all or a part of Buyer’s or its Subsidiaries’ business or (ii) voluntarily resigns after being notified that, as a condition of employment, such Covered Employee’s base salary will be materially decreased, in any case or both cases, during the period beginning at the Effective Time and ending six (6) months following the Effective Time, such Covered Employee shall be entitled to receive severance payments equal to (after providing customary releases) two weeks of severance pay for every year of employment with Seller, with a minimum severance payment of one month and a maximum of one year, regardless of employee classification.

Seller shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, take whatever action is necessary to terminate any and all other severance arrangements and to ensure that it and Buyer have no other liability for any other severance payments (other than as set forth in this Section 6.5(b), payments disclosed in Section 3.11(e) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and agreements disclosed in Section 3.11(i) and Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule). Seller shall cooperate with Buyer to effectuate the foregoing, including Buyer’s compliance with the Worker Adjustment Retraining and Notification Act or any similar state or local law.

Nothing contained in this Section 6.5(b) shall be construed or interpreted to limit or modify in any way Buyer’s at-will employment policy. In addition, in no event shall severance pay payable under this Section 6.5(b) to any Covered Employee who does not have an employment, change-in-control or severance agreement with Buyer be taken into account in determining the amount of any other benefit (including an individual’s benefit under any retirement plan, SERP or agreement). If, by reason of the controlling plan document, controlling law or otherwise, severance pay is taken into account in determining any other benefit, the severance pay otherwise payable shall be reduced by the present value of the additional benefit determined under other benefit plans attributable to the severance pay.

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(c)          If Buyer so requests (which request shall be made no less than 15 days before the Effective Time), Seller shall take any and all actions required (including the adoption of resolutions by its Board of Directors) to amend, freeze and/or terminate any or all Seller Benefit Plans (excluding the Seller Stock Plans) immediately before the Effective Time, and, if requested by Buyer, to implement any such actions.

(d)          Seller shall provide to Buyer at least 15 days before the Effective Time, documentation that shows that the requirements of ERISA, the Code or other applicable laws are met by or with respect to each Seller Benefit Plan subject to such requirements as to the plan’s latest three plan years that have ended before the date of this Agreement.

(e)          Prior to the Effective Time, A. Dwight Utz, Thomas M. Crowder, James J. Burson and T. Olin Davis shall have entered into an employment agreements or amendments to their existing employment/severance agreement(s) with Seller, with Buyer and Buyer Bank, which shall become effective only upon consummation of the Merger at the Effective Time.

(f)          Buyer shall honor all obligations under those agreements, as amended or terminated and replaced in their entirety to the extent required elsewhere in this Agreement, set forth in Section 6.5(f) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.

6.6           Indemnification; Directors’ and Officers’ Insurance.

(a)          In the event of any threatened or actual claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal or administrative (a “Claim”), including any such Claim in which any individual who is now, or has been at any time before the date of this Agreement, or who becomes before the Effective Time, a director, officer or employee of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or who is or was serving at the request of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries as a director, officer or employee of another person (the “Indemnified Parties”), is, or is threatened to be, made a party based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out of, or pertaining to (i) the fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries before the Effective Time or (ii) this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, whether asserted or arising before or after the Effective Time, the Parties shall cooperate and use their best efforts to defend against and respond thereto. All rights to indemnification and exculpation from liabilities for acts or omissions occurring at or before the Effective Time now existing in favor of any Indemnified Party as provided in their respective articles of incorporation or bylaws (or comparable organizational documents), and any existing indemnification agreements set forth on Section 6.6(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, shall survive the Merger and shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified after the Effective Time in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of such individuals for acts or omissions occurring at or before the Effective Time or taken at the request of Buyer pursuant to Section 6.7, it being understood that nothing in this sentence shall require any amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

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(b)          From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, indemnify, defend and hold harmless, and provide advancement of reasonable expenses to, each Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including reasonable attorney fees and expenses), liabilities or judgments or amounts that are paid in settlement of or in connection with any Claim based in whole or in part on or arising in whole or in part out of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer or employee of Seller or any Subsidiary of Seller, and pertaining to any matter existing or occurring, or any acts or omissions occurring, at or before the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed before, or at or after, the Effective Time (including matters, acts or omissions occurring in connection with the approval of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby) or taken at the request of Buyer pursuant to Section 6.7.

(c)          Buyer shall cause the individuals serving as officers and directors of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries immediately before the Effective Time to be covered for a period of six years from the Effective Time by the directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy maintained by Seller (provided that Buyer may substitute therefor policies of at least the same coverage and amounts containing terms and conditions that are not less advantageous to such officers and directors than such policy) with respect to acts or omissions occurring before the Effective Time that were committed by such officers and directors in their capacity as such; provided that in no event shall Buyer be required to expend annually in the aggregate an amount in excess of 300% of the annual premiums currently paid by Seller (which current amount is set forth on Section 6.6(c) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule) for such insurance (the “Insurance Amount”), and provided, further, that if Buyer is unable to maintain such policy (or such substitute policy) as a result of the preceding proviso, Buyer shall obtain as much comparable insurance as is available for the Insurance Amount.

(d)          The provisions of this Section 6.6 shall survive the Effective Time and are intended to be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each Indemnified Party and his or her heirs and representatives.

6.7           Additional Agreements. In case at any time after the Effective Time any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement (including any merger between a Subsidiary of Buyer, on the one hand, and a Subsidiary of Seller, on the other) or to vest the Surviving Corporation with full title to all properties, assets, rights, approvals, immunities and franchises of either Party to the Merger, the proper officers and directors of each Party and their respective Subsidiaries shall take all such necessary action as may be reasonably requested by Buyer.

6.8           Advice of Changes. Each of Buyer and Seller shall promptly advise the other of any change or event (a) having or reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect on it or (b) that it believes would or would be reasonably likely to cause or constitute a material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that no such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the Parties (or remedies with respect thereto) or the conditions to the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement; provided, further, that a failure to comply with this Section 6.8 shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or the failure of any condition set forth in Article VII to be satisfied unless the underlying Material Adverse Effect or material breach would independently result in the failure of a condition set forth in Article VII to be satisfied.

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6.9           No Solicitation.

(a)          None of Seller, its Subsidiaries or any officer, director, employee, agent or representative (including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other retained representative) of Seller or any of its Subsidiaries shall directly or indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, encourage, facilitate (including by way of furnishing information) or take any other action designed to facilitate any inquiries or proposals regarding any merger, share exchange, consolidation, sale of assets, sale of shares of capital stock (including by way of a tender offer) or similar transaction involving Seller or any of its Subsidiaries that, if consummated, would constitute an Alternative Transaction (any of the foregoing inquiries or proposals being referred to herein as an “Alternative Proposal”), (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding an Alternative Transaction, or (iii) enter into any agreement regarding any Alternative Transaction. Seller shall, and shall cause each of the Subsidiaries and representatives of Seller and its Subsidiaries to, (A) immediately cease and cause to be terminated all existing discussions or negotiations with any person conducted heretofore with respect to any Alternative Proposal, (B) request the prompt return or destruction of all confidential information previously furnished in connection therewith and (C) not terminate, waive, amend, release or modify any provision of any confidentiality or standstill agreement relating to any Alternative Proposal to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, and shall enforce the provisions of any such agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if at any time after the date hereof but before approval of this Agreement by Seller’s shareholders, (1) Seller receives an unsolicited written Alternative Proposal that the Seller Board believes in good faith to be bona fide, (2) such Alternative Proposal was not the result of a violation of this Section 6.9, (3) the Seller Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisor) that such Alternative Proposal constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal and (4) the Seller Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel) that the failure to take the actions referred to in clause (x) or (y) below would be reasonably likely to violate its fiduciary duties under applicable law, then Seller may (and may authorize its Subsidiaries and representatives to) (x) furnish nonpublic information regarding Seller and its Subsidiaries to the person making such Alternative Proposal (and its representatives) pursuant to a customary confidentiality agreement containing terms substantially similar to, and no less favorable to Seller than, those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement (provided, that any nonpublic information provided to any person given such access shall have been previously provided to Buyer or shall be provided to Buyer before or concurrently with the time it is provided to such person), and (y) participate in discussions and negotiations with the person making such Alternative Proposal.

(b)          Except as provided otherwise below, neither the Seller Board nor any committee thereof may (i)(A) withdraw (or modify or qualify in any manner adverse to Buyer) or refuse to recommend approval of this Agreement to Seller’s shareholders or (B) adopt, approve, recommend, endorse or otherwise declare advisable the adoption of any Alternative Proposal (each such action set forth in this Section 6.9(b)(i) being referred to as an “Adverse Recommendation Change”), or (ii) cause or permit Seller or any of its Subsidiaries to enter into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other agreement constituting or related to, or that is intended to or is reasonably likely to lead to, any Alternative Proposal (other than a confidentiality agreement permitted by Section 6.9(a)). Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time before obtaining approval of the Merger by Seller’s shareholders, the Seller Board may, if the Seller Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel) that the failure to do so would be reasonably likely to violate its fiduciary duties under applicable law, taking into account all adjustments to the terms of this Agreement that may be offered by Buyer under this Section 6.9(b), make an Adverse Recommendation Change; provided, that Seller may not make any Adverse Recommendation Change in response to an Alternative Proposal unless (x) Seller shall not have breached this Section 6.9 in any respect and (y):

(i)          The Seller Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisor) that such Alternative Proposal is a Superior Proposal and such Superior Proposal has been made and has not been withdrawn and continues to be a Superior Proposal after taking into account all adjustments to the terms of this Agreement that may be offered by Buyer under this Section 6.9(b);

(ii)         Seller has given Buyer at least three days’ prior written notice of its intention to take such action set forth above (which notice shall specify the material terms and conditions of any such Superior Proposal (including the identity of the party making such Superior Proposal) and has contemporaneously provided an unredacted copy of the relevant proposed transaction agreements with the person making such Superior Proposal; and

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(iii)        Before effecting such Adverse Recommendation Change, Seller has negotiated, and has caused its representatives to negotiate, in good faith with Buyer during such notice period to the extent Buyer wishes to negotiate, to enable Buyer to revise the terms of this Agreement such that it would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal.

In the event of any material change to the terms of such Superior Proposal, Seller shall, in each case, be required to deliver to Buyer a new written notice, the notice period shall have recommenced and Seller shall be required to comply with its obligations under this Section 6.9 with respect to such new written notice.

(c)          In addition to the obligations of Seller under Sections 6.9(a) and (b), Seller shall notify Buyer promptly (but in no event later than 24 hours) after receipt of any Alternative Proposal, or any material modification of or material amendment to any Alternative Proposal, or any request for nonpublic information relating to Seller or any of its Subsidiaries or for access to the properties, books or records of Seller or any Subsidiary by any person that informs the Seller Board or any Subsidiary that it is considering making, or has made, an Alternative Proposal. Such notice to Buyer shall be made orally and in writing, and shall indicate the identity of the person making the Alternative Proposal or intending to make or considering making an Alternative Proposal or requesting nonpublic information or access to the books and records of Seller or any Subsidiary, and the material terms of any such Alternative Proposal or modification or amendment to an Alternative Proposal. Seller shall keep Buyer fully informed, on a current basis, of any material changes in the status and any material changes or modifications in the terms of any such Alternative Proposal, indication or request. Seller shall also promptly, and in any event within 24 hours, notify Buyer, orally and in writing, if it enters into discussions or negotiations concerning any Alternative Proposal in accordance with Section 6.9(a).

(d)          As used in this Agreement:

(i)          “Alternative Transaction” means any of (A) a transaction pursuant to which any person (or group of persons) (other than Buyer or its affiliates), directly or indirectly, acquires or would acquire more than 25% of the outstanding shares of Seller Common Stock or outstanding voting power or of any new series or new class of preferred stock that would be entitled to a class or series vote with respect to the Merger, whether from Seller or pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer, (B) a merger, share exchange, consolidation or other business combination involving Seller (other than the Merger), or (C) any transaction pursuant to which any person (or group of persons) (other than Buyer or its affiliates) acquires or would acquire control of assets (including for this purpose the outstanding equity securities of Subsidiaries of Seller and securities of the entity surviving any merger or business combination including any of Seller’s Subsidiaries) of Seller, or any of its Subsidiaries representing more than 25% of the assets of Seller and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, immediately before such transaction.

(ii)         “Superior Proposal” means any unsolicited bona fide Alternative Proposal that the Seller Board determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel and its financial advisor), taking into account all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the proposal and the person (or group of persons) making the proposal (including any break-up fees, expense reimbursement provisions and conditions to consummation), (A) if consummated, would be more favorable to the shareholders of Seller from a financial point of view than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including taking into account any adjustment to the terms and conditions proposed by Buyer in response to such proposal under Section 6.9(b) or otherwise) and (B) if accepted, is reasonably likely to be completed on the terms proposed on a timely basis.

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(e)          Seller shall ensure that the officers, directors and all employees, agents and representatives (including any investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys, accountants or other retained representatives) of Seller or its Subsidiaries are aware of the restrictions described in this Section 6.9 as reasonably necessary to avoid violations thereof. It is understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in this Section 6.9 by any officer, director, employee, agent or representative (including any investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other retained representative) of Seller or its Subsidiaries, at the direction or with the consent of Seller or its Subsidiaries, shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.9 by Seller.

(f)          Nothing contained in this Section 6.9 shall prohibit Seller or its Subsidiaries from taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position required by Rule 14e-2(a) or Rule 14d-9 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

6.10        Buyer’s and Buyer Bank’s Board. Buyer shall take all action necessary to appoint, after consultation with the Seller and effective immediately following the Effective Date, three members of the Seller Board seats as non-management members on Buyer’s Board for a period until Buyer’s next annual meeting following the Effective Date (and shall use all reasonable efforts to arrange for such member to sit for election to a regular term at the next annual meeting of Buyer’s Board). In addition, Buyer shall take all action necessary to appoint, after consultation with the Seller and effective immediately following the Effective Date, three members of the Seller Board seats as members on Buyer Bank’s board of directors (“Buyer Bank Board”) for a period until Buyer Bank’s next annual meeting following the Effective Date (and shall use all reasonable efforts to arrange for such member to sit for election to a regular term at the next annual meeting of Buyer Bank’s Board), with one such member, A. Dwight Utz, to serve as Chairman of the Buyer Bank Board. While each such person sits as a director of either Buyer and/or Buyer Bank, Buyer and Buyer Bank shall pay the same compensation to such director paid to the other members of the Buyer Board and Buyer Bank Board (exclusive of any stock or option awards made to members of such board before the Effective Date). The other members of the Seller Board that have not been appointed to either the Buyer Board or the Buyer Bank Board shall each be named to an Eastern North Carolina Advisory Board to be created by Buyer or Buyer Bank (the “Advisory Board”) for a minimum term of twelve months following the Effective Time, and each member of the Advisory Board shall be compensated, for at least the twelve months following the Effective Time, with the same compensation that they received for service on the Board of Directors of Seller Bank during the twelve months preceding the date of this Agreement.

6.11        Reasonable Best Efforts; Cooperation. Each of Seller and Buyer agrees to exercise good faith and use its reasonable best efforts to satisfy the various covenants and conditions to Closing in this Agreement, and to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on its part under this Agreement and applicable law to consummate and make effective the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings and to obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all consents, registrations, approvals, permits and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order to consummate the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

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6.12        Exemption from Liability Under Section 16(b). Prior to the Effective Date, Buyer shall take all such steps as may be required to cause any acquisitions of Buyer Common Stock resulting from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each director or officer of Seller who becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to Buyer to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

6.13        Completion of the Merger with VantageSouth Bank. Subject to the terms and conditions of the VantageSouth Merger Agreement, Buyer agrees to use all reasonable efforts to take promptly, or cause to be taken promptly, all actions and to do promptly, or cause to be done promptly, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the merger with VantageSouth Bank (the “VantageSouth Merger”).

Article VII
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

7.1          Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of the Parties to effect the Merger shall be subject to the satisfaction at or before the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)          Shareholder Approvals. The Merger, on substantially the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, shall have been approved by the requisite affirmative vote of the holders of Seller Common Stock and the Buyer Common Stock entitled to vote thereon.

(b)          The NASDAQ Global Market Listing. The shares of Buyer Common Stock to be issued to the holders of Seller Common Stock upon consummation of the Merger shall have been authorized for listing on The NASDAQ Global Market (or such other national securities exchange as determined by Buyer), subject to official notice of issuance.

(c)          Form S-4. The Form S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Form S-4 shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC.

(d)          No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No order, injunction or decree issued by any court or agency of competent jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition (an “Injunction”) preventing the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be in effect. No statute, rule, regulation, order, Injunction or decree shall have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any Governmental Entity that prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Merger.

(e)          Employment Agreements. The employment agreements, or amendments to existing Seller agreements, with A. Dwight Utz, Thomas M. Crowder, James J. Burson and T. Olin Davis referenced in Section 6.5(e) shall have become upon consummation of the Merger at the Effective Time.

(f)          Regulatory Approvals. All regulatory approvals set forth in Section 3.4 and 4.4 required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, shall have been obtained and shall remain in full force and effect and all statutory waiting periods in respect thereof shall have expired (all such approvals and the expiration of all such waiting periods being referred to as the “Requisite Regulatory Approvals”), and no such regulatory approval shall have resulted in the imposition of any Materially Burdensome Regulatory Condition.

7.2          Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction, or waiver by Buyer, at or before the Effective Time, of the following conditions:

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(a)          Representations and Warranties. Subject to the standard set forth in Section 9.2, the representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of the Effective Time (except that representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date of this Agreement or another date shall be true and correct as of such date), and Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Seller by the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of Seller to the foregoing effect.

(b)          Performance of Obligations of Seller. Seller shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or before the Effective Time; and Buyer shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Seller by the Chief Executive Officer of Seller to such effect.

(c)          Federal Tax Opinion. Buyer shall have received the opinion of its counsel, Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, the Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. In rendering such opinion, the counsel may require and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of officers of Seller and Buyer.

(d)          Support Agreements. Each member of the Seller Board shall have executed and delivered to Buyer a Support Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit A.

(e)          Noncompete Agreements. Each member of the Seller Board shall have executed and delivered a noncompete agreement in the form attached as Exhibit B.

(f)          Resignations. The directors of Seller and its Subsidiaries immediately before the Effective Time shall have submitted their resignations to be effective as of the Effective Time.

(g)          Release Agreements. Each of A. Dwight Utz, Thomas M. Crowder, James J. Burson and T. Olin Davis shall have executed release agreements, in a form reasonably acceptable to Buyer, waiving their respective rights to severance payments under existing agreements with Seller.

(h)          Other Employment Agreements. All employees listed on Section 3.13(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, other than those executives listed in Section 7.1(e) above, shall have entered into amendments to their existing employment/severance agreement(s), with Buyer and/or Buyer Bank, and such amendments shall relate solely to noncompetition and non-solicitation provisions of such agreements.  Such amended provisions shall be consistent with the noncompetition and non-solicitation provisions of the employment agreements for the four executives listed in Section 7.1(e) above.

7.3          Conditions to Obligations of Seller. The obligation of Seller to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Seller at or before the Effective Time of the following conditions:

(a)          Representations and Warranties. Subject to the standard set forth in Section 9.2, the representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Effective Time as though made on and as of the Effective Time (except that representations and warranties that by their terms speak specifically as of the date of this Agreement or another date shall be true and correct as of such date), and Seller shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Buyer by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of Buyer to the foregoing effect.

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(b)          Performance of Obligations of Buyer. Buyer shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or before the Effective Time, and Seller shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Buyer by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer of Buyer to such effect.

(c)          Federal Tax Opinion. Seller shall have received the opinion of its counsel, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller, dated the Closing Date, substantially to the effect that, on the basis of facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinion that are consistent with the state of facts existing at the Effective Time, (i) the Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and (ii) no gain or loss will be recognized by any of the holders of Seller Common Stock in the Merger. In rendering such opinion, counsel may require and rely upon customary representations contained in certificates of officers of Seller and Buyer.

(d)          The VantageSouth Merger. The VantageSouth Merger shall have been consummated.

Article VIII
TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

8.1          Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time before the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of Seller or Buyer:

(a)          Mutual Consent. By mutual consent of Seller and Buyer in a written instrument, if the board of directors of each of Seller and Buyer so determines by a vote of the majority of the members of its entire board of directors;

(b)          Shareholder Approval. By either Buyer or Seller, in the event of the failure of (i) the Seller’s shareholders to approve the Agreement at the Seller Shareholder Meeting; provided, however, that the Seller shall only be entitled to terminate the Agreement pursuant to this clause if it has complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section 6.3(a) (subject to Section 6.9) or (ii) Buyer’s shareholders to approve the Agreement at the Buyer Shareholder Meeting; provided, however, that Buyer shall only be entitled to terminate the Agreement pursuant to this clause if it has complied in all material respects with its obligations under Section 6.3(a). In the event that Buyer terminates this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(b), Seller shall pay Buyer the Expense Reimbursement (as defined in Section 8.3(c)) in immediately available federal funds no later than two business days following the event that triggers such payment;

(c)          No Regulatory Approval. By either Seller or Buyer, if any Governmental Entity that must grant a Buyer Requisite Regulatory Approval or a Seller Requisite Regulatory Approval has denied approval of the Merger and such denial has become final and nonappealable or any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a final and nonappealable order permanently enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(d)          Delay. By either Seller or Buyer, if the Merger shall not have been consummated on or before June 30, 2013, unless the failure of the Closing to occur by such date shall be due to the failure of the Party seeking to terminate this Agreement to perform or observe the covenants and agreements of such Party set forth in this Agreement;

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(e)          Material Breach of Representation, Warranty or Covenant. By either Buyer or Seller (provided that the terminating Party is not then in material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement), if there shall have been a breach of any of the covenants or agreements or any of the representations or warranties set forth in this Agreement on the part of Seller, in the case of a termination by Buyer, or Buyer, in the case of a termination by Seller, which breach, either individually or in the aggregate, would result in, if occurring or continuing on the Closing Date, the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 7.2 or 7.3, as the case may be, and which is not cured within 45 days following written notice to the Party committing such breach or by its nature or timing cannot be cured within such time period; or

(f)          Failure to Recommend. By Buyer, if the Seller Board shall have (i) failed to recommend in the Proxy Statement, without modification or qualification, the approval and adoption of this Agreement or (ii) in a manner adverse to Buyer, (A) withdrawn, modified or qualified, or publicly discloses its intention to withdraw, modify or qualify, the recommendation by the Seller Board of this Agreement and/or the Merger to Seller’s shareholders, or (C) recommended any Alternative Proposal (or, in the case of clause (ii), resolved to take any such action), whether or not permitted by the terms hereof.

The Party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to any clause of this Section 8.1 (other than clause (a)) shall give written notice of such termination to the other Party in accordance with Section 9.4, specifying the provision or provisions hereof pursuant to which such termination is effected.

8.2          Effect of Termination. If either Seller or Buyer terminates this Agreement as provided in Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, and none of Seller, Buyer, any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of the officers or directors of any of them shall have any liability of any nature whatsoever under this Agreement, or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that (i) Sections 6.2(b), 8.2, 8.3, 9.4, 9.7, 9.8 and 9.9 shall survive any termination of this Agreement and (ii) neither Seller nor Buyer shall be relieved or released from any liabilities or damages arising out of its willful breach of any provision of this Agreement.

8.3          Fees and Expenses.

(a)          Except as set forth in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.3(b), and except with respect to costs and expenses of printing and mailing the Proxy Statement and all filing and other fees paid to the SEC in connection with the Merger, which shall be borne equally by Seller and Buyer, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be paid by the Party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated.

(b)          Seller shall pay to Buyer a termination fee in the amount of $2,000,000 (the “Termination Fee”) and the Expense Reimbursement in immediately available federal funds if:

(i)          this Agreement is terminated by Buyer pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(i), Section 8.1(e) (if the breach giving rise to such termination was knowing or intentional) or Section 8.1(f); (ii) at the time of such termination Buyer is not in material breach of any representation, warranty or material covenant contained herein and (iii)(A) before such termination in the case of termination pursuant to Section 8.1(e) or Section 8.1(f) or before the Seller Shareholder Meeting in the case of termination pursuant to Section 8.1(b)(i), an Alternative Transaction with respect to Seller was publicly proposed or publicly disclosed; and (B) within 12 months after such termination, (x) Seller shall have entered into a definitive agreement relating to the Alternative Transaction or (y) the Alternative Transaction shall have been consummated.

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(c)          The Termination Fee and the Expense Reimbursement must be paid no later than two business days following the event that triggers such payment described in Section 8.3(b). Upon payment of the Termination Fee and the Expense Reimbursement, Seller shall have no further liability to Buyer at law or in equity with respect to such termination or any other provision of this Agreement, or with respect to Seller Board’s failure to take action to convene the Seller Shareholder Meeting and/or recommend that Seller shareholders adopt this Agreement. “Expense Reimbursement” means an amount in cash of up to $500,000 in respect of Buyer’s documented out-of-pocket legal and due diligence expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (net of any amounts otherwise previously paid pursuant to Section 8.3(a)). The payment of the Expense Reimbursement shall be in lieu of any other agreement between Buyer and Seller with respect to the payment of Buyer’s expenses entered into before the date hereof.

(d)          Seller acknowledges that the agreements contained in this Section 8.3 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that, without these agreements, Buyer would not enter into this Agreement. The amounts payable pursuant to Section 8.3(b) constitute liquidated damages and not a penalty and shall be the sole remedy of Buyer in the event of termination of this Agreement specified in such section. Accordingly, if Seller fails to pay timely any amount due pursuant to this Section 8.3 and, in order to obtain such payment, Buyer commences a suit that results in a final, nonappealable judgment against Seller for the amount payable to Buyer pursuant to this Section 8.3, Seller shall pay to Buyer its documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) in connection with such suit, together with interest on the Termination Fee and the Expense Reimbursement and such costs and expenses at the prime rate (as published in The Wall Street Journal on the date of termination) plus 2%.

8.4          Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the Parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the Merger by the shareholders of Seller; provided, however, that after any approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the shareholders of Seller, there may not be, without further approval of such shareholders, any amendment of this Agreement that (a) alters or changes the amount or the form of the Merger Consideration to be delivered under this Agreement, if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any security of Seller, (b) alters or changes any term of the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any security of Seller, or (c) alters or changes any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement if such alteration or change would adversely affect the holders of any securities of Seller, in each case other than as contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties.

8.5          Extension; Waiver. At any time before the Effective Time, the Parties, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a Party to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in a written instrument signed on behalf of such Party, but such extension or waiver or failure to insist on strict compliance with an obligation, covenant, agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other failure.

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Article IX
GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1          Closing. On the terms and subject to conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date and at a place to be specified by the Parties, which date shall be no later than five business days after the satisfaction or waiver (subject to applicable law) of the latest to occur of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing), unless extended by mutual agreement of the Parties (the “Closing Date”). If the conditions set forth in Article VII are satisfied or waived during the two weeks immediately before the end of a fiscal quarter of Buyer, then Buyer may postpone the Closing until the first full week after the end of that fiscal quarter.

9.2          Standard. No representation or warranty of Seller contained in Article III or of Buyer contained in Article IV shall be deemed untrue or incorrect for any purpose under this Agreement, and no Party shall be deemed to have breached a representation or warranty for any purpose under this Agreement, in any case as a consequence of the existence or absence of any fact, circumstance or event unless such fact, circumstance or event, individually or when taken together with all other facts, circumstances or events inconsistent with any representations or warranties contained in Article III, in the case of Seller, or Article IV, in the case of Buyer, has had or would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Seller or Buyer, respectively (disregarding for purposes of this Section 9.2 any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification contained in any representations or warranties). Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the representations and warranties contained in (x) Section 3.2(a), Section 3.2(d) and Section 3.3 shall be deemed untrue and incorrect if not true and correct in all respects, (y) Sections 3.2(b), 3.3(a), 3.3(b)(i) and 3.7, in the case of Seller, and Sections 4.2, 4.3(a), 4.3(b)(i) and 4.7, in the case of Buyer, shall be deemed untrue and incorrect if not true and correct in all material respects and (z) Section 3.8(a), in the case of Seller, and Section 4.8(a), in the case of Buyer, shall be deemed untrue and incorrect if not true and correct in all respects.

9.3          Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements. None of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time, except for Section 6.7 and for those other covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement that by their terms apply or are to be performed in whole or in part after the Effective Time.

9.4          Notices. All notices and other communications in connection with this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, sent via facsimile (with confirmation), mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or delivered by an express courier (with confirmation) to the Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

(a) if to Seller, to:

ECB Bancorp, Inc.

35050 US Highway 264 East

Engelhard, NC 27824

Attention: A. Dwight Utz, President and Chief Executive Officer

E-mail:

with a copy to:

Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton LLP

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607 14^th Street, NW

Suite 900

Washington, DC 20005

Attention: Gary R. Bronstein

Email: gbronstein@kilpatricktownsend.com

and

(b) if to Buyer, to:

Piedmont Community Bank Holdings, Inc.

3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300

Raleigh, NC 27612

Attention: Scott M. Custer, President and Chief Executive Officer 

Email: SCuster@CrescentStateBank.com

with a copy to:

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, LLP

271 17th Street, NW, Suite 2400

Atlanta, GA 30363 

Attention: Steven S. Dunlevie
Email: sdunlevie@wcsr.com

9.5          Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules, such reference shall be to an Article or Section of or Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” The Seller Disclosure Schedule and the Buyer Disclosure Schedule, as well as all other Schedules and all Exhibits hereto, shall be deemed part of this Agreement and included in any reference to this Agreement. This Agreement shall not be interpreted or construed to require any person to take any action, or fail to take any action, if to do so would violate any applicable law. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) “person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity (including its permitted successors and assigns) and (b) “knowledge” of any person that is not an individual means the actual knowledge (without investigation) of such person’s directors and senior executive officers.

9.6          Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party, it being understood that each Party need not sign the same counterpart.

9.7          Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits hereto and the other documents and the instruments referred to in this Agreement), together with the Confidentiality Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, other than the Confidentiality Agreement.

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9.8          Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and wholly performed within such state, without regard to any applicable conflicts-of-law principles. The Parties agree that any suit, action or proceeding brought by either Party to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be brought in any federal or state court located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Each of the Parties submits to the jurisdiction of any such court in any suit, action or proceeding seeking to enforce any provision of, or based on any matter arising out of, or in connection with, this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and hereby irrevocably waives the benefit of jurisdiction derived from present or future domicile or otherwise in such action or proceeding. Each Party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such court or that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

9.9          Publicity. Neither Seller nor Buyer shall, and neither Seller nor Buyer shall permit any of its Subsidiaries or agents to, issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement without the prior consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) of Buyer, in the case of a proposed announcement by Seller, or Seller, in the case of a proposed announcement by Buyer; provided, however, that either Party may, without the prior consent of the other Party (but after prior consultation with the other Party to the extent practicable under the circumstances) issue or cause the publication of any press release or other public announcement to the extent required by law or by the rules and regulations of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

9.10        Assignment; Third-Party Beneficiaries.

(a)          Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this Agreement shall be assigned by either of the Parties (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other Party. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by each of the Parties and their respective successors and assigns. Except as otherwise specifically provided in Section 6.6, this Agreement (including the documents and instruments referred to in this Agreement) is not intended to and does not confer upon any person other than the Parties any rights or remedies under this Agreement.

(b)          No provision in this Agreement modifies or amends or creates any employee benefit plan, program or document (“Benefit Plan”) unless this Agreement explicitly states that the provision “amends” or “creates” that Benefit Plan, and no third party shall be entitled to enforce any provision of this Agreement on the grounds that it is an amendment to, or a creation of, a Benefit Plan, unless that provision explicitly states that such enforcement rights are being conferred. This provision shall not prevent the Parties to this Agreement from enforcing any provision of this Agreement. If a person not entitled to enforce this Agreement brings a lawsuit or other action to enforce any provision in this Agreement as an amendment to, or creation of a Benefit Plan, and that provision is construed to be such an amendment or creation despite not being explicitly designated as one in this Agreement, that provision shall lapse retroactively, thereby precluding it from having any effect.

9.11        Enforcement. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each of the Parties shall be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, including an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, this being in addition to any other remedy to which such Party is entitled at law or in equity. Each of the Parties hereby further waives (a) any defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate and (b) any requirement under any law to post security as a prerequisite to obtaining equitable relief.

[Signature Page Follows]

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 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the date first above written.

ECB BANCORP, INC.
By:	/s/ A. Dwight Utz
	Name: A. Dwight Utz
	Title: President / CEO / Director

CRESCENT FINANCIAL BANCSHARES, INC.
By:	/s/ Scott Custer
	Name: Scott Custer
	Title: CEO

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EXHIBIT A
SUPPORT AGREEMENT

September __, 2012

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. 

3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300
Raleigh, NC 27612

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned is a director of ECB Bancorp, Inc, a North Carolina corporation (“Seller”), and the beneficial holder of shares of common stock of Seller (the “Seller Common Stock”).

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”), and Seller are considering the execution of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Agreement”) contemplating the acquisition of Seller through the merger of Seller with and into Buyer (the “Merger”). The consummation of the Merger pursuant to the Agreement by Buyer is subject to the execution and delivery of this letter agreement.

In consideration of the substantial expenses that Buyer will incur in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and to induce Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and to proceed to incur such expenses, the undersigned agrees and undertakes, in his or her capacity as a shareholder of Seller, and not in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Seller, as follows:

1.          While this letter agreement is in effect, the undersigned shall not, directly or indirectly, except with the prior approval of Buyer, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, (a) sell or otherwise dispose of or encumber (other than in connection with an ordinary bank loan) before the record date of the meeting of Seller’s shareholders to approve the Merger (the “Seller Shareholders Meeting”) any or all of his or her shares of Seller Common Stock or (b) deposit any shares of Seller Common Stock into a voting trust or enter into a voting agreement or arrangement with respect to any shares of Seller Common Stock or grant any proxy with respect thereto, other than for the purpose of voting to approve the Agreement and the Merger and matters related thereto.

2.          While this letter agreement is in effect, the undersigned shall vote all of the shares of Seller Common Stock for which the undersigned has sole voting authority and shall use his or her best efforts to cause to be voted all of the shares of Seller Common Stock for which the undersigned has shared voting authority, in either case whether such shares are beneficially owned by the undersigned on the date of this letter agreement or are subsequently acquired: (a) for the approval of the Agreement and the Merger at the Seller Shareholders Meeting; and (b) against any Alternative Transaction (as defined in the Agreement) (other than the Merger).

3.          The undersigned hereby waives any rights of appraisal, or rights to dissent from the Merger, that the undersigned may have.

4.          The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that any remedy at law for breach of the foregoing provisions shall be inadequate and that, in addition to any other relief which may be available, Buyer shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive relief without having to prove actual damages.

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5.          The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to shares with respect to which the undersigned may have voting power as a fiduciary for others. In addition, this letter agreement shall only apply to actions taken by the undersigned in his or her capacity as a shareholder of Seller and, if applicable, shall not in any way limit or affect actions the undersigned may take in his or her capacity as a director or officer of Seller.

6.          This letter agreement, and all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder, shall terminate upon the first to occur of (a) the Effective Time (as defined in the Agreement) of the Merger or (b) the date upon which the Merger Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms, in which event the provisions of this Agreement shall terminate.

7.          As of the date hereof, the undersigned has voting power (sole or shared) with respect to the number of shares of Seller Common Stock set forth below.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this agreement as of the date first above written.

Very truly yours,

Print Name

Number of shares owned with sole voting authority:                

Number of shares owned with shared voting authority:                

Accepted and agreed to as of

the date first above written:

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.

By: Scott M. Custer

Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

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EXHIBIT B
DIRECTOR’S AGREEMENT

THIS DIRECTOR’S AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into by and between Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (together with any of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, “Buyer”), and the undersigned individual (“Director”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meanings provided in the Merger Agreement (as defined below).

WHEREAS, Buyer and ECB Bancorp, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (together with any of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, “Seller”), are parties to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of September 25, 2012, as the same may be amended or supplemented in accordance with its terms (the “Merger Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Director is a director and shareholder of Seller and is receiving Merger Consideration pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement; and

WHEREAS, as a condition for and an inducement to Buyer to effect the Merger, Director has agreed to enter into and be bound by this Agreement.

IN CONSIDERATION of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, including, without limitation, the Merger Consideration to be received by Director, the sufficiency and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, Buyer and Director, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

1.            Contingent on Merger. This Agreement shall become effective at the Effective Time of the Merger. If the Merger Agreement is terminated, then this Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no force or effect.

2.            Noncompetition.

(a)          Director covenants and agrees that, during the Restricted Period (as defined below), Director shall not (except as required to carry out Director’s assigned duties with Buyer, if any): (i) engage in any aspect of the Restricted Business (as defined below) within the Prohibited Territory (as defined below); and/or (ii) as an employee, agent, partner, shareholder, member, investor, director, consultant or otherwise assist others to engage in the Restricted Business within the Prohibited Territory. Notwithstanding the preceding, owning the stock or options to acquire stock totaling less than five percent of the outstanding shares in a public company shall not by itself be considered engaging in, or assisting others to engage in, the “Restricted Business.”

(b)          “Restricted Period” means a period of one year following the Effective Time.

(c)          “Restricted Business” means the business that was engaged in by Seller immediately before the Effective Time. Director acknowledges and agrees that Seller was, immediately before the Effective Time, engaged in the business of providing business banking, personal banking, loan and mortgage services and products.

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(d)           “Prohibited Territory” means the areas within a twenty-five (25) mile radius of each office maintained by Seller immediately before the Effective Time; provided, however, if any such office closes during the Restricted Period, then that office shall no longer be included when determining the Prohibited Territory. Director acknowledges and agrees that Seller was actively engaged in the Restricted Business throughout the Prohibited Territory immediately before the Effective Time.

3.            Noninterference with Customers.

(a)          Director covenants and agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Director shall not, directly or indirectly: (i) solicit, encourage or cause any Restricted Customer (as defined below) to obtain any services or products related to the Restricted Business from any entity other than Buyer; or (ii) sell or provide to any Restricted Customer any services or products related to the Restricted Business, other than on behalf of and for the benefit of Buyer.

(b)          “Restricted Customer” means any person or entity that was a customer of Seller at any point during the 90 days preceding the Effective Time and: (i) with whom Director had material contact or communications at any time during the two-year period preceding the Effective Time (the “Look-Back Period”); (ii) for whom Director performed services or whose account Director managed, at any time during the Look-Back Period; or (iii) about whom Director obtained any Confidential Information (as defined below) at any time during the Look-Back Period.

4.            Noninterference with Employees. Director covenants and agrees that, during the Restricted Period, Director shall not, directly or indirectly: (a) solicit or induce any employee of Buyer who was an employee of Seller immediately before the Effective Time (each, a “Restricted Employee”) to leave or limit his or her employment relationship with Buyer; or (b) hire any Restricted Employee as an employee or engage any Restricted Employee as an independent contractor.

5.            Confidential Information.

(a)          Director covenants and agrees that, during the Restricted Period: (i) Director shall keep strictly confidential and not disclose to any person not employed by Buyer any Confidential Information; and (ii) Director shall not use personally or for any other person or entity any Confidential Information. However, this provision shall not preclude Director from: (x) the use or disclosure of information known generally to the public (other than information known generally to the public as a result of Director’s violation of this section) or (y) any disclosure required by law or court order so long as Director provides Buyer’s Chief Executive Officer prompt advance written notice of any potential disclosure under this subsection.

(b)          “Confidential Information” means all information not generally known or available in the marketplace that was furnished to, obtained by or created by Director in connection with Director being a director of Seller that could be used to compete against or harm Seller or Buyer. Confidential Information includes, by way of illustration, such information relating to: (i) Seller’s and Buyer’s customers, including customer lists, contact information, contractual terms and information regarding products or services provided to such customer; (ii) Seller’s and Buyer’s finances, including nonpublic financial statements, balance sheets, sales data, forecasts and cost analyses; (iii) Seller’s and Buyer’s plans and projections related to growth, new products and services, and potential sales/acquisitions; and (iv) Seller’s and Buyer’s pricing and fee strategies, operating processes, legal affairs, lending and credit information, commission structure, personnel matters, loan portfolios, contracts, services, products and operating results.

B-2

 6.            Reasonableness and Breach. Director acknowledges that the restrictions herein are fair, reasonable, and necessary for the protection of Buyer and its acquisition of Seller and constitute a material inducement for Buyer to effect the Merger and provide the Merger Consideration. Therefore, Director agrees not to contest the enforceability of this Agreement in any forum. Director further acknowledges and agrees that a breach of any of such obligations and agreements will result in irreparable harm and continuing damage to Buyer for which there will be no adequate remedy at law and further agrees that in the event of any breach of such obligations and agreements, Buyer and its successors and assigns will be entitled to injunctive relief and to such other relief as is proper under the circumstances. Director acknowledges and agrees that the covenants in this Agreement are direct consideration for a sale of a business and should be governed by standards applicable to restrictive covenants entered into in connection with a sale of a business.

7.            Judicial Modification. If a court of competent jurisdiction determines that any provision of this Agreement is invalid or incapable of being enforced, then the parties request that such court modify such provision by “blue-penciling” or otherwise in order to render such provision not invalid or incapable of being enforced and then enforce the provision as modified. The parties further agree that each provision of this Agreement is severable from each other provision of this Agreement.

8.            Assignment. Buyer shall have the right to assign or transfer this Agreement to any affiliated entity or any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise), and Director irrevocably consents to any such assignment or transfer. In the event of such assignment or transfer, “Buyer” shall mean the entity to which this Agreement is so assigned or transferred.

9.           Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of North Carolina without regard to any conflict-of-law rules.

10.         Waiver; Construction. No modification, termination or attempted waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be binding unless reduced to writing and signed by the parties. This Agreement shall be construed according to a plain reading of its terms and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision in this Agreement.

11.         Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the recitals, which are hereby incorporated by reference) and the Merger Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties pertaining to the subject matters contained herein.

[Signature Page Follows]

B-3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereto sets his or her hand as of the date set forth below.

DIRECTOR

	Date:
[NAME]
BUYER
Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.
By: Scott M. Custer
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

B-4

EX-99.1

   

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. and ECB Bancorp, Inc. to Merge

RALEIGH, N.C. & ENGELHARD, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- September 25, 2012 --Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRFN) and ECB Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: ECBE) jointly announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement under which Crescent Financial will acquire ECB Bancorp, Inc. for $17.75 per share or approximately $51.6 million.

This is the second merger announcement for Crescent Financial Bancshares (Crescent State Bank) in recent months. In August, Crescent State Bank and VantageSouth Bank announced that they had entered into a definitive merger agreement in which VantageSouth Bank will merge into Crescent State Bank. This transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter, at which time both banks will operate as VantageSouth Bank.

Founded in 1919, ECB Bancorp, Inc. operates through its banking subsidiary, East Carolina Bank, which has 25 locations and one LPO (loan production office) in eastern North Carolina.

“The East Carolina Bank team has built a strong community bank with a great reputation and excellent market share. We have known and respected East Carolina Bank for quite some time and look forward to continuing their legacy of service to their communities in eastern NC. The cultures of our two organizations are very similar and we believe this partnership is a great opportunity for the customers, employees and shareholders of both companies,” said Scott Custer, President and CEO, Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.. “This merger will allow the combined company to be the leading community bank from Raleigh east.”

Upon completion of the transaction, the combined company will have approximately $2.0 billion in total assets, $1.7 billion in total deposits, $1.2 billion in total loans, and a network of 45 branches in North Carolina.

“We are pleased and excited to join such a dynamic and financially strong banking company. Together we will create value for our respective shareholders and enable our employees to do what they do best - deliver exceptional service to our customers and contribute to the success of the communities where they live and work. The shared commitment our companies have to our shareholders, customers, employees and communities naturally aligns our two companies to create a more vibrant organization,” said A. Dwight Utz, President and CEO of ECB Bancorp, Inc.

The merger agreement has been approved by the board of directors of each company. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2013 and is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by both Crescent Financial and ECB Bancorp shareholders. At closing, ECB Bancorp will be merged into Crescent Financial and East Carolina Bank will subsequently operate as VantageSouth Bank.

Under the terms of the agreement, shareholders of ECB Bancorp, Inc. will receive 3.55 shares of CRFN for each share of ECBE common stock. The stock issuance is valued at approximately $ 51.6 million in the aggregate, based on 2,904,841 shares of ECBE common stock outstanding at $5.00 per CRFN share.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. served as financial advisor and Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, LLP provided legal counsel to Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. served as financial advisor and Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LLP served as legal counsel to ECB Bancorp, Inc.

Webcast

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc and ECB Bancorp, Inc. will host a conference call this morning at 11:00 a.m. EDT. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-877-668-4493. The conference access code is 319261828. The link to the webcast can be found on www.crescentstatebank.com under Investor Relations. . The event and slide presentation will also be archived and available beginning September 26, 2012 by midnight Eastern Time in the Investor Relations section of www.crescentstatebank.com.

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed merger, Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. (“CRFN”) will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will contain a joint proxy statement/prospectus of CRFN and ECB Bancorp, Inc. (“ECBE”). The companies will file with the SEC other relevant materials in connection with the proposed merger, and will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective shareholders.  SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH CRFN AND ECBE ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING CRFN, ECBE AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The documents can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a written request to either Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27612, Attention: Terry Earley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or ECB Bancorp, Inc., Post Office Box 337, Engelhard, NC 27824, Attention: Tom Crowder, Chief Financial Officer.

CRFN, ECBE and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of CRFN and ECBE in favor of the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of ECB Bancorp, Inc. and their ownership of ECBE common stock is set forth in ECBE’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012 and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from ECB Bancorp, Inc. at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Information about the directors and executive officers of Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. and their ownership of CRFN common stock is set forth in CRFN’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 5, 2012 and available at the SEC’s internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from CRFN at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available.

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.

Crescent State Bank is a state chartered bank operating fifteen banking offices in Cary (2), Apex, Clayton, Holly Springs, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Garner, Raleigh (3), Wilmington (2) and Knightdale, North Carolina. Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. stock can be found on the NASDAQ Global Market trading under the symbol CRFN. Investors can access additional corporate information, product descriptions and online services through the Bank’s website at www.crescentstatebank.com .

ECB Bancorp, Inc.

ECB Bancorp, Inc. is a bank holding company, headquartered in Engelhard, North Carolina, whose wholly-owned subsidiary, The East Carolina Bank, is a state-chartered, independent community bank insured by the FDIC. The Bank has 25 branch offices in eastern North Carolina stretching from the Virginia to South Carolina state lines east of Interstate 95. ECB offers a full range of financial services including Mortgages, Agricultural Banking and Wealth Management services. The Company’s common stock is listed on NYSE Amex under the symbol “ECBE”. More information can be obtained by visiting ECB's web site at www.myecb.com .

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties.

CRFN and ECBE caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving CRFN and ECBE, CRFN’s and ECBE’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction and other statements that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in CRFN’s and ECBE’s filings with the SEC. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: the ability to obtain the requisite CRFN and ECBE shareholder approvals; the risk that CRFN or ECBE may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger; the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the timing to consummate the proposed merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers and employees; the diversion of management time on merger-related issues; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; and other factors discussed or referred to in the “Risk Factors” section of each of CRFN’s and ECBE’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and except as may be required by law, neither CRFN nor ECBE undertakes any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc.
Analyst Contact:
Terry Earley, 919-659-9015, Chief Financial Officer
or
Media Contact:
Anna-Marshall Wilson, 919-882-1972

ECB Bancorp, Inc.
Analyst Contact:
Tom Crowder, 252-925-5520

or
Media Contact:

David Crumpler, 252-321-3166

Source: Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. and ECB Bancorp, Inc.

EX-99.2

Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. Agreement to Acquire ECB Bancorp, Inc. September 2012

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements• This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking statements by words such as “may,” “hope,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “could,” “future” or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. You should read statements that contain these words carefully because they discuss our future expectations or state other “forward-looking” information. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. • Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. (“CRFN”) and ECB Bancorp, Inc. (“ECBE”) caution readers that any forward-looking statement is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving CRFN and ECBE, CRFN’s and ECBE’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing of completion of the transaction and other statements that are not historical facts. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in CRFN’s and ECBE’s filings with the SEC. These include risks and uncertainties relating to: the ability to obtain the requisite CRFN and ECBE shareholder approvals; the risk that CRFN or ECBE may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the merger, or required governmental and regulatory approvals may delay the merger; the risk that a condition to closing of the merger may not be satisfied; the timing to consummate the proposed merger; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer than expected; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers and employees; the diversion of management time on merger-related issues; general worldwide economic conditions and related uncertainties; the effect of changes in governmental regulations; and other factors discussed or referred to in the “Risk Factors” section of each of CRFN’s and ECBE’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement and except as may be required by law, neither CRFN nor ECBE undertakes any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Overview of Transaction Terms Acquiror: Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRFN) Target: ECB Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE AMEX: ECBE) Consideration: 100% Stock ($17.75 per ECBE share), tax-free exchange Fixed Exchange Ratio: 3.55 shares of CRFN for each common share of ECBE Transaction Value(1): $51.6 million Price / Tangible Book Value(2): 78.5% TARP CPP Preferred: $17.9 million assumed at par value Capital Raise: No anticipated need for additional capital Management: A. Dwight Utz will join CRFN as President and become Board Chairman of Crescent State Bank Board Representation: 3 ECBE Directors to join the CRFN Board and 3 ECBE Directors to join the Crescent State Bank Board Required Approvals: Regulatory, ECBE & CRFN shareholders Expected Closing: 1st quarter 2013 (1) Based on CRFN stock price of $5.00 per share (2) Based on ECBE’s tangible book value per share of $22.63, inclusive of 55,000 restricted shares issued on 9/12/2012

Transaction Rationale Strategic Rationale Financially Compelling Low Risk Integration Creates the largest community bank in eastern North Carolina Leverages management’s extensive experience in the region Doubles North Carolina deposit market share 92 year old franchise represents strong core funding base Strategic and cultural alignment Accretive to tangible book value per share Immediately and meaningfully accretive to core EPS Utilization of excess capital Exceeds 20% IRR with no anticipated need for additional capital Proven integrators with track record of successful acquisitions Conservative credit mark and cost savings assumptions Modeled approximately 25% cost savings phased in over 2 years

Strategic Market Expansion SCALE MANAGEMENT GROWTH PERFORMANCE CAPITAL Raleigh Greensboro Fayetteville Charlotte Wilmington Durham Elizabeth City Winston-Salem Greenville Virginia Beach North Carolina Deposit Market Share Rank Institution Number of Branches Deposits in Market ($mm) 1 Bank of America Corp. 193 134,648 2 Wells Fargo & Co. 337 38,769 3 BB&T Corp. 366 35,064 4 First Citizens BancShares Inc. 264 12,252 5 PNC Financial Services Group 175 10,262 6 SunTrust Banks Inc. 188 7,309 7 Capital Bank Finl Corp 54 2,468 8 First Bancorp 82 2,446 9 BNC Bancorp 30 2,389 10 FNB United Corp. 61 2,365 11 Fifth Third Bancorp 61 2,103 Pro Forma 45 1,727 12 Yadkin Valley Financial 31 1,715 13 NewBridge Bancorp 31 1,431 14 HomeTrust Bancshares Inc. 20 1,272 15 Fidelity BancShares (N.C.) Inc 64 1,147 16 Southern BancShares (NC) 56 1,143 17 Park Sterling Corporation 19 1,004 18 United Community Banks Inc. 21 947 19 Crescent & VantageSouth 20 914 20 Peoples Bancorp of NC Inc. 24 847 21 ECB Bancorp Inc. 25 813 22 Paragon Commercial Corp. 2 789 23 Macon Bancorp 12 781 24 Four Oaks Fincorp Inc. 16 767 25 First Community Bancshares Inc 24 738 Totals (1-25) 2,176 264,384 Totals (1-112) 2,721 282,894 Crescent & VantageSouth (20) ECBE (25) Jacksonville - Major Market Source: SNL Financial and MapInfo Note: Community banks not italicized Deposit data as of 6/30/2011; Pro forma for recently completed and announced transactions

Comprehensive Due Diligence Process Due Diligence Overview Cumulative Loss Analysis Thorough due diligence review conducted by 22people (internal and 3rd party 100% of lending relationships $1.0 million or greater All watch list loans with exposures over $800,000 Top loans in each call code category Bias towards reviewing loan categories with historically higher loss rates, including land (lots, A&D), residential construction, multifamily, and non-owner occupied CRE Additional 3rd party loan review conducted by Credit Risk Management High case losses of $31.4 million Crescent’s $40 million credit mark 27% above CRM’s high case 6/30/12 Balance($($mm) Gross Mark(%)Gross Mark($($mm) Total Loans $506.3 (7.9%) $40.0 OREO $9.1 (20.9%) 1.9 Total Loans & OREO $515.3 (8.1%) $41.9 Net Charge-Offs Since 12/31/07 $29.2 Disclosed OREO Costs Since 12/31/07 $5.2 Cumulative Losses $76.3 12/31/07 Loan Balance $454.2 Cumulative Losses as % of 12/31/07 Loans 16.8%

Pro Forma Loan Composition Crescent & VantageSouth ECB Bancorp, Inc. Pro Forma (1) Loan Portfolio ($000) Amount % of Total Construction $85,026 12.0% Residential R.E. 118,404 16.7% Multifamily 24,307 3.4% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 190,177 26.8% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 146,853 20.7% Farm 499 0.1% Commercial & Industrial 69,993 9.9% Consumer & Other 74,385 10.5% Gross Loans & Leases $709,644 100.0% Loan Portfolio ($000) Amount % of Total Construction $148,067 12.1% Residential R.E. 176,233 14.5% Multifamily 40,067 3.3% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 306,973 25.2% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 228,278 18.7% Farm 28,176 2.3% Commercial & Industrial 124,982 10.3% Consumer & Other 166,184 13.6% Gross Loans & Leases $1,218,960 100.0% Construction 12.4% Residential R.E. 11.4% Multifamily 3.1% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 22.9% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 16.0% Farm 5.4% Commercial & Industrial 10.8% Consumer & Other 18.0% Loan Portfolio ($000) Amount % of Total Construction $63,041 12.4% Residential R.E. 57,829 11.4% Multifamily 15,760 3.1% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 116,796 22.9% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 81,425 16.0% Farm 27,677 5.4% Commercial & Industrial 54,989 10.8% Consumer & Other 91,799 18.0% Gross Loans & Leases $509,316 100.0% Construction 12.0% Residential R.E. 16.7% Multifamily 3.4% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 26.8% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 20.7% Farm 0.1% Commercial & Industrial 9.9% Consumer & Other 10.5% Construction 12.1% Residential R.E. 14.5% Multifamily 3.3% Non-Owner Occupied C.R.E. 25.2% Owner Occupied C.R.E. 18.7% Farm 2.3% Commercial & Industrial 10.3% Consumer & Other 13.6% Source: SNL Financial Note: Loan data per regulatory filings at 6/30/2012 (1) Does not include purchase accounting adjustments

Pro Forma Deposit Composition Total: $864 million Total: $795 million Total: $1,659 million Crescent & VantageSouth ECB Bancorp, Inc. Pro Forma (1) Core Deposits Time Deposits ECB Bancorp, Inc. Historical Deposit Growth $786 $798 $755 $629 $526 $795 Demand Deposits 11.6% NOW & Other Trans. Accts 16.9% MMDA & Other Savings 28.5% Retail Time Deposits 14.4% Jumbo Time Deposits 28.7% Demand Deposits 18.4% NOW & Other Trans. Accts MMDA & 38.4% Other Savings 7.4% Retail Time Deposits 22.4% Jumbo Time Deposits 13.5% Demand Deposits 14.8% NOW & Other Trans. Accts 27.2% MMDA & Other Savings 18.3% Retail Time Deposits 18.2% Jumbo Time Deposits 21.4% $217 $206 $255 $398 $461 $510 $309 $423 $500 $388 $336 $285 $0 $250 $500 $750 Source: SNL Financial Note: ECBE deposit data per GAAP filings Note: Crescent & VantageSouth deposit composition consistent with GAAP reporting Does not include purchase accounting adjustments Core Deposits Time Deposits Core Deposit CAGR: 21%

Summary The transaction furthers our goal of becoming a premier $5+ billion community banking franchise across the Carolinas and Virginia Financially compelling transaction using conservative assumptions Accretive to tangible book value Significant EPS accretion Strong IRR Provides operating scale Core deposit base will support organic asset growth across the footprint Raleigh–Cary MSA population is projected to grow 12.3% over the next 5 years Leverages capital resources and management expertise Feb. 2010: Piedmont acquired 62% Of Vantage South Bank Assets: $96mm Apr. 2011: Acquired Community Bank of Rowan Pro Forma Assets: $224mm Dec. 2011: Acquired Crescent Financial (CRFN) Pro Forma Assets: $1.1bn Feb. 2012: Merged VSB & CBR Pro Forma Assets: $1.1bn Aug. 2012: Announced Merger of VSB into Crescent State Bank Pro Forma Assets: $1.1bn Source: SNL Financial, ESRI and US Census data; Population growth from 2011-2016

Additional Information About the Merger and Where to Find It In connection with the proposed merger, CRFN will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form S-4 that will contain a joint proxy statement/prospectus of CRFN and ECBE. The companies will file with the SEC other relevant materials in connection with the proposed merger, and will mail the joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective shareholders. SHAREHOLDERS OF BOTH CRFN AND ECBE ARE STRONGLY URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED MERGER WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THESEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING CRFN, ECBE AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. You will be able to obtain a free copy of the Registration Statement, as well as other filings containing information about Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov). The documents can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a written request to either Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc., 3600 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC 27612, Attention: Terry Earley, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, or ECB Bancorp, Inc., Post Office Box 337, Engelhard, NC 27824, Attention: Tom Crowder, Chief Financial Officer. CRFN, ECBE and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed “participants” in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders of CRFN and ECBE in favor of the merger. Information about the directors and executive officers of ECB Bancorp, Inc. and their ownership of ECBE common stock is set forth in ECBE’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 27, 2012 and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from ECB Bancorp, Inc. at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Information about the directors and executive officers of Crescent Financial Bancshares, Inc. and their ownership of CRFN common stock is set forth in CRFN’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on April 5, 2012 and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov) and from CRFN at the address set forth in the preceding paragraph. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed merger when it becomes available.