-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, SpzXyzp7DPW4UkpaT09WHVHtG+R8zZn+R91IDOew7HXXYnePfdM6qfhcwYtUor5m QyCl9Lyx0jG0i+8T2agbnQ== 0001140361-09-016757.txt : 20090722 0001140361-09-016757.hdr.sgml : 20090722 20090722124049 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001140361-09-016757 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090716 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities ITEM INFORMATION: Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20090722 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090722 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001279756 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 580601113 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-51287 FILM NUMBER: 09956644 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 108 SOUTH CHURCH STREET CITY: THOMASTON STATE: GA ZIP: 30286 BUSINESS PHONE: 706-647-5426 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 108 SOUTH CHURCH STREET CITY: THOMASTON STATE: GA ZIP: 30286-4104 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: UPSON BANKSHARES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20040211 8-K 1 form8k.htm SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL 8-K 7-16-2009 form8k.htm


UNITED STATES
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 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)    
July 16, 2009

SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Georgia 

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

000-51287
58-2256460
(Commission File Number)
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

600 North Glynn Street, Suite B, Fayetteville, GA
30214
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)

(770) 461-2781 

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

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

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

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

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


 
 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement

On July 17, 2009, as part of  the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s (the “Treasury”) Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”), established under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Letter Agreement (“Letter Agreement”) and a Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms attached thereto (“Securities Purchase Agreement”), as amended by a side letter agreement (“Side Letter”), with the Treasury, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue and sell, and the Treasury agreed to purchase (i) 12,900 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (“Series A Preferred Shares”), and (ii) a warrant (the “Warrant”) to purchase up to 645.00645 shares of the Company’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share (“Series B Preferred Shares”), at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $12,900,000 in cash.  The Warrant was exercised by the Treasury on a net basis immediately following the closing of the transaction, resulting in the issuance of 645 Series B Preferred Shares.
This transaction closed on July 17, 2009 (the “Closing Date”). The issuance and sale of these securities was a private placement exempt from registration pursuant to Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933.
The Series A Preferred Shares will qualify as Tier 1 capital and pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 5% per annum for the first five years and 9% per annum thereafter.  The Series B Preferred Shares will pay cumulative dividends at a rate of 9% per annum.  Dividends are payable on both the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares (collectively, the “Preferred Shares”) quarterly and are payable on February 15, May 15, August 15, and November 15 of each year.  Should the Company fail to pay a total of six dividend payments on the Preferred Shares, whether or not consecutive, the number of directors of the Company shall automatically be increased by two and the holder of the Preferred Shares will have the right to fill the newly created director positions at the Company’s annual or special meeting called for that purpose, until the Company has paid all such dividends that it had failed to pay. The Preferred Shares have no maturity date and rank senior to the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Company.  The Preferred Shares are generally non-voting.
Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “ARRA”), which amended the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“ESSA”), the Company may, subject to consultation with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, redeem the Preferred Shares at any time for the aggregate liquidation amount plus any accrued and unpaid dividends without first raising additional capital in an equity offering.
The Securities Purchase Agreement, pursuant to which the Preferred Shares and the Warrant were sold, contains limitations on the payment of dividends on common stock, junior preferred shares, and on other preferred shares.  The ability to repurchase common stock, junior preferred shares, or other preferred shares is also restricted under the Securities Purchase Agreement.
The Securities Purchase Agreement also subjects the Company to certain of the executive compensation limitations included in the EESA, as amended by the ARRA.  As a condition to the closing of the transaction, each of Messrs. Daniel W. Brinks, Larry T. Kuglar, Harvey N. Clapp, Douglas J. Hertha, Kent Berry, Clement M. Clapp, James D. Head, Randall L. Flanagan, Michael S. Wright, and Henry G. Jordan executed a waiver (the “Waiver”), voluntarily waiving any claim against the Treasury or the Company for any changes to compensation or benefits arrangements that are required to comply with any regulations issued by the Treasury under the CPP and acknowledging that the regulations may require modification of the compensation, bonus, incentive, and other benefit plans, arrangements, and policies and agreements (including so-called “golden parachute” agreements) (collectively, “Benefit Plans”) as they relate to the period that the Treasury holds any securities of the Company acquired through the CPP.

 
 

 

The Treasury may unilaterally amend the Securities Purchase Agreement and all related documents to the extent required to comply with any changes in applicable federal statutes after the execution thereof.
Copies of the Letter Agreement (including the Securities Purchase Agreement), the Side Letter, an agreement with the Treasury pertaining to the ARRA (“ARRA Agreement”), the form of Certificate for the Series A Preferred Stock, the form of Certificate for the Series B Preferred Stock, the Warrant, the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the Preferred Shares, and the form of Waiver are included as exhibits to this Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference into these Items 1.01, 3.02, 3.03, 5.02 and 5.03. The foregoing summary of certain provisions of these documents is qualified in its entirety by reference thereto.

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
The information set forth under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.02.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders
The information set forth under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

Item 5.02 Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
The information set forth under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement” is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.02.

Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
On July 16, 2009, the Company filed with the State of Georgia Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation establishing the terms of the Preferred Shares.  A copy of the Articles of Amendment is included as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.
Effective July 17, 2009, the Company’s Bylaws were amended and restated to reflect the correct name of the Company.  A copy of the amended and restated Bylaws is included as an exhibit to this Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03.

 
 

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)  Exhibits
The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

No.
 
Description
3.1
 
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation authorizing a class of preferred stock
3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws
4.1
 
Form of Certificate for the Series A Preferred Stock
4.2
 
Form of Certificate for the Series B Preferred Stock
4.3
 
Warrant to Purchase up to 645.00645 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, dated July 17, 2009
10.1
 
Letter Agreement, dated July 17, 2009, including Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms, incorporated by reference therein, between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury
10.2
 
Side Letter, dated July 17, 2009
10.3
 
ARRA Agreement, dated July 17, 2009
10.4
 
Form of Waiver
 
 
 

 

SIGNATURES

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

 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

Dated:   July 22, 2009
 
By:
/s/ Douglas J. Hertha
   
Douglas J. Hertha
   
Senior Vice President, Chief
   
Financial Officer

 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX
 
No.
 
Description
 
Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation authorizing a class of preferred stock
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws
 
Form of Certificate for the Series A Preferred Stock
 
Form of Certificate for the Series B Preferred Stock
 
Warrant to Purchase up to 645.00645 shares of Series B Preferred Stock, dated July 17, 2009
 
Letter Agreement, dated July 17, 2009, including Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms, incorporated by reference therein, between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury
 
Side Letter, dated July 17, 2009
 
ARRA Agreement, dated July 17, 2009
 
Form of Waiver

 

EX-3.1 2 ex3_1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1 ex3_1.htm

Exhibit 3.1
 
TO THE
ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

 
1.
 
The name of the corporation is SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc. (the “Corporation”).
 

 
2.
 
The main office of the Corporation is located at 600 North Glynn Street, Fayetteville, Georgia 30214.
 

 
3.
 
The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation are hereby amended by adding, as Article 13, the Certificate of Designations for the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, set forth in Annex A.
 

 
4.
 
The Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation are hereby amended by adding, as Article 14, the Certificate of Designations for the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, set forth in Annex B.
 

 
5.
 
These Articles of Amendment were approved and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a board meeting held on July 13, 2009, pursuant to authority conferred upon the Board of Directors by the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, which authorize the issuance of up to 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, no par value, and by Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code.  In accordance with Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, shareholder approval was not required.
 
 
 
6.
 
All other provisions of the Articles of Incorporation shall remain in full force and effect.
 


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles of Amendment to be executed by its duly authorized corporate officer on this 13th day of July, 2009.
 

  SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
     
     
  By:
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar
     
  Name: Larry T. Kuglar
     
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
 

ATTEST:
 
     
     
By:
/s/ Douglas J. Hertha
 
     
Name:  Douglas J. Hertha
 
     
Title:  Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 


[CORPORATE SEAL]

 
 

 

Annex A
 
CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
 
OF
 
FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A
 
OF SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
 

 
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia (the “Issuer”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, does hereby certify:
 
The board of directors of the Issuer (the “Board of Directors”) or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, adopted the following resolution effective on July 13, 2009 creating a series of 12,900 shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer designated as “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A”.
 
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Issuer be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Issuer a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A” (the “Designated Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 12,900.
 
Part 2. Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Schedule A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.
 
Part. 3. Definitions. The following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the Standard Provisions in Schedule A hereto) as defined below:
 
(a)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer.
 
(b)           “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

 
3

 

(c)            “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Issuer the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.
 
(d)            “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(e)            “Minimum Amount” means $3,225,000.
 
(f)            “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Issuer (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).
 
(g)            “Signing Date” means the Original Issue Date.
 
Part. 4. Certain Voting Matters.  Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.
 
 
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 
4

 

Schedule A
 
STANDARD PROVISIONS
 
Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Issuer.
 
Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:
 
(a)           “Applicable Dividend Rate” means (i) during the period from the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 5% per annum and (ii) from and after the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 9% per annum.
 
(b)           “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Issuer as defined in Section 3 (q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.
 
(c)           “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Issuer’s stockholders.
 
(d)           “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.
 
(e)           “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Issuer, as they may be amended from time to time.
 
(f)           “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(g)           “Charter” means the Issuer’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.
 
(h)           “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
 
(i)           “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
 
(j)           “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).
 
 
A-1

 

(k)           “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first issued.
 
(l)           “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).
 
(m)           “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Issuer, including the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(n)           “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Issuer to persons other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Issuer at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Issuer’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).
 
(o)           “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(p)           “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
 
(q)           “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.
 
Section 3. Dividends.
 
(a)Rate. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each
share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Dividend Rate on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

 
A-2

 
 
Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.
 
Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Issuer on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.
 
Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).
 
(b)           Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (iii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock.

 
A-3

 

When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Issuer will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.
 
Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
 
Section 4. Liquidation Rights.
 
(a)           Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Issuer, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Issuer, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Issuer ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).
 
(b)           Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

 
A-4

 
 
(c)           Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Issuer (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.
 
(d)           Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.
 
Section 5. Redemption.
 
(a)           Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).
 
 
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The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Issuer or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.
 
(b)           No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(c)           Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Issuer. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.
 
(d)           Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.
 
(e)           Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Issuer, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Issuer, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Issuer for payment of the redemption price of such shares.
 
 
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(f)   Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are
redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).
 
Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.
 
Section 7. Voting Rights.
 
(a)           General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.
 
(b)           Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the Preferred Directors and each a Preferred Director) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.
 
 
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(c)   Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:
 
(i)           Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Issuer ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer;
 
(ii)           Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock; or
 
(iii)           Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Issuer with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Issuer is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

 
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provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Issuer to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(d)            Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.
 
(e)            Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.
 
Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Issuer nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
 
Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

 
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Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Issuer, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.
 
Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Issuer shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Issuer. The Issuer shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Issuer of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Issuer.
 
Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

 
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Annex B

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
 
OF
 
FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B
 
OF SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
 
 
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia (the “Issuer”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, does hereby certify:
 
The board of directors of the Issuer (the “Board of Directors”) or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, adopted the following resolution effective on July 13, 2009 creating a series of 645.00645 shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer designated as “Fixed Rate  Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B”.
 
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Issuer be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:
 
Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Issuer a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B” (the “Designated Preferred  Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 645.00645.
 
Part 2. Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Schedule A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.
 
Part. 3. Definitions. The following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the Standard Provisions in Schedule A hereto) as defined below:
 
(a)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer.
 
(b)           “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.
 
(c)          “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Issuer the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.
 
(d)           “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

 
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(e)           “Minimum Amount” means $161,250.
 
(f)           “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Issuer (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively). Without limiting the foregoing, Parity Stock shall include the Issuer’s UST Preferred Stock.
 
(g)           “Signing Date” means the Original Issue Date.
 
(h)           “UST Preferred Stock” means the Issuer’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A.
 
Part. 4. Certain Voting Matters.  Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.
 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 
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Schedule A
 
STANDARD PROVISIONS
 
Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Issuer.
 
Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:
 
(a)           “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Issuer as defined in Section 3 (q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.
 
(b)           “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Issuer’s stockholders.
 
(c)           “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.
 
(d)           “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Issuer, as they may be amended from time to time.
 
(e)           “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.
 
(f)           “Charter” means the Issuer’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.
 
(g)           “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
 
(h)           “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).
 
(i)           “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).
 
(j)           “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first issued.
 
(k)           “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 
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(l)           “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Issuer, including the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(m)           “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Issuer to persons other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Issuer at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Issuer’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).
 
(n)           “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(o)           “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).
 
(p)           “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.
 
Section 3. Dividends.
 
(a)           Rate. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a per annum rate of 9.0% on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

 
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Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.
 
Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Issuer on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.
 
Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).
 
(b)           Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (iii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock.
 
When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Issuer will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

 
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Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.
 
Section 4. Liquidation Rights.
 
(a)           Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Issuer, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Issuer, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Issuer ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).
 
(b)           Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.
 
(c)           Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Issuer (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

 
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(d)   Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of thisSection 4, the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.
 
Section 5. Redemption.
 
(a)           Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred Stockmay not be redeemed prior to the later of (i) first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date; and (ii) the date on which all outstanding shares of UST Preferred Stock have been redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.
 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency and subject to the requirement that all outstanding shares of UST Preferred Stock shall previously have been redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).

 
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The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Issuer or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.
 
(b)           No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(c)           Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Issuer. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.
 
(d)           Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.
 
(e)           Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Issuer, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Issuer, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Issuer for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

 
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(f)           Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).
 
Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.
 
Section 7. Voting Rights.
 
(a)           General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.
 
(b)           Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the Preferred Directors and each a Preferred Director) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 
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(c)           Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:
 
(i)           Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Issuer ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer;
 
(ii)           Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock; or
 
(iii)           Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Issuer with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Issuer is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

 
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provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Issuer to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.
 
(d)            Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.
 
(e)            Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.
 
Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Issuer nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
 
Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.
 
Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Issuer, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

 
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Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Issuer shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Issuer. The Issuer shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Issuer of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Issuer.
 
Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

 

EX-3.2 3 ex3_2.htm EXHIBIT 3.2 ex3_2.htm

Exhibit 3.2
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
 
 
OF
 
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
 
 
Adopted as of July 17, 2009

 
 

 

ARTICLE I.
 
DEFINITIONS
 
As used in these Bylaws, the capitalized terms set forth below shall have the following meanings:
 
Articles of Incorporation” means the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time.
 
Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
 
“Chief Executive Officer” shall mean the President of the Corporation, or such other Officer as shall be designated by the Board as having the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, as described in Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws.
 
Code” shall mean the Georgia Business Corporation Code, as amended from time to time.
 
Corporation” shall mean SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a Georgia corporation.
 
Secretary” shall mean the Secretary of the Corporation, or such other officer as shall be designated by the Board as having the duties of the corporate Secretary as described in Section 5 of Article V of these Bylaws.
 
Secretary of State” shall mean the Secretary of State of Georgia.
 
Voting group” shall have the meaning set forth in subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article III of these Bylaws.
 
ARTICLE II.
GENERAL PROVISIONS REGARDING NOTICES
 
Section 1. Notices. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or as otherwise required by applicable law:
 
(a) Any notice required by these Bylaws or by law shall be in writing unless oral notice is reasonable under the circumstances.
 
(b) Notice may be communicated in person; by telephone, telegraph, teletype, electronic transmission or other form of wire or wireless communication; or by mail or private carrier. If these forms of personal notice are impracticable, notice may be communicated by a newspaper of general circulation in the area where published, or by radio, television, or other form of public broadcast communication.
 
(c) Written notice by the Corporation to any shareholder, if in a comprehensible form, is effective when mailed, if mailed with first-class postage prepaid and correctly addressed to the shareholder’s address shown in the Corporation’s current record of shareholders; provided, however, that if the Corporation has more than 500 shareholders of record entitled to vote at a meeting, it may utilize a class of mail other than first class if the notice of the meeting is mailed, with adequate postage prepaid, not less than 30 days before the date of the meeting.

 
 

 
 
(d) Written notice to the Corporation may be addressed to its registered agent at its registered office or to the Corporation or its Secretary at its principal office shown in its most recent annual registration with the Secretary of State.
 
(e) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 1, written notice, if in a comprehensible form, is effective at the earliest of the following:
 
(1)           When received, or when delivered, properly addressed, to the addressee’s last known principal place of business or residence;
 
(2)           Five days after its deposit in the mail, as evidenced by the postmark, if mailed with first-class postage prepaid and correctly addressed; or
 
(3)           On the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and the receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee.
 
(f) Oral notice is effective when communicated if communicated in a comprehensible manner.
 
(g) In calculating time periods for notice under these Bylaws, when a period of time measured in days, weeks, months, years, or other measurement of time is prescribed for the exercise of any privilege or the discharge of any duty, the first day shall not be counted but the last day shall be counted.
 
Section 2. Waiver of Notice. Except as otherwise provided or required by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws or applicable law:
 
(a) A shareholder may waive any notice required to be given to such shareholder, before or after the date and time stated in the notice. The waiver must be in writing, be signed by the shareholder entitled to the notice, and be delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Corporation’s corporate records.
 
(b) A shareholder’s attendance at a meeting:
 
(1)           Waives objection to lack of notice or defective notice of the meeting, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting; and
 
(2)           Waives objection to consideration of a particular matter at the meeting that is not within the purpose or purposes described in the meeting notice, unless the shareholder objects to considering the matter when it is presented.
 
(c) Neither the business transacted nor the purpose of the meeting need be specified in the waiver, except that any waiver by a shareholder of the notice of a meeting of shareholders with respect to an amendment of the Articles of Incorporation, a plan of merger or share exchange, a sale of assets or any other action which would entitle the shareholder to exercise statutory dissenter’s rights under the Code and obtain payment for his shares shall not be effective unless:

 
 

 
 
(1)           Prior to the execution of the waiver, the shareholder shall have been furnished the same material that under the Code would have been required to be sent to the shareholder in a notice of the meeting, including notice of any applicable dissenters rights, as provided in the Code; or
 
(2)           The waiver expressly waives the right to receive the material required to be furnished.
 
(d) A director may waive any notice required to be given to such director by the Code, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws before or after the date and time stated in the notice. Except as provided by subsection (e) of this Section 2, the waiver must be in writing, signed by the director entitled to the notice, and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Corporation’s corporate records.
 
(e) A director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to him of the meeting unless the director at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.
 
ARTICLE III.
SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETINGS
 
Section 1. Place of Meeting. The Board may designate any place within or outside the State of Georgia as the place of meeting for any annual or special meeting of shareholders.
 
Section 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders shall be held each year, on such date, at such time and place as the Board shall determine, at which time the Corporation’s shareholders shall elect directors and transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
 
Section 3. Special Meetings. Except to the extent otherwise prescribed by statute or the Articles of Incorporation, special meetings of shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board pursuant to resolution adopted by a majority of the Board.
 
Section 4. Notice to Shareholders.
 
(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Section 4, requirements with respect to the giving of notice and waiver of notice shall be governed by the provisions of Article II of these Bylaws.
 
(b) The Corporation shall give notice to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat of the date, time and place of each annual and special shareholders meeting no fewer than ten nor more than 60 days before the meeting date.
 
(c) Unless otherwise required by the Code with respect to meetings at which specified actions will be considered (including but not limited to mergers, certain share exchanges, certain asset sales by the Corporation, and dissolution of the Corporation), notice of an annual meeting need not contain a description of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

 
 

 
 
(d) Notice of a special meeting must include a description of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.
 
(e) Unless a new record date is set (or is required by law or by the terms of these Bylaws to be set) therefor, notice of the date, time and place of any adjourned meeting need not be given otherwise than by the announcement at the meeting before adjournment. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is or must be fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given in accordance with these Bylaws as if such adjourned meeting were a newly-called meeting.
 
(f) If any corporate action proposed to be considered at a meeting of shareholders would or might give rise to statutory dissenters’ rights under the Code, the notice of such meeting shall state that the meeting is to include consideration of such proposed corporate action, and that the consummation of such action will or might give rise to such dissenters rights, and shall include the description of such statutory dissenters rights required by the Code.
 
(g) If any corporate action which would give rise to statutory dissenter rights under the Code is taken by written consent of shareholders without a meeting, or is taken at a meeting with respect to which less than all shareholders were entitled to receive notice, or is otherwise taken without a vote of shareholders, the Corporation shall cause notice thereof, including the information concerning statutory dissenters rights contemplated by paragraph (b) above, to be given, not more than 10 days after the adoption of such action by shareholder vote at a meeting or by written consent to those shareholders who did not execute such written consent or who were not entitled to receive notice of such meeting, or to all shareholders if such action was otherwise taken without a vote of shareholders.
 
Section 5. Fixing of Record Date.
 
(a) For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to take any other action, the Board may fix in advance (but not retroactively from the date the Board takes such action) a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than 70 days prior to the meeting or action requiring such determination of shareholders. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, the close of business on the last business day before the first notice of such meeting is delivered to shareholders shall be the record date. If no record date is fixed for determining shareholders entitled to take action without a meeting, the date the first shareholder signs the consent shall be the record date for such purpose. If no record date is fixed for determining shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting, or to take other action, the date of receipt of notice by the Corporation of demand for such meeting, or the date on which such other action is to be taken by the Corporation’s shareholders, shall be the record date for such purpose.
 
(b) A separate record date may be established for each voting group entitled to vote separately on a matter at a meeting.
 
(c) A determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a shareholders meeting is effective for any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board fixes a new record date, which it must do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting.

 
 

 
 
(d) For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to a distribution by the Corporation (other than one involving a purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the Corporation’s shares), the record date shall be the date fixed for such purpose by the Board, or if the Board does not fix such a date, the date on which the Board authorizes such distribution.
 
Section 6. Quorum and Voting Requirements.
 
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or the Code:
 
(1)           A “voting group” with respect to any given matter means all shares of one or more class or series which, under the Articles of Incorporation or the Code, are entitled to vote and be counted together collectively on that matter, and unless specified otherwise in the Articles of Incorporation, the Code or these Bylaws, all shares entitled to vote on a given matter shall be deemed to be a single voting group for purposes of that matter.
 
(2)           Each outstanding share, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter voted on at a shareholders meeting.
 
(3)           A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by a voting group constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter.
 
(4)           The presence of a quorum of each voting group entitled to vote thereon shall be the requisite for transaction of business on a given matter.
 
(5)           Action on a matter other than election of directors is approved by a voting group if a quorum of such voting group exists and the number of votes cast within such voting group in favor of such action exceeds the number of votes cast within such voting group against such action.
 
(6)           Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all shares entitled to vote for election of directors shall vote thereon as a single voting group, and directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast by shares entitled to vote in the election in a meeting at which a quorum of such voting group is present.
 
(b) Once a share is represented for any purpose other than solely to object to holding a meeting or transacting business at the meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and for any adjournment of that meeting unless a new record date is, or is required by law or these Bylaws to be, set for that adjourned meeting.
 
(c) If a quorum for transaction of business shall not be present at a meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until the requisite amount of voting stock shall be present. No notice other than announcements at the meeting before adjournment shall be required of the new date, time or place of the adjourned meeting, unless a new record date for such adjourned meeting is, or is required by law or these Bylaws to be, fixed. At such adjourned meeting (for which no new record date is, or is required to be, set) at which a quorum shall be present in person or by proxy, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting originally called.

 
 

 
 
Section 7. Proxies. At every meeting of shareholders, any shareholder having the right to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be: (i) effective unless given in writing and signed, either personally by the shareholder or his agent or his attorney-in-fact; or (ii) effective until received by the inspector of election or the officer or the agent authorized to tabulate votes; or valid after 11 months after its date, unless said proxy expressly provides for a longer period.
 
Section 8. Informal Actions by Shareholders. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if written consent (which may take the form of one or more counterpart copies), bearing the date of signature and setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the holders of all the shares entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Corporation’s shareholders; provided, however, that no such consent which purports to be an approval of any plan of merger, share exchange, asset sale or other transaction (i) as to which shareholder approval is required by the Code and (ii) with respect to which specific disclosure requirements to voting shareholders are imposed by the Code, shall be effective unless:
 
(1)           prior to the execution of the consent, each consenting shareholder shall have been furnished the same material which, under the Code, would have been required to be sent to shareholders in a notice of a meeting at which the proposed action would have been submitted to the shareholders for action, including notice of any applicable dissenters rights; or
 
(2)           the written consent contains an express waiver of the right to receive the material otherwise required to be furnished.
 
ARTICLE IV.
DIRECTORS
 
Section 1. General Powers. All corporate powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation managed under the direction of, its Board, subject to any limitation set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, or any amendment to these Bylaws approved by the Corporation’s shareholders, or any otherwise lawful agreement among the Corporation’s shareholders.
 
Section 2. Number, Election and Terms. Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors comprising the Board shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board; provided, however, that the number of directors fixed by the Board shall not be less than five or more than 25. Beginning with the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders to be held in 2004, the Board shall be divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of office of the first class of directors to expire at the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders to be held in 2005, the term of office of the second class of directors to expire at the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders to be held in 2006, and the term of office of the third class of directors to expire at the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders to be held in 2007. At each annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders, and except as otherwise so fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation relating to the rights of holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the successors of the class of directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be elected for a term of office expiring at the annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders held in the third year following the year of their election.

 
 

 
 
Section 3. Vacancies, How Filled. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors or any vacancies occurring in the Board resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum of the Board, or by the sole remaining director. A director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Corporation’s shareholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
 
Section 4. Continuances in Office. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article IV, any director whose term of office has expired shall continue to hold office until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
 
Section 5. Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock then outstanding, any director, or the entire Board, may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. The holder of each share of capital stock entitled to vote thereon shall be entitled to cast the same number of votes as the holder of such shares is entitled to cast generally in the election of each director.
 
Section 6. Place of Meeting. The Board may hold its meetings at such place or places within or outside the State of Georgia as it may from time to time determine.
 
Section 7. Compensation. Directors may be allowed such compensation for attendance at regular or special meetings of the Board and of any special or standing committees thereof as the Board may from time to time determine.
 
Section 8. Regular Meetings. A regular annual meeting of the Board shall be held, without other notice than this Bylaw, immediately after, and at the same place as, the annual meeting of shareholders. The Board may provide, by resolution, the time and place within or outside the State of Georgia, for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.
 
Section 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, on not less than two days notice to each director by mail, telegram, cablegram or other form of wire or wireless communication, or personal delivery or other form of communication authorized under the circumstances by the Code, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of any two or more members of the Board. Such notice shall state the time, date and place of such meeting, but need not describe the purpose of the meeting. Any such special meeting shall be held at such time and place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

 
 

 
 
Section 10. General Provisions Regarding Notice and Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Article IV, matters relating to notice to directors and waiver of notice by directors shall be governed by the provisions of Article II of these Bylaws.
 
Section 11. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or other provisions of these Bylaws, the presence of a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present at any meeting may adjourn from time to time until a quorum is had. Notice of the time and place of any adjourned meeting need only be given by announcement at the meeting at which adjournment is taken.
 
Section 12. Manner of Acting. Except as expressly otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or other provisions of these Bylaws, if a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present is the act of the Board. A director who is present at a meeting when corporate action is taken is deemed to have assented to the action unless:
 
(1)           He objects at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) to holding it or transacting business at the meeting;
 
(2)           His dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or
 
(3)           He delivers written notice of his dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment or to the Corporation immediately after adjournment of the meeting.
 
Section 13. Committees.
 
(a) Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, the Board may create one or more committees and appoint members of the Board to serve on them. Each committee may have one or more members, who serve at the pleasure of the Board.
 
(b) The provisions of these Bylaws and of the Code which govern meetings, action without meetings, notice and waiver of notice, and quorum and voting requirements of the Board, shall apply as well to committees created under this Section 13 and their members.
 
(c) To the extent specified by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws and the resolution of the Board creating such committee, each committee may exercise the authority of the Board; provided, however, that a committee may not:
 
(1)           Approve, or propose to shareholders for approval, action required by the Code to be approved by shareholders;
 
(2)           Fill vacancies on the Board or on any of its committees;

 
 

 
 
(3)           Exercise any authority which the Board may have to amend the Articles of Incorporation;
 
(4)           Adopt, amend, or repeal bylaws; or
 
(5)           Approve a plan of merger not requiring shareholder approval.
 
Section 14. Action Without Formal Meeting. Except as expressly otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if written consent thereto (which may take the form of one or more counterparts) is signed by all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee. A consent executed in accordance herewith has the effect of a meeting vote and may be described as such in any document.
 
Section 15. Conference Call Meetings. Members of the Board, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of conference, telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can simultaneously hear each other during the meeting, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 15 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
 
ARTICLE V.
OFFICERS
 
Section 1. Generally. The Board shall from time to time elect or appoint such officers as it shall deem necessary or appropriate to the management and operation of the Corporation, which officers shall hold their offices for such terms as shall be determined by the Board and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as are specified in these Bylaws or in a resolution of the Board. Except as specifically otherwise provided in resolutions of the Board, the following requirements shall apply to election or appointment of officers:
 
(a) The Corporation shall have, at a minimum, the following officers, whose offices shall bear the titles designated therefor by resolution of the Board, but in the absence of such designation shall bear the titles set forth below:

Office
 
Title
     
Chief Executive Officer
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
     
Chief Operating Officer
 
Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
     
Secretary
 
Secretary
 
(b) All officers of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Board, and in the absence of specification otherwise in a resolution of the Board, each officer shall be elected to serve until the next succeeding annual meeting of the Board and the election and qualification of his successor, subject to his earlier death, resignation or removal.

 
 

 
 
(c) Any person may hold two or more offices simultaneously, and no officer need be a shareholder of the Corporation.
 
(d) If so provided by resolution of the Board, any officer may be delegated the authority to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers, which appointed officers or assistant officers shall have the duties and powers specified in the resolution of the Board.
 
Section 2. Compensation. The salaries of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board, except that the Board may delegate to any officer or officers the power to fix the compensation of any other officer.
 
Section 3. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office, because of resignation, removal or death may be filled by the Board for the unexpired portion of the term, or if so provided by resolution of the Board, by an officer of the Corporation to whom has been delegated the authority to appoint the holder of such vacated office.
 
Section 4. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have such title or titles designated by the Board or these Bylaws and shall be the principal executive officer of the Corporation. Subject to the control of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall in general manage, supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He may sign, individually or in conjunction with any other proper officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized by the Board, certificates for shares of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, policies of insurance, contracts, investment certificates, or other instruments which the Board has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.
 
Section 5. Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall have such title or titles designated by the Board or these Bylaws. Subject to the control of the Board, the Chief Operating Officer shall in general be responsible for managing the operations of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, the management of the Corporation’s financial operations, human resources operations, information technology operations, and legal affairs. He may sign, individually or in conjunction with any other proper officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized by the Board, certificates for shares of the Corporation, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, policies of insurance, contracts, investment certificates, or other instruments which the Board has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board or these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chief Operating Officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board from time to time.

 
 

 
 
Section 6. Secretary. The Secretary may be designated by any such title as determined by resolution of the Board, but shall have the duties of the officer denominated the “Secretary” under the Code. Such officer shall: (i) attend and keep the Minutes of all shareholders’ meetings and all of the Board’s meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as otherwise required by law or the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation; (iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized; (iv) maintain, or cause an agent designated by the Board to maintain, a record of the Corporation’s shareholders in a form that permits the preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all shareholders in alphabetical order by class of shares, showing the number and class of shares held by each; (v) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation or responsibility for supervision, on behalf of the Corporation, of any agent to which stock transfer responsibility has been delegated by the Board; (vi) have responsibility for the custody, maintenance and preservation of those corporate records which the Corporation is required by the Code or otherwise to create, maintain or preserve; and (vii) in general, perform all duties incident to the legal office of “Secretary,” as described in the Code, and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board.
 
Section 7. Deputy Officers. The Board may create one or more deputy officers whose duties shall be, among any other designated thereto by the Board, to perform the duties of the officer to which such office has been deputized in the event of the unavailability, death or inability or refusal of such officer to act. Deputy officers may hold such titles as designated therefor by the Board; provided, however, any office designated with the prefix “Vice” or “Deputy” shall be, unless otherwise specified by resolution of the Board, automatically a deputy officer to the office with the title of which the prefix term is conjoined. Deputy officers shall have such other duties as prescribed by the Board from time to time.
 
Section 8. Assistant Officers. The Board may appoint one or more officers who shall be assistants to principal officers of the Corporation, or their deputies, and who shall have such duties as shall be delegated to such assistant officers by the Board or such principal officers, including the authority to perform such functions of those principal officers in the place of and with full authority of such principal officers as shall be designated by the Board or (if so authorized) by such principal officers. The Board may by resolution authorize appointment of assistant officers by those principal officers to which such appointed officers will serve as assistants.
 
ARTICLE VI.
INDEMNIFICATION
 
Section 1. Definitions for Indemnification Provisions.
 
(a) As used in this Article VI, the term:
 
(1)           “Corporation” (when spelled with an initial capital letter) includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of the “Corporation” (as defined in Article I of these Bylaws) in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.
 
(2)           “director” or “officer” means an individual who is or was a director or officer, respectively, of the Corporation or an individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity. A director or officer is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the Corporation’s request if his duties to the Corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. Director or officer includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a director or officer.

 
 

 
 
(3)           “disinterested director” means a director who at the time of a vote or selection referred to in subsection (b) or (c) of Section 4 of this Article VI or subsection (a) of Section 5 of this Article VI or a vote referred to in subsection (c) of Section 6 of this Article VI is not:
 
(A)           A party to the proceeding; or
 
(B)           An individual who is a party to a proceeding having a familial, financial, professional, or employment relationship with the director whose indemnification or advance for expenses is the subject of the decision being made with respect to the proceeding, which relationship would, in the circumstances, reasonably be expected to exert an influence on the director’s judgment when voting on the decision being made.
 
(4)           “expenses” include attorneys’ fees.
 
(5)           “liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding.
 
(6)           “official capacity” means:
 
(A)   When used with respect to a director, the office of director in the Corporation; and
 
(B)   When used with respect to an officer, as contemplated in Section 7 of this Article VI, the office in the Corporation held by the officer.
 
Official capacity does not include service for any other domestic or foreign corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity.
 
(7)           “party” includes an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.
 
(8)           “proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.
 
Section 2. Mandatory Indemnification Against Expenses. The Corporation shall indemnify a director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he was a director of the Corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in connection with the proceeding.

 
 

 
 
Section 3. Authority For Permissive Indemnification.
 
(a)            Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3, the Corporation shall indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if he conducted himself in good faith and reasonably believed, in the case of conduct in his official capacity, that such conduct was in the best interests of the Corporation; in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; and in the case of a criminal proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful.
 
(b)           A director’s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he believed in good faith to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that the director reasonably believed was at least not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
 
(c)           The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the standard of conduct set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 3.
 
(d)           The Corporation may not indemnify a director under this Section 3:
 
(1)           In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation; except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 3; or
 
(2)           In connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct for which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not involving action in his official capacity.
 
Section 4. Determination and Authorization of Permitted Indemnification.
 
(a) The Corporation may not indemnify a director under Section 3 of this Article VI unless authorized thereunder and a determination has been made in the specific proceeding that indemnification of the director is permissible in the circumstances because he has met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsection (a) of such Section 3.
 
(b) The determination required by subsection (a) hereof shall be made:
 
(1)           If there are two or more disinterested directors, by the Board by a majority vote of all the disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote;
 
(2)           By special legal counsel:(A) Selected in the manner prescribed in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or (B) If there are fewer than two disinterested directors, selected by the Board (in which selection directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate); or

 
 

 
 
(3)           By the Corporation’s shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director may not be voted on the determination.
 
(c) Authorization of indemnification or an obligation to indemnify and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, as set forth in subsection (b) hereof, except that if there are fewer than two disinterested directors or if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled under subsection (b)(2)(B) of this Section 4 to select special legal counsel.
 
Section 5. Shareholder-Approved Indemnification.
 
(a) Without regard to any limitations contained in any other section of this Article VI, the Corporation shall, if authorized by its shareholders by a majority of votes which would be entitled to be cast (which authorization may take the form of an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or a contract, resolution or bylaw approved or ratified by the requisite shareholder vote), indemnify or obligate itself to indemnify a director made a party to a proceeding, including a proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation, but shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to any existing or threatened proceeding that would be covered by the authorization may not be voted on the authorization.
 
(b) The Corporation shall not indemnify a director under this Section 5 for any liability incurred in a proceeding in which the director is adjudged liable to the Corporation or is subjected to injunctive relief in favor of the Corporation:
 
(1)           For any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business opportunity of the Corporation;
 
(2)           For acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
 
(3)           For any type of liability for unlawful distributions under Section 14-2-832 of the Code; or
 
(4)            For any transaction from which he received an improper personal benefit.
 
(c) Where approved or authorized in the manner described in subsection (a) of this Section 5, the Corporation shall advance or reimburse expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding only if:
 
(1)           The director furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that his conduct does not constitute behavior of the kind described in subsection (b) of this Section 5; and

 
 

 
 
(2)           The director furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on his behalf, to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Section 5.
 
Section 6. Advances For Expenses.
 
(a) The Corporation shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director who is a party to a proceeding in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if:
 
(1)           The director furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct set forth in subsection (a) of Section 3 of this Article VI or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under a provision of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation as authorized by paragraph (4) of subsection (b) of Section 14-2-202 of the Code; and
 
(2)           The director furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification under this Article.
 
(b) The undertaking required by paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Section 6 must be an unlimited general obligation of the director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment.
 
(c) Authorizations under this Section 6 shall be made:
 
(1)           By the Board:
 
(A)           When there are two or more disinterested directors, by a majority vote of all the disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote; or
 
(B)           When there are fewer than two disinterested directors, by the vote necessary for action by the Board in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 14-2-824 of the Code, in which authorization directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate; or
 
(2)           By the Corporation’s shareholders, but shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to the proceeding may not be voted on the authorization.
 
Section 7. Indemnification of Officers, Employees, and Agents.
 
(a) The Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses under this part to an officer of the Corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he is an officer of the Corporation:
 
(1)           To the same extent as a director; and
 
(2)           If he is not a director, to such further extent as may be provided by the Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, a resolution of the Board, or contract except for liability arising out of conduct that constitutes:

 
 

 
 
(A)           Appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business opportunity of the Corporation;
 
(B)           Acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
 
(C)           The types of liability for unlawful distributions under Section 14-2-832 of the Code; or
 
(D)           Receipt of an improper personal benefit.
 
(b) The provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of this Section 7 shall apply to an officer who is also a director if the sole basis on which he is made a party to the proceeding is an act or omission solely as an officer.
 
(c) An officer of the Corporation who is not a director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 2 of this Article VI, and may apply to a court under Section 14-2-854 of the Code for indemnification or advances for expenses, in each case to the same extent to which a director may be entitled to indemnification or advances for expenses under those provisions.
 
(d) The Corporation shall also indemnify and advance expenses to an employee or agent who is not a director to the extent, consistent with public policy, which may be provided by the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, general or specific action of the Board, or contract.
 
Section 8. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, serves at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity against liability asserted against or incurred by him in that capacity or arising from his status as a director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the Corporation would have power to indemnify or advance expenses to him against the same liability under this Article VI.
 
Section 9. Expenses for Appearance as Witness. Nothing contained in this Article VI shall be deemed to limit the Corporation’s power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a director or officer in connection with his appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he is not a party.
 
ARTICLE VII.
FAIR PRICE
 
The fair price requirements contained in Sections 14-2-1110 through 14-2-1113 of the Code shall apply to the Corporation.

 
 

 
 
ARTICLE VIII
CERTAIN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
 
The requirements regarding business combinations with interested shareholders contained in Sections 14-2-1131 through 14-2-1133 of the Code shall apply to the Corporation.
 
ARTICLE IX.
REIMBURSEMENT OF NON-DEDUCTIBLE
PAYMENTS TO OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
 
In the event any payments to an officer or employee of the Corporation, such as salary, commission, bonus, interest or rent expenses incurred by him, is thereafter disallowed in whole or in part by the Internal Revenue Service as a proper deduction for income tax purposes under Section 162 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (or disallowed under any similar statutory section which may subsequently replace such Section 162), such disallowed payments shall be deemed to be an obligation owed by such officer or employee to the Corporation. Such disallowed payments shall be reimbursed by such officer or employee to the Corporation on or before 90 days following the final determination of such disallowance by the Internal Revenue Service or entry of the final judgment of such determination if adjudicated. It shall be the duty of the Board to enforce reimbursement of each such amount disallowed, including the withholding from future compensation payments to such officer or employee until the amount owed to the Corporation has been recovered.
 
ARTICLE X.
FISCAL YEAR
 
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be established by the Board or, in the absence of Board action establishing such fiscal year, by the Chief Executive Officer.
 
ARTICLE XI.
ANNUAL STATEMENTS
 
(a) No later than four months after the close of each fiscal year, and in any case prior to the next annual meeting of shareholders, the Corporation shall prepare:
 
(1) A balance sheet showing in reasonable detail the financial condition of the Corporation as of the close of the fiscal year; and
 
(2) A profit and loss statement showing the results of its operation during the fiscal year.
 
Upon written request, the Corporation shall mail promptly to any shareholder of record a copy of the most recent such balance sheet and profit and loss statement. If prepared for other purposes, the Corporation shall also furnish upon written request a statement of sources and applications of funds and a statement of changes in shareholders’ equity for the fiscal year. If financial statements are prepared by the Corporation on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles, the annual financial statements must also be prepared, and disclose that they are prepared, on that basis. If financial statements are prepared otherwise than on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles, they must so disclose and must be prepared on the same basis as other reports or statements prepared by the Corporation for the use of others.

 
 

 
 
(b) If the annual financial statements are reported upon by a public accountant, his report must accompany them. If not, the statements must be accompanied by a statement of the Chief Executive Officer or the person responsible for the Corporation’s accounting records:
 
(1) Stating his reasonable belief whether the statements were prepared on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles and, if not, describing the basis of preparation; and
 
(2) Describing any respects in which the statements were not prepared on a basis of accounting consistent with the statements prepared for the preceding year.
 
ARTICLE XII.
CAPITAL STOCK
 
Section 1. Form.
 
(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this Section 1, the interest of each shareholder shall be evidenced by a certificate representing shares of stock of the Corporation, which shall be in such form as the Board may from time to time adopt and shall be numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Each certificate shall exhibit the holder’s name, the number of shares and class of shares and series, if any, represented thereby, the name of the Corporation and a statement that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Georgia. Each certificate shall be signed, either manually or by facsimile, by one or more officers of the Corporation specified by resolution of the Board, but in the absence of such specifications, shall be valid if executed by the Chief Executive Officer or any Deputy or Assistant thereto, and such execution is countersigned by the Secretary, or any Deputy or Assistant thereto. If the certificate is signed by facsimile, then it must be countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a registrar other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation. The transfer agent or a registrar may sign either manually or by facsimile. Each stock certificate may but need not be sealed with the seal of the Corporation.
 
(b) If authorized by resolution of the Board, the Corporation may issue some or all of the shares of any or all of its classes or series without certificates. The issuance of such shares shall not affect shares already represented by certificates until they are surrendered to the Corporation. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of any shares not represented by certificates, the Corporation shall send to the holder of such shares a written statement setting forth, with respect to such shares (i) the name of the Corporation as issuer and that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Georgia, (ii) the name of the person to whom such shares are issued, (iii) the number of shares and class of shares and series, if any, and (iv) the terms of any restrictions on transfer which, were such shares represented by a stock certificate, would be required to be noted on such certificate, by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, or by any legal agreement among the shareholders of the Corporation.

 
 

 
 
Section 2. Transfer. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate, or, in the case of shares not represented by certificates, the person named in the Corporation’s stock transfer records as the owner of such shares, or, in either case, by attorney lawfully constituted in writing. In addition, with respect to shares represented by certificates, transfers shall be made only upon surrender of the certificate therefor, or in the case of a certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon compliance with the provisions of Section 4 of this Article XII.
 
Section 3. Rights of Holder. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of the Corporation as the person entitled to vote such share (to the extent such share is entitled to vote), to receive any distribution with respect to such share, and for all other purposes and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.
 
Section 4. Lost or Destroyed Certificates. Any person claiming a certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed shall make an affidavit or affirmation of the fact in such manner as the Board may require and shall, if the Board so requires, give the Corporation a bond of indemnity in the form and amount and with one or more sureties satisfactory to the Board, whereupon an appropriate new certificate may be issued in lieu of the one alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
 
ARTICLE XIII.
SEAL
 
The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be specified in the minutes of the organizational meeting of the Corporation, or as the Board may from time to time determine.
 
ARTICLE XIV.
REGISTERED OFFICE AND REGISTERED AGENT
 
The street address of the initial registered office of the Corporation is 108 South Church Street, Thomaston, Georgia 30286-3166. The registered office is located in Upson County. The initial registered agent of the Corporation at such office is Daniel W. Brinks. The Corporation may amend this Article XIV at any time to change its registered office or registered agent, without further action of its officers or directors, by filing with the Secretary of State a notice of such change, in accordance with Section 14-2-502 of the Code, or any successor statute.
 
The Corporation may have other offices at such places within or outside of the State of Georgia as the Board may from time to time designate or the business of the Corporation may require or make desirable.

 
 

 
 
ARTICLE XV.
AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS
 
Section 1. Amendment of Bylaws by Board. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, by applicable law, or by the provisions of this Article XV, the Board may amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws or adopt any new bylaw by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board, unless the Corporation’s shareholders have adopted, amended or repealed a particular bylaw provision and, in doing so, have expressly reserved to the Corporation’s shareholders the right of amendment or repeal therefor.
 
Section 2. Supermajority Required for Amendment by Shareholders. The Corporation’s shareholders have the right, in accordance with the voting requirements set forth in this Section 2, to amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws or adopt any new bylaw, even though such provision may also be amended, repealed or adopted by the Board. Except as may otherwise specifically be required by law, the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% of the total number of votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors shall be required for the shareholders to amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws or adopt any new bylaw.
 
 

EX-4.1 4 ex4_1.htm EXHIBIT 4.1 ex4_1.htm

Exhibit 4.1
 
NUMBER
*   A-01   *
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
SHARES
**
 
 
Transfer of this stock is restricted in accordance with
conditions printed on the reverse of this certificate.
 
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 

is the owner of
 
 

FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF
FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A, NO PAR VALUE, OF

SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(hereinafter called the "Company").  The Company will furnish, without charge, a summary of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations applicable to the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A, of the Company, the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series and the authority of the board of directors to determine variations for future series, upon written request. The shares represented by this certificate are transferable on the books of the Company by said owner or by his or her duly authorized attorney, upon the surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed.

Date:  July 17, 2009
[SEAL]
/s/ Douglas J. Hertha
 
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar  
Douglas J. Hertha
 
 Larry T. Kuglar  
Secretary
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 

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

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT IS NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH IS THEN EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) TO THE ISSUER OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT. ANY SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.

THE FOLLOWING ABBREVIATIONS, WHEN USED IN THE INSCRIPTION ON THE FACE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS THOUGH THEY WERE WRITTEN OUT IN FULL ACCORDING TO APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS:
 
TEN COM
-
AS TENANTS IN COMMON
UGMA/(STATE)
 
CUSTODIAN
 
TEN ENT
-
AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETIES
  (CUSTODIAN)   (MINOR)       
JTWROS
-
AS JOINT TENANTS WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP AND NOT AS TENANTS IN COMMON
 
UNDER THE UNIFORM GIFT TO MINORS ACT/(STATE)
 
For value received, ____________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
 
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
      IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
 
 
 
 
 
 
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
 
 
 
 
 
  shares
 
represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
 
 
 Attorney to transfer the said shares on the records of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises
 
   
(DATE)
 
 
    AND
(SIGNATURE:  THE SIGNATURE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.)
 
 
   
(SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:  SIGNATURE MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A COMMERCIAL BANK, A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR A TRUST COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES OR BY A MEMBER FIRM OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE OR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC.)
 
 
 

EX-4.2 5 ex4_2.htm EXHIBIT 4.2 ex4_2.htm

Exhibit 4.2
 
NUMBER
*  B-01   *
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP,INC.
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA
SHARES
*      *
 
Transfer of this stock is restricted in accordance with
conditions printed on the reverse of this certificate.

     
THIS CERTIFIES THAT
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 

is the owner of
   
 
FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF
FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B, NO PAR VALUE, OF

SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(hereinafter called the "Company").  The Company will furnish, without charge, a summary of the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations applicable to the Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B, of the Company, the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series and the authority of the board of directors to determine variations for future series, upon written request. The shares represented by this certificate are transferable on the books of the Company by said owner or by his or her duly authorized attorney, upon the surrender of this Certificate properly endorsed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be signed by its duly authorized officers and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed.

Date:  July 17, 2009
[SEAL]
/s/ Douglas J. Hertha
 
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar
 
Douglas J. Hertha
 
Larry T. Kuglar
 
Secretary
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 

 

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE NOT SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.
 
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT IS NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. ANY TRANSFEREE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH IS THEN EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) TO THE ISSUER OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.
 
THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT. ANY SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.
 
THE FOLLOWING ABBREVIATIONS, WHEN USED IN THE INSCRIPTION ON THE FACE OF THIS CERTIFICATE, SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS THOUGH THEY WERE WRITTEN OUT IN FULL ACCORDING TO APPLICABLE LAWS OR REGULATIONS:
 
TEN COM
-
AS TENANTS IN COMMON
UGMA/(STATE)
 
CUSTODIAN
 
TEN ENT - AS TENANTS BY THE ENTIRETIES   (CUSTODIAN)   (MINOR) 
JTWROS
-
AS JOINT TENANTS WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP AND NOT AS TENANTS IN COMMON
 
UNDER THE UNIFORM GIFT TO MINORS ACT/(STATE)
 
For value received, ____________________ hereby sell, assign and transfer unto
 
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
      IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
 

 
 

 
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE)
 
 
 
 
 
  shares
 
 
represented by the within Certificate, and do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint
 
 
 
 
 Attorney to transfer the said shares on the records of the within-named Company with full power of substitution in the premises
 
 
 
(DATE)
 

 
 AND
(SIGNATURE:  THE SIGNATURE ON THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE IN EVERY PARTICULAR WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.)
 
   

   
(SIGNATURE GUARANTEE:  SIGNATURE MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A COMMERCIAL BANK, A SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION OR A TRUST COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES OR BY A MEMBER FIRM OF ANY NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE OR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC.)
 
 
 

EX-4.3 6 ex4_3.htm EXHIBIT 4.3 ex4_3.htm

Exhibit 4.3
 
WARRANT TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK
 
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS. THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT. ANY SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.
 
WARRANT
to purchase
645.00645
Shares of Preferred Stock
of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
 
Issue Date: July 17, 2009
 
1.           Definitions.  Unless the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following terms shall have the meanings indicated.
 
Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company, including any duly authorized committee thereof.
 
business day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.
 
Charter” means, with respect to any Person, its certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.
 
Company” means the Person whose name, corporate or other organizational form and jurisdiction of organization is set forth in Item 1 of Schedule A hereto.
 
Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
 
1

 

Exercise Price” means the amount set forth in Item 2 of Schedule A hereto.
 
Expiration Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.
 
“Issue Date” means the date set forth in Item 3 of Schedule A hereto.
 
Liquidation Amount” means the amount set forth in Item 4 of Schedule A hereto.
 
Original Warrantholder” means the United States Department of the Treasury. Any actions specified to be taken by the Original Warrantholder hereunder may only be taken by such Person and not by any other Warrantholder.
 
Person” has the meaning given to it in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and as used in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.
 
“Preferred Stock” means the series of perpetual preferred stock set forth in Item 5 of Schedule A hereto.
 
Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms incorporated into the Letter Agreement, dated as of the date set forth in Item 6 of Schedule A hereto, as amended from time to time, between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Letter Agreement”), including all annexes and schedules thereto.
 
Regulatory Approvals” with respect to the Warrantholder, means, to the extent applicable and required to permit the Warrantholder to exercise this Warrant for shares of Preferred Stock and to own such Preferred Stock without the Warrantholder being in violation of applicable law, rule or regulation, the receipt of any necessary approvals and authorizations of, filings and registrations with, notifications to, or expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
 
SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.
 
Warrantholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.
 
Warrant” means this Warrant, issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.
 
2.           Number of Shares; Exercise Price.  This certifies that, for value received, the United States Department of the Treasury or its permitted assigns (the “Warrantholder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, to acquire from the Company, in whole or in part, after the receipt of all applicable Regulatory Approvals, if any, up to an aggregate of the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock set forth in Item 7 of Schedule A hereto (the “Shares”), at a purchase price per share of Preferred Stock equal to the Exercise Price.
 

 
2

 

3.           Exercise of Warrant; Term.  Subject to Section 2, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the right to purchase the Shares represented by this Warrant is exercisable, in whole or in part by the Warrantholder, at any time or from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Warrant by the Company on the date hereof, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the tenth anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Time”), by (A) the surrender of this Warrant and Notice of Exercise annexed hereto, duly completed and executed on behalf of the Warrantholder, at the principal executive office of the Company located at the address set forth in Item 8 of Schedule A hereto (or such other office or agency of the Company in the United States as it may designate by notice in writing to the Warrantholder at the address of the Warrantholder appearing on the books of the Company), and (B) payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares thereby purchased, by having the Company withhold, from the shares of Preferred Stock that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal in value to the aggregate Exercise Price as to which this Warrant is so exercised.
 
If the Warrantholder does not exercise this Warrant in its entirety, the Warrantholder will be entitled to receive from the Company within a reasonable time, and in any event not exceeding three business days, a new warrant in substantially identical form for the purchase of that number of Shares equal to the difference between the number of Shares subject to this Warrant and the number of Shares as to which this Warrant is so exercised.  Notwithstanding anything in this Warrant to the contrary, the Warrantholder hereby acknowledges and agrees that its exercise of this Warrant for Shares is subject to the condition that the Warrantholder will have first received any applicable Regulatory Approvals.
 
4.           Issuance of Shares; Authorization.  Certificates for Shares issued upon exercise of this Warrant will be issued in such name or names as the Warrantholder may designate and will be delivered to such named Person or Persons within a reasonable time, not to exceed three business days after the date on which this Warrant has been duly exercised in accordance with the terms of this Warrant.  The Company hereby represents and warrants that any Shares issued upon the exercise of this Warrant in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 will be duly and validly authorized and issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens and charges (other than liens or charges created by the Warrantholder, income and franchise taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of the Warrant or taxes in respect of any transfer occurring contemporaneously therewith).  The Company agrees that the Shares so issued will be deemed to have been issued to the Warrantholder as of the close of business on the date on which this Warrant and payment of the Exercise Price are delivered to the Company in accordance with the terms of this Warrant, notwithstanding that the stock transfer books of the Company may then be closed or certificates representing such Shares may not be actually delivered on such date. The Company will at all times reserve and keep available, out of its authorized but unissued preferred stock, solely for the purpose of providing for the exercise of this Warrant, the aggregate number of shares of Preferred Stock then issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at any time.  The Company will use reasonable best efforts to ensure that the Shares may be issued without violation of any applicable law or regulation or of any requirement of any securities exchange on which the Shares are listed or traded.
 

 
3

 

5.           No Rights as Stockholders; Transfer Books.  This Warrant does not entitle the Warrantholder to any voting rights or other rights as a stockholder of the Company prior to the date of exercise hereof.  The Company will at no time close its transfer books against transfer of this Warrant in any manner which interferes with the timely exercise of this Warrant.
 
6.           Charges, Taxes and Expenses.  Issuance of certificates for Shares to the Warrantholder upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be made without charge to the Warrantholder for any issue or transfer tax or other incidental expense in respect of the issuance of such certificates, all of which taxes and expenses shall be paid by the Company.
 
7.           Transfer/Assignment.
 
(A)  Subject to compliance with clause (B) of this Section 7, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company by the registered holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, and a new warrant shall be made and delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and date as this Warrant but registered in the name of one or more transferees, upon surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of the Company described in Section 3.  All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the new warrants pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid by the Company.
 
(B)  The transfer of the Warrant and the Shares issued upon exercise of the Warrant are subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 4.4 of the Purchase Agreement.  If and for so long as required by the Purchase Agreement, this Warrant shall contain the legends as set forth in Section 4.2(a) of the Purchase Agreement.
 
8.           Exchange and Registry of Warrant.  This Warrant is exchangeable, upon the surrender hereof by the Warrantholder to the Company, for a new warrant or warrants of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Shares.  The Company shall maintain a registry showing the name and address of the Warrantholder as the registered holder of this Warrant.  This Warrant may be surrendered for exchange or exercise in accordance with its terms, at the office of the Company, and the Company shall be entitled to rely in all respects, prior to written notice to the contrary, upon such registry.
 
9.           Loss, Theft, Destruction or Mutilation of Warrant.  Upon receipt by the Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it of the loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and in the case of any such loss, theft or destruction, upon receipt of a bond, indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the Company, or, in the case of any such mutilation, upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, the Company shall make and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant, a new Warrant of like tenor and representing the right to purchase the same aggregate number of Shares as provided for in such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated Warrant.
 
10.           Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays, etc.  If the last or appointed day for the taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein shall not be a business day, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the next succeeding day that is a business day.
 
 
4

 

11.           Rule 144 Information.  The Company covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to timely file all reports and other documents required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder (or, if the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Warrantholder, make publicly available such information as necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act), and it will use reasonable best efforts to take such further action as any Warrantholder may reasonably request, in each case to the extent required from time to time to enable such holder to, if permitted by the terms of this Warrant and the Purchase Agreement, sell this Warrant without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by (A) Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or (B) any successor rule or regulation hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Upon the written request of any Warrantholder, the Company will deliver to such Warrantholder a written statement that it has complied with such requirements.
 
12.           Adjustments and Other Rights.  For so long as the Original Warrantholder holds this Warrant or any portion thereof, if any event occurs that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, would require adjustment of the Exercise Price or number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable in order to fairly and adequately protect the purchase rights of the Warrants in accordance with the essential intent and principles of the Purchase Agreement and this Warrant, then the Board of Directors shall make such adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, to protect such purchase rights as aforesaid.
 
Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in this Section 12, the Company shall forthwith file at the principal office of the Company a statement showing in reasonable detail the facts requiring such adjustment and the Exercise Price that shall be in effect and the number of Shares into which this Warrant shall be exercisable after such adjustment, and the Company shall also cause a copy of such statement to be sent by mail, first class postage prepaid, to each Warrantholder at the address appearing in the Company’s records.
 
13.           No Impairment.  The Company will not, by amendment of its Charter or through any reorganization, transfer of assets, consolidation, merger, dissolution, issue or sale of securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the observance or performance of any of the terms to be observed or performed hereunder by the Company, but will at all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all the provisions of this Warrant and in taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order to protect the rights of the Warrantholder.
 
14.           Governing Law.  This Warrant will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.  Each of the Company and the Warrantholder agrees (a) to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for any civil action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) that notice may be served upon the Company at the address in Section 17 below and upon the Warrantholder at the address for the Warrantholder set forth in the registry maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Company and the Warrantholder hereby unconditionally waives trial by jury in any civil legal action or proceeding relating to the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
 
 
5

 

15.           Binding Effect.  This Warrant shall be binding upon any successors or assigns of the Company.
 
16.           Amendments.  This Warrant may be amended and the observance of any term of this Warrant may be waived only with the written consent of the Company and the Warrantholder.
 
17.           Notices.  Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, or (b) on the second business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day courier service.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in Item 9 of Schedule A hereto, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.
 
18.           Entire Agreement.  This Warrant, the forms attached hereto and Schedule A hereto (the terms of which are incorporated by reference herein), and the Letter Agreement (including all documents incorporated therein), contain the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior and contemporaneous arrangements or undertakings with respect thereto.
 

 
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
 
 
6

 

[Form of Notice of Exercise]
 
Date:_______________
 
TO:
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
 
RE:
Election to Purchase Preferred Stock
 
The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant, hereby agrees to subscribe for and purchase such number of shares of Preferred Stock covered by the Warrant such that after giving effect to an exercise pursuant to Section 3(B) of the Warrant, the undersigned will receive the net number of shares of Preferred Stock set forth below.  The undersigned, in accordance with Section 3 of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of Preferred Stock in the manner set forth in Section 3(B) of the Warrant.
 
Number of Shares of Preferred Stock1
   
 
The undersigned agrees that it is exercising the attached Warrant in full and that, upon receipt by the undersigned of the number of shares of Preferred Stock set forth above, such Warrant shall be deemed to be cancelled and surrendered to the Company.
 
 
Holder:
   
 
By:
   
 
Name:
   
 
Title:
   


1
Number of shares to be received by the undersigned upon exercise of the attached Warrant pursuant to Section 3(B) thereof.

 
7

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Warrant to be duly executed by a duly authorized officer.
 
Dated:
July 17, 2009
 
 
 
COMPANY:
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
   
 
By:
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar
 
Name: Larry T. Kuglar
 
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
     
 
Attest:
 
By:
/s/ Douglas J. Hertha
 
Name: Douglas J. Hertha
 
Title: Secretary
 
[Signature Page to Warrant]
 
 
8

 

SCHEDULE A
 
Item 1
 
Name: SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
 
Corporate or other organizational form: C Corporation
 
Jurisdiction of organization: Georgia
 
Item 2
 
Exercise Price: $0.01 per share
 
Item 3
 
Issue Date: July 17, 2009
 
Item 4
 
Liquidation Amount: $1,000 per share
 
Item 5
 
Series of Perpetual Preferred Stock: Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B
 
Item 6
 
Date of Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury: July 17, 2009
 
Item 7
 
Number of shares of Preferred Stock: 645.00645
 
Item 8
 
Company’s address:
600 North Glynn Street
Suite B
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
Item 9
 
Notice Information:
With Copy to:
 
Larry T. Kuglar
Mr. Robert Klingler, Esq.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein LLP
 
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
One Atlantic Center
 
600 North Glynn Street
1201 West Peachtree Street, 14th FL
 
Suite B
Atlanta, Georgia  30309
 
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
 
 
Telephone:
Telephone:
 
Fax:
Fax:
 
Email:
Email:

 

EX-10.1 7 ex10_1.htm EXHIBIT 10.1 ex10_1.htm

Exhibit 10.1
 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
1500 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20220

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

The company set forth on the signature page hereto (the “Company”) intends to issue in a private placement the number of shares of a series of its preferred stock set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Preferred Shares”) and a warrant to purchase the number of shares of a series of its preferred stock set forth on Schedule A hereto (the “Warrant” and, together with the Preferred Shares, the “Purchased Securities”) and the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Investor”) intends to purchase from the Company the Purchased Securities.

The purpose of this letter agreement is to confirm the terms and conditions of the purchase by the Investor of the Purchased Securities. Except to the extent supplemented or superseded by the terms set forth herein or in the Schedules hereto, the provisions contained in the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) are incorporated by reference herein. Terms that are defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement are used in this letter agreement as so defined. In the event of any inconsistency between this letter agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement, the terms of this letter agreement shall govern.

Each of the Company and the Investor hereby confirms its agreement with the other party with respect to the issuance by the Company of the Purchased Securities and the purchase by the Investor of the Purchased Securities pursuant to this letter agreement and the Securities Purchase Agreement on the terms specified on Schedule A hereto.

This letter agreement (including the Schedules hereto), the Securities Purchase Agreement (including the Annexes thereto), the Disclosure Schedules and the Warrant constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties, both written and oral, between the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. This letter agreement constitutes the “Letter Agreement” referred to in the Securities Purchase Agreement.

This letter agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement. Executed signature pages to this letter agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such facsimiles will be deemed as sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.

* * *

 
 

 

In witness whereof, this letter agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized representatives of the parties hereto as of the date written below.

     
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
         
     
By:
/s/ Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
       
Name:  Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
       
Title: Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability
         
         
      COMPANY:
      SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
         
     
By:  
/s/ Larry  T. Kuglar
       
Larry T. Kuglar
       
President and Chief Executive Officer
         
Date:
July 17, 2009
     

 
 

 

 EXHIBIT A

(Non-Exchange-Traded QFIs, excluding S Corps and Mutual Organizations)

_____________________________________________________________________________

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT

STANDARD TERMS
_____________________________________________________________________________

 
 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
Page
   
Article I
Purchase; Closing
   
1.1 Purchase
3
1.2 Closing
3
1.3 Interpretation
8
   
Article II
Representations and Warranties
   
2.1 Disclosure
9
2.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company.......
11
   
Article III
Covenants
   
3.1 Commercially Reasonable Efforts
29
3.2 Expenses
30
3.3 Sufficiency of Authorized Warrant Preferred Stock; Exchange Listing
30
3.4 Certain Notifications Until Closing
30
3.5 Access, Information and Confidentiality
31
   
Article IV
Additional Agreements
   
4.1 Purchase for Investment
34
4.2 Legends
35
4.3 Certain Transactions
39
4.4 Transfer of Purchased Securities and Warrant Shares; Restrictions on Exercise of the Warrant
39

 
 

 
 
4.5 Registration Rights
40
4.6 Depositary Shares
68
4.7 Restriction on Dividends and Repurchases
68
4.8 Executive Compensation
73
4.9 Related Party Transactions
74
4.10 Bank and Thrift Holding Company Status
74
4.11 Predominantly Financial
75
   
Article V
Miscellaneous
   
5.1 Termination
75
5.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties
77
5.3 Amendment
77
5.4 Waiver of Conditions
77
5.5 Governing Law: Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc. .
78
   
5.6 Notices
78
5.7 Definitions
79
5.8 Assignment
80
5.9 Severability
81
5.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries
81


 
 

 

LIST OF ANNEXES

ANNEX A:
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS FOR PREFERRED STOCK
ANNEX B:
FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS FOR WARRANT
 
PREFERRED STOCK
ANNEX C:
FORM OF WAIVER
ANNEX D:
FORM OF OPINION
ANNEX E:
FORM OF WARRANT

 
 

 
 
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
Location of
Term
Definition
Affiliate
5.7(b)
Agreement
Recitals
Appropriate Federal Banking Agency
2.2(s)
Bank Holding Company
4.10
Bankruptcy Exceptions
2.2(d)
Benefit Plans
1.2(d)(iv)
Board of Directors
2.2(f)
Business Combination
5.8
business day
1.3
Capitalization Date
2.2(b)
Certificates of Designations
1.2(d)(iii)
Charter
1.2(d)(iii)
Closing
1.2(a)
Closing Date
1.2(a)
Code
2.2(n)
Common Stock
2.2(b)
Company
Recitals
Company Financial Statements
2.2(h)
Company Material Adverse Effect
2.1(b)
Company Reports
2.2(i)(i)
Company Subsidiary; Company Subsidiaries
2.2(e)(ii)
control; controlled by; under common control with
5.7(b)
Controlled Group
2.2(n)
CPP
Recitals

 
 

 
 
Disclosure Schedule
2.1(a)
EESA
1.2(d)(iv)
ERISA
2.2(n)
Exchange Act
4.4
Federal Reserve
4.10
GAAP
2.1(b)
Governmental Entities
1.2(c)
Holder
4.5(l)(i)
Holders’ Counsel
4.5(l)(ii)
Indemnitee
4.5(h)(i)
Information
3.5(c)
Investor
Recitals
Junior Stock
4.7(f)
knowledge of the Company; Company’s knowledge
5.7(c)
Letter Agreement
Recitals
officers
5.7(c)
Parity Stock
4.7(f)
Pending Underwritten Offering
4.5(m)
Permitted Repurchases
4.7(c)
Piggyback Registration
4.5(b)(iv)
Plan
2.2(n)
Preferred Shares
Recitals
Preferred Stock
Recitals
Previously Disclosed
2.1(c)
Proprietary Rights
2.2(u)
Purchase
Recitals
Purchase Price
1.1
Purchased Securities
Recitals

 
 

 
 
register; registered; registration
4.5(l)(iii)
Registrable Securities
4.5(l)(iv)
Registration Expenses
4.5(l)(v)
Regulatory Agreement
2.2(s)
Rule 144; Rule 144A; Rule 159A; Rule 405; Rule 415
4.5(l)(vi)
Savings and Loan Holding Company
4.10
Schedules
Recitals
SEC
2.2(k)
Securities Act
2.2(a)
Selling Expenses
4.5(l)(vii)
Senior Executive Officers
4.8
Shelf Registration Statement
4.5(b)(ii)
Signing Date
2.1(b)
Special Registration
4.5(j)
subsidiary
5.7(a)
Tax; Taxes
2.2(o)
Transfer
4.4
Warrant
Recitals
Warrant Preferred Stock
Recitals
Warrant Shares
2.2(d)

 
 

 

SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT – STANDARD TERMS

Recitals:

WHEREAS, the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Investor”) may from time to time agree to purchase shares of preferred stock and warrants from eligible financial institutions which elect to participate in the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program (“CPP”);

WHEREAS, an eligible financial institution electing to participate in the CPP and issue securities to the Investor (referred to herein as the “Company”) shall enter into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) with the Investor which incorporates this Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms;

WHEREAS, the Company agrees to expand the flow of credit to U.S. consumers and businesses on competitive terms to promote the sustained growth and vitality of the U.S. economy;

WHEREAS, the Company agrees to work diligently, under existing programs, to modify the terms of residential mortgages as appropriate to strengthen the health of the U.S. housing market;

WHEREAS, the Company intends to issue in a private placement the number of shares of the series of its Preferred Stock (“Preferred Stock”) set forth on Schedule A to the Letter Agreement (the “Preferred Shares”) and a warrant to purchase the number of shares of the series of its Preferred Stock (“Warrant Preferred Stock”) set forth on Schedule A to the Letter Agreement (the “Warrant” and, together with the Preferred Shares, the “Purchased Securities”) and the Investor intends to purchase (the “Purchase”) from the Company the Purchased Securities; and

WHEREAS, the Purchase will be governed by this Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms and the Letter Agreement, including the schedules thereto (the “Schedules”), specifying additional terms of the Purchase. This Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms (including the Annexes hereto) and the Letter Agreement (including the Schedules thereto) are together referred to as this “Agreement”. All references in this Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms to “Schedules” are to the Schedules attached to the Letter Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties agree as follows:

Article I
Purchase; Closing

1.1 Purchase. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Company agrees to sell to the Investor, and the Investor agrees to purchase from the Company, at the Closing (as hereinafter defined), the Purchased Securities for the price set forth on Schedule A (the “Purchase Price”).

 
 

 

1.2 Closing.

(a) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Purchase (the “Closing”) will take place at the location specified in Schedule A, at the time and on the date set forth in Schedule A or as soon as practicable thereafter, or at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed between the Company and the Investor. The time and date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing Date”.

(b) Subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the conditions to the Closing in this Section 1.2, at the Closing the Company will deliver the Preferred Shares and the Warrant, in each case as evidenced by one or more certificates dated the Closing Date and bearing appropriate legends as hereinafter provided for, in exchange for payment in full of the Purchase Price by wire transfer of immediately available United States funds to a bank account designated by the Company on Schedule A.

(c) The respective obligations of each of the Investor and the Company to consummate the Purchase are subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Investor and the Company, as applicable) prior to the Closing of the conditions that (i) any approvals or authorizations of all United States and other governmental, regulatory or judicial authorities (collectively, “Governmental Entities”) required for the consummation of the Purchase shall have been obtained or made in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to each party and shall be in full force and effect and all waiting periods required by United States and other applicable law, if any, shall have expired and (ii) no provision of any applicable United States or other law and no judgment, injunction, order or decree of any Governmental Entity shall prohibit the purchase and sale of the Purchased Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.

(d) The obligation of the Investor to consummate the Purchase is also subject to the fulfillment (or waiver by the Investor) at or prior to the Closing of each of the following conditions:

(i) (A) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in (x) Section 2.2(g) of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects as though made on and as of the Closing Date, (y) Sections 2.2(a) through (f) shall be true and correct in all material respects as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of another date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such other date) and (z) Sections 2.2(h) through (v) (disregarding all qualifications or limitations set forth in such representations and warranties as to “materiality”, “Company Material Adverse Effect” and words of similar import) shall be true and correct as though made on and as of the Closing Date (other than representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of another date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such other date), except to the extent that the failure of such representations and warranties referred to in this Section 1.2(d)(i)(A)(z) to be so true and correct, individually or in the aggregate, does not have and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect and (B) the Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 
 

 

(ii) the Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 1.2(d)(i) have been satisfied;

(iii) the Company shall have duly adopted and filed with the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction of organization or other applicable Governmental Entity the amendments to its certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document (“Charter”) in substantially the forms attached hereto as Annex A and Annex B (the “Certificates of Designations”) and such filing shall have been accepted;

(iv) (A) the Company shall have effected such changes to its compensation, bonus, incentive and other benefit plans, arrangements and agreements (including golden parachute, severance and employment agreements) (collectively, “Benefit Plans”) with respect to its Senior Executive Officers (and to the extent necessary for such changes to be legally enforceable, each of its Senior Executive Officers shall have duly consented in writing to such changes), as may be necessary, during the period that the Investor owns any debt or equity securities of the Company acquired pursuant to this Agreement or the Warrant, in order to comply with Section 111(b) of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (“EESA”) as implemented by guidance or regulation thereunder that has been issued and is in effect as of the Closing Date, and (B) the Investor shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a senior executive officer certifying to the effect that the condition set forth in Section 1.2(d)(iv)(A) has been satisfied;

(v) each of the Company’s Senior Executive Officers shall have delivered to the Investor a written waiver in the form attached hereto as Annex C releasing the Investor from any claims that such Senior Executive Officers may otherwise have as a result of the issuance, on or prior to the Closing Date, of any regulations which require the modification of, and the agreement of the Company hereunder to modify, the terms of any Benefit Plans with respect to its Senior Executive Officers to eliminate any provisions of such Benefit Plans that would not be in compliance with the requirements of Section 111(b) of the EESA as implemented by guidance or regulation thereunder that has been issued and is in effect as of the Closing Date;

(vi) the Company shall have delivered to the Investor a written opinion from counsel to the Company (which may be internal counsel), addressed to the Investor and dated as of the Closing Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex D;

(vii) the Company shall have delivered certificates in proper form or, with the prior consent of the Investor, evidence of shares in book-entry form, evidencing the Preferred Shares to Investor or its designee(s); and

(viii) the Company shall have duly executed the Warrant in substantially the form attached hereto as Annex E and delivered such executed Warrant to the Investor or its designee(s).

 
 

 

1.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to “Recitals,” “Articles,” “Sections,” or “Annexes” such reference shall be to a Recital, Article or Section of, or Annex to, this Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms, and a reference to “Schedules” shall be to a Schedule to the Letter Agreement, in each case, unless otherwise indicated. The terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa. References to “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and the like refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or provision, unless the context requires otherwise. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not part of this Agreement. Whenever the words “include,” "includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed followed by the words “without limitation.” No rule of construction against the draftsperson shall be applied in connection with the interpretation or enforcement of this Agreement, as this Agreement is the product of negotiation between sophisticated parties advised by counsel. All references to “$” or “dollars” mean the lawful currency of the United States of America. Except as expressly stated in this Agreement, all references to any statute, rule or regulation are to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under the statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or regulation include any successor to the section. References to a “business day” shall mean any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

Article II
Representations and Warranties

2.1 Disclosure.

(a) On or prior to the Signing Date, the Company delivered to the Investor a schedule (“Disclosure Schedule”) setting forth, among other things, items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate either in response to an express disclosure requirement contained in a provision hereof or as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 2.2.

(b) “Company Material Adverse Effect” means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, results of operation or financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that Company Material Adverse Effect shall not be deemed to include the effects of (A) changes after the date of the Letter Agreement (the “Signing Date”) in general business, economic or market conditions (including changes generally in prevailing interest rates, credit availability and liquidity, currency exchange rates and price levels or trading volumes in the United States or foreign securities or credit markets), or any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declared or undeclared acts of war or terrorism, in each case generally affecting the industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate, (B) changes or proposed changes after the Signing Date in generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) or regulatory accounting requirements, or authoritative interpretations thereof, or (C) changes or proposed changes after the Signing Date in securities, banking and other laws of general applicability or related policies or interpretations of Governmental Entities (in the case of each of these clauses (A), (B) and (C), other than changes or occurrences to the extent that such changes or occurrences have or would reasonably be expected to have a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole relative to comparable U.S. banking or financial services organizations); or (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the Purchase and other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant and perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder on a timely basis.

 
 

 

(c) “Previously Disclosed” means information set forth on the Disclosure Schedule, provided, however, that disclosure in any section of such Disclosure Schedule shall apply only to the indicated section of this Agreement except to the extent that it is reasonably apparent from the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is relevant to another section of this Agreement.

2.2 Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as Previously Disclosed, the Company represents and warrants to the Investor that as of the Signing Date and as of the Closing Date (or such other date specified herein):

(a) Organization, Authority and Significant Subsidiaries. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization, with the necessary power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business in all material respects as currently conducted, and except as has not, individually or in the aggregate, had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification; each subsidiary of the Company that would be considered a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”), has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization.  The Charter and bylaws of the Company, copies of which have been provided to the Investor prior to the Signing Date, are true, complete and correct copies of such documents as in full force and effect as of the Signing Date.

(b) Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company, and the outstanding capital stock of the Company (including securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, capital stock of the Company) as of the most recent fiscal month-end preceding the Signing Date (the “Capitalization Date”) is set forth on Schedule B. The outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and subject to no preemptive rights (and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights). As of the Signing Date, the Company does not have outstanding any securities or other obligations providing the holder the right to acquire its Common Stock (“Common Stock”) that is not reserved for issuance as specified on Schedule B, and the Company has not made any other commitment to authorize, issue or sell any Common Stock. Since the Capitalization Date, the Company has not issued any shares of Common Stock, other than (i) shares issued upon the exercise of stock options or delivered under other equity-based awards or other convertible securities or warrants which were issued and outstanding on the Capitalization Date and disclosed on Schedule B and (ii) shares disclosed on Schedule B. Each holder of 5% or more of any class of capital stock of the Company and such holder’s primary address are set forth on Schedule B.

 
 

 

(c) Preferred Shares. The Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, such Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

(d) The Warrant and Warrant Shares. The Warrant has been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered as contemplated hereby, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity (“Bankruptcy Exceptions”). The shares of Warrant Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant (the “Warrant Shares”) have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrant and when so issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrant will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

(e) Authorization, Enforceability.

(i) The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Warrant and to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder (which includes the issuance of the Preferred Shares, Warrant and Warrant Shares). The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and its stockholders, and no further approval or authorization is required on the part of the Company. This Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Bankruptcy Exceptions.

 
 

 

(ii) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance by the Company with the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (A) violate, conflict with, or result in a breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or acceleration of, or result in the creation of, any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (each a “Company Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Company Subsidiaries”) under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) its organizational documents or (ii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, lease, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or by which it or any Company Subsidiary may be bound, or to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Company Subsidiary may be subject, or

(B) subject to compliance with the statutes and regulations referred to in the next paragraph, violate any statute, rule or regulation or any judgment, ruling, order, writ, injunction or decree applicable to the Company or any Company Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets except, in the case of clauses (A)(ii) and (B), for those occurrences that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(iii) Other than the filing of the Certificates of Designations with the Secretary of State of its jurisdiction of organization or other applicable Governmental Entity, such filings and approvals as are required to be made or obtained under any state “blue sky” laws and such as have been made or obtained, no notice to, filing with, exemption or review by, or authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity is required to be made or obtained by the Company in connection with the consummation by the Company of the Purchase except for any such notices, filings, exemptions, reviews, authorizations, consents and approvals the failure of which to make or obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(f) Anti-takeover Provisions and Rights Plan. The Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) has taken all necessary action to ensure that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the exercise of the Warrant in accordance with its terms, will be exempt from any anti-takeover or similar provisions of the Company’s Charter and bylaws, and any other provisions of any applicable “moratorium”, “control share”, “fair price”, “interested stockholder” or other anti-takeover laws and regulations of any jurisdiction.

(g) No Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the last day of the last completed fiscal period for which financial statements are included in the Company Financial Statements (as defined below), no fact, circumstance, event, change, occurrence, condition or development has occurred that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 
 

 

(h) Company Financial Statements. The Company has Previously Disclosed each of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for each of the last three completed fiscal years of the Company (which shall be audited to the extent audited financial statements are available prior to the Signing Date) and each completed quarterly period since the last completed fiscal year (collectively the “Company Financial Statements”). The Company Financial Statements present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated therein and the consolidated results of their operations for the periods specified therein; and except as stated therein, such financial statements (A) were prepared in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be noted therein) and (B) have been prepared from, and are in accordance with, the books and records of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

(i) Reports.

(i) Since December 31, 2006, the Company and each Company Subsidiary has filed all reports, registrations, documents, filings, statements and submissions, together with any amendments thereto, that it was required to file with any Governmental Entity (the foregoing, collectively, the “Company Reports”) and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As of their respective dates of filing, the Company Reports complied in all material respects with all statutes and applicable rules and regulations of the applicable Governmental Entities.

(ii) The records, systems, controls, data and information of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries are recorded, stored, maintained and operated under means (including any electronic, mechanical or photographic process, whether computerized or not) that are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of the Company or the Company Subsidiaries or their accountants (including all means of access thereto and therefrom), except for any non-exclusive ownership and non-direct control that would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the system of internal accounting controls described below in this Section 2.2(i)(ii).  The Company (A) has implemented and maintains adequate disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including the consolidated Company Subsidiaries, is made known to the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company by others within those entities, and (B) has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation prior to the Signing Date, to the Company’s outside auditors and the audit committee of the Board of Directors (x) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.

 
 

 

(j) No Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are not properly reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements to the extent required to be so reflected or reserved against in accordance with GAAP, except for (A) liabilities that have arisen since the last fiscal year end in the ordinary and usual course of business and consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(k) Offering of Securities. Neither the Company nor any person acting on its behalf has taken any action (including any offering of any securities of the Company under circumstances which would require the integration of such offering with the offering of any of the Purchased Securities under the Securities Act, and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) promulgated thereunder), which might subject the offering, issuance or sale of any of the Purchased Securities to Investor pursuant to this Agreement to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

(l) Litigation and Other Proceedings. Except (i) as set forth on Schedule C or (ii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, there is no (A) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding, against the Company or any Company Subsidiary or to which any of their assets are subject nor is the Company or any Company Subsidiary subject to any order, judgment or decree or (B) unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Governmental Entity with respect to any report or relating to any examinations or inspections of the Company or any Company Subsidiaries.

(m) Compliance with Laws.  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have all permits, licenses, franchises, authorizations, orders and approvals of, and have made all filings, applications and registrations with, Governmental Entities that are required in order to permit them to own or lease their properties and assets and to carry on their business as presently conducted and that are material to the business of the Company or such Company Subsidiary.  Except as set forth on Schedule D, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have complied in all respects and are not in default or violation of, and none of them is, to the knowledge of the Company, under investigation with respect to or, to the knowledge of the Company, have been threatened to be charged with or given notice of any violation of, any applicable domestic (federal, state or local) or foreign law, statute, ordinance, license, rule, regulation, policy or guideline, order, demand, writ, injunction, decree or judgment of any Governmental Entity, other than such noncompliance, defaults or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except for statutory or regulatory restrictions of general application or as set forth on Schedule D, no Governmental Entity has placed any restriction on the business or properties of the Company or any Company Subsidiary that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 
 

 

(n) Employee Benefit Matters. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect: (A) each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) providing benefits to any current or former employee, officer or director of the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company or any member of its Controlled Group and for which the Company or any member of its Controlled Group would have any liability, whether actual or contingent (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with the requirements of all applicable statutes, rules and regulations, including ERISA and the Code;

(B) with respect to each Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA (including, for purposes of this clause (B), any plan subject to Title IV of ERISA that the Company or any member of its Controlled Group previously maintained or contributed to in the six years prior to the Signing Date), (1) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA),  other than a reportable event for which the notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been waived, has occurred in the three years prior to the Signing Date or is reasonably expected to occur, (2) no “accumulated funding deficiency” (within the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, has occurred in the three years prior to the Signing Date or is reasonably expected to occur, (3) the fair market value of the assets under each Plan exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on the assumptions used to fund such Plan) and (4) neither the Company nor any member of its Controlled Group has incurred in the six years prior to the Signing Date, or reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the PBGC in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including any Plan that is a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(c)(3) of ERISA); and (C) each Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to its qualified status that has not been revoked, or such a determination letter has been timely applied for but not received by the Signing Date, and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss, revocation or denial of such qualified status or favorable determination letter.

(o) Taxes. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise Tax returns required to be filed through the Signing Date, subject to permitted extensions, and have paid all Taxes due thereon, and (ii) no Tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries, nor does the Company have any knowledge of any Tax deficiencies. “Tax” or “Taxes” means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, property, sales, use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll, withholding, alternative or add on minimum, ad valorem, transfer or excise tax, or any other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, imposed by any Governmental Entity.

 
 

 

(p) Properties and Leases. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all other properties and assets owned by them, in each case free from liens, encumbrances, claims and defects that would affect the value thereof or interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries hold all leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with no exceptions that would interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.

(q) Environmental Liability. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

(i) there is no legal, administrative, or other proceeding, claim or action of any nature seeking to impose, or that would reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of, on the Company or any Company Subsidiary, any liability relating to the release of hazardous substances as defined under any local, state or federal environmental statute, regulation or ordinance, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any Company Subsidiary;

(ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no reasonable basis for any such proceeding, claim or action; and

(iii) neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any agreement, order, judgment or decree by or with any court, Governmental Entity or third party imposing any such environmental liability.

(r) Risk Management Instruments. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, all derivative instruments, including, swaps, caps, floors and option agreements, whether entered into for the Company’s own account, or for the account of one or more of the Company Subsidiaries or its or their customers, were entered into (i) only in the ordinary course of business, (ii) in accordance with prudent practices and in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and regulatory policies and (iii) with counterparties believed to be financially responsible at the time; and each of such instruments constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company or one of the Company Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions.  Neither the Company or the Company Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto, is in breach of any of its obligations under any such agreement or arrangement other than such breaches that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 
 

 

(s) Agreements with Regulatory Agencies. Except as set forth on Schedule E, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary is subject to any material cease-and-desist or other similar order or enforcement action issued by, or is a party to any material 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 capital directive by, or since December 31, 2006, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Governmental Entity (other than the Appropriate Federal Banking Agencies with jurisdiction over the Company and the Company Subsidiaries) that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of its business or that in any material manner relates to its capital adequacy, its liquidity and funding policies and practices, its ability to pay dividends, its credit, risk management or compliance policies or procedures, its internal controls, its management or its operations or business (each item in this sentence, a “Regulatory Agreement”), nor has the Company or any Company Subsidiary been advised since December 31, 2006 by any such Governmental Entity that it is considering issuing, initiating, ordering, or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement.  The Company and each Company Subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects with each Regulatory Agreement to which it is party or subject, and neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary has received any notice from any Governmental Entity indicating that either the Company or any Company Subsidiary is not in compliance in all material respects with any such Regulatory Agreement.  "Appropriate Federal Banking Agency" means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Company or such Company Subsidiaries, as applicable, as defined in Section 3(q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)).

(t) Insurance. The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are insured with reputable insurers against such risks and in such amounts as the management of the Company reasonably has determined to be prudent and consistent with industry practice.  The Company and the Company Subsidiaries are in material compliance with their insurance policies and are not in default under any of the material terms thereof, each such policy is outstanding and in full force and effect, all premiums and other payments due under any material policy have been paid, and all claims thereunder have been filed in due and timely fashion, except, in each case, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Intellectual Property. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate,  reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and each Company Subsidiary owns or otherwise has the right to use, all intellectual property rights, including all trademarks, trade dress, trade names, service marks, domain names, patents, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, works of authorship and copyrights therein, that are used in the conduct of their existing businesses and all rights relating to the plans, design and specifications of any of its branch facilities (“Proprietary Rights”) free and clear of all liens and any claims of ownership by current or former employees, contractors, designers or others and (ii) neither the Company nor any of the Company Subsidiaries is materially infringing, diluting, misappropriating or violating, nor has the Company or any or the Company Subsidiaries received any written (or, to the knowledge of the Company, oral) communications alleging that any of them has materially infringed, diluted, misappropriated or violated, any of the Proprietary Rights owned by any other person. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, to the Company’s knowledge, no other person is infringing, diluting, misappropriating or violating, nor has the Company or any or the Company Subsidiaries sent any written communications since January 1, 2006 alleging that any person has infringed, diluted, misappropriated or violated, any of the Proprietary Rights owned by the Company and the Company Subsidiaries.

 
 

 

(v) Brokers and Finders. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any financial advisory, brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company or any Company Subsidiary for which the Investor could have any liability.

Article III
Covenants

3.1 Commercially Reasonable Efforts. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each of the parties will use its commercially reasonable efforts in good faith to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or desirable, or advisable under applicable laws, so as to permit consummation of the Purchase as promptly as practicable and otherwise to enable consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other party to that end.

3.2 Expenses. Unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Warrant, each of the parties hereto will bear and pay all costs and expenses incurred by it or on its behalf in connection with the transactions contemplated under this Agreement and the Warrant, including fees and expenses of its own financial or other consultants, investment bankers, accountants and counsel.

3.3 Sufficiency of Authorized Warrant Preferred Stock; Exchange Listing.

(a) During the period from the Closing Date until the date on which the Warrant has been fully exercised, the Company shall at all times have reserved for issuance, free of preemptive or similar rights, a sufficient number of authorized and unissued Warrant Shares to effectuate such exercise.

(b) If the Company lists its Common Stock on any national securities exchange, the Company shall, if requested by the Investor, promptly use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares to be approved for listing on a national securities exchange as promptly as practicable following such request.

3.4 Certain Notifications Until Closing. From the Signing Date until the Closing, the Company shall promptly notify the Investor of (i) any fact, event or circumstance of which it is aware and which would reasonably be expected to cause any representation or warranty of the Company contained in this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect or to cause any covenant or agreement of the Company contained in this Agreement not to be complied with or satisfied in any material respect and (ii) except as Previously Disclosed, any fact, circumstance, event, change, occurrence, condition or development of which the Company is aware and which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; provided, however, that delivery of any notice pursuant to this Section 3.4 shall not limit or affect any rights of or remedies available to the Investor; provided, further, that a failure to comply with this Section 3.4 shall not constitute a breach of this Agreement or the failure of any condition set forth in Section 1.2 to be satisfied unless the underlying Company Material Adverse Effect or material breach would independently result in the failure of a condition set forth in Section 1.2 to be satisfied.

 
 

 

3.5 Access, Information and Confidentiality.

(a) From the Signing Date until the date when the Investor holds an amount of Preferred Shares having an aggregate liquidation value of less than 10% of the Purchase Price, the Company will permit the Investor and its agents, consultants, contractors and advisors (x) acting through the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, or otherwise to the extent necessary to evaluate, manage, or transfer its investment in the Company, to examine the corporate books and make copies thereof and to discuss the affairs, finances and accounts of the Company and the Company Subsidiaries with the principal officers of the Company, all upon reasonable notice and at such reasonable times and as often as the Investor may reasonably request and (y) to review any information material to the Investor’s investment in the Company provided by the Company to its Appropriate Federal Banking Agency. Any investigation pursuant to this Section 3.5 shall be conducted during normal business hours and in such manner as not to interfere unreasonably with the conduct of the business of the Company, and nothing herein shall require the Company or any Company Subsidiary to disclose any information to the Investor to the extent (i) prohibited by applicable law or regulation, or (ii) that such disclosure would reasonably be expected to cause a violation of any agreement to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or would cause a risk of a loss of privilege to the Company or any Company Subsidiary (provided that the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to make appropriate substitute disclosure arrangements under circumstances where the restrictions in this clause (ii) apply).

(b) From the Signing Date until the date on which all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares have been redeemed in whole, the Company will deliver, or will cause to be delivered, to the Investor:

(i) as soon as available after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, and in any event within 90 days thereafter, a consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such fiscal year, and consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Company for such year, in each case prepared in accordance with GAAP and setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures for the previous fiscal year of the Company, and which shall be audited to the extent audited financial statements are available; and

 
 

 

(ii) as soon as available after the end of the first, second and third quarterly periods in each fiscal year of the Company, a copy of any quarterly reports provided to other stockholders of the Company or Company management.

(c) The Investor will use reasonable best efforts to hold, and will use reasonable best efforts to cause its agents, consultants, contractors and advisors to hold, in confidence all non-public records, books, contracts, instruments, computer data and other data and information (collectively, “Information”) concerning the Company furnished or made available to it by the Company or its representatives pursuant to this Agreement (except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (i) previously known by such party on a non-confidential basis, (ii) in the public domain through no fault of such party or (iii) later lawfully acquired from other sources by the party to which it was furnished (and without violation of any other confidentiality obligation)); provided that nothing herein shall prevent the Investor from disclosing any Information to the extent required by applicable laws or regulations or by any subpoena or similar legal process.

(d) The Investor’s information rights pursuant to Section 3.5(b) may be assigned by the Investor to a transferee or assignee of the Purchased Securities or the Warrant Shares or with a liquidation preference or, in the case of the Warrant, the liquidation preference of the underlying shares of Warrant Preferred Stock, no less than an amount equal to 2% of the initial aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares.

Article IV
Additional Agreements

4.1 Purchase for Investment. The Investor acknowledges that the Purchased Securities and the Warrant Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act or under any state securities laws. The Investor (a) is acquiring the Purchased Securities pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act solely for investment with no present intention to distribute them to any person in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable U.S. state securities laws, (b) will not sell or otherwise dispose of any of the Purchased Securities or the Warrant Shares, except in compliance with the registration requirements or exemption provisions of the Securities Act and any applicable U.S. state securities laws, and (c) has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and in investments of this type that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the Purchase and of making an informed investment decision.

4.2 Legends.

(a) The Investor agrees that all certificates or other instruments representing the Warrant will bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS.

 
 

 

THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT.  ANY SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.”

(b) In addition, the Investor agrees that all certificates or other instruments representing the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares will bear a legend substantially to the following effect:

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

THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE “SECURITIES ACT”), OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT WHILE A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING THERETO IS IN EFFECT UNDER SUCH ACT AND APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH ACT OR SUCH LAWS. EACH PURCHASER OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT IS NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER.  ANY TRANSFEREE OF THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF (1) REPRESENTS THAT IT IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT), (2) AGREES THAT IT WILL NOT OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH IS THEN EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (B) FOR SO LONG AS THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A, TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A “QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER” AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (C) TO THE ISSUER OR (D) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND (3) AGREES THAT IT WILL GIVE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT ARE TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

 
 

 

THIS INSTRUMENT IS ISSUED SUBJECT TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF A SECURITIES PURCHASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ISSUER OF THESE SECURITIES AND THE INVESTOR REFERRED TO THEREIN, A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE WITH THE ISSUER. THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS INSTRUMENT MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT.  ANY SALE OR OTHER TRANSFER NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SAID AGREEMENT WILL BE VOID.”

(c) In the event that any Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares (i) become registered under the Securities Act or (ii) are eligible to be transferred without restriction in accordance with Rule 144 or another exemption from registration under the Securities Act (other than Rule 144A), the Company shall issue new certificates or other instruments representing such Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares, which shall not contain the applicable legends in Sections 4.2(a) and (b) above; provided that the Investor surrenders to the Company the previously issued certificates or other instruments.

4.3 Certain Transactions. The Company will not merge or consolidate with, or sell, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its property or assets to, any other party unless the successor, transferee or lessee party (or its ultimate parent entity), as the case may be (if not the Company), expressly assumes the due and punctual performance and observance of each and every covenant, agreement and condition of this Agreement to be performed and observed by the Company.

4.4 Transfer of Purchased Securities and Warrant Shares; Restrictions on Exercise of the Warrant.  Subject to compliance with applicable securities laws, the Investor shall be permitted to transfer, sell, assign or otherwise dispose of (“Transfer”) all or a portion of the Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares at any time, and the Company shall take all steps as may be reasonably requested by the Investor to facilitate the Transfer of the Purchased Securities and the Warrant Shares; provided that the Investor shall not Transfer any Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares if such transfer would require the Company to be subject to the periodic reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company shall provide reasonable cooperation to facilitate any Transfers of the Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares, including, as is reasonable under the circumstances, by furnishing such information concerning the Company and its business as a proposed transferee may reasonably request (including such information as is required by Section 4.5(k)) and making management of the Company reasonably available to respond to questions of a proposed transferee in accordance with customary practice, subject in all cases to the proposed transferee agreeing to a customary confidentiality agreement.

 
 

 

4.5 Registration Rights.

(a) Unless and until the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall have no obligation to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.5 (other than Section 4.5(b)(iv)-(vi)); provided that the Company covenants and agrees that it shall comply with this Section 4.5 as soon as practicable after the date that it becomes subject to such reporting requirements.

(b) Registration.

(i) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Company covenants and agrees that as promptly as practicable after the date that the Company becomes subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and in any event no later than 30 days thereafter), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a Shelf Registration Statement covering all Registrable Securities (or otherwise designate an existing Shelf Registration Statement filed with the SEC to cover the Registrable Securities), and, to the extent the Shelf Registration Statement has not theretofore been declared effective or is not automatically effective upon such filing, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Shelf Registration Statement to be declared or become effective and to keep such Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective and in compliance with the Securities Act and usable for resale of such Registrable Securities for a period from the date of its initial effectiveness until such time as there are no Registrable Securities remaining (including by refiling such Shelf Registration Statement (or a new Shelf Registration Statement) if the initial Shelf Registration Statement expires).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company is not eligible to file a registration statement on Form S-3, then the Company shall not be obligated to file a Shelf Registration Statement unless and until requested to do so in writing by the Investor.

(ii) Any registration pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(i) shall be effected by means of a shelf registration on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act (a “Shelf Registration Statement”). If the Investor or any other Holder intends to distribute any Registrable Securities by means of an underwritten offering it shall promptly so advise the Company and the Company shall take all reasonable steps to facilitate such distribution, including the actions required pursuant to Section 4.5(d); provided that the Company shall not be required to facilitate an underwritten offering of Registrable Securities unless the expected gross proceeds from such offering exceed (i) 2% of the initial aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares if such initial aggregate liquidation preference is less than $2 billion and (ii) $200 million if the initial aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares is equal to or greater than $2 billion.  The lead underwriters in any such distribution shall be selected by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be distributed; provided that to the extent appropriate and permitted under applicable law, such Holders shall consider the qualifications of any broker-dealer Affiliate of the Company in selecting the lead underwriters in any such distribution.

 
 

 

(iii) The Company shall not be required to effect a registration (including a resale of Registrable Securities from an effective Shelf Registration Statement) or an underwritten offering pursuant to Section 4.5(b):  (A) with respect to securities that are not Registrable Securities; or (B) if the Company has notified the Investor and all other Holders that in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, it would be materially detrimental to the Company or its securityholders for such registration or underwritten offering to be effected at such time, in which event the Company shall have the right to defer such registration for a period of not more than 45 days after receipt of the request of the Investor or any other Holder; provided that such right to delay a registration or underwritten offering shall be exercised by the Company (1) only if the Company has generally exercised (or is concurrently exercising) similar black-out rights against holders of similar securities that have registration rights and (2) not more than three times in any 12-month period and not more than 90 days in the aggregate in any 12-month period.

(iv) If during any period when an effective Shelf Registration Statement is not available, the Company proposes to register any of its equity securities, other than a registration pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(i) or a Special Registration, and the registration form to be filed may be used for the registration or qualification for distribution of Registrable Securities, the Company will give prompt written notice to the Investor and all other Holders of its intention to effect such a registration (but in no event less than ten days prior to the anticipated filing date) and will include in such registration all Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein within ten business days after the date of the Company’s notice (a “Piggyback Registration”). Any such person that has made such a written request may withdraw its Registrable Securities from such Piggyback Registration by giving written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter, if any, on or before the fifth business day prior to the planned effective date of such Piggyback Registration. The Company may terminate or withdraw any registration under this Section 4.5(b)(iv) prior to the effectiveness of such registration, whether or not Investor or any other Holders have elected to include Registrable Securities in such registration.

(v) If the registration referred to in Section 4.5(b)(iv) is proposed to be underwritten, the Company will so advise Investor and all other Holders as a part of the written notice given pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(iv).  In such event, the right of Investor and all other Holders to registration pursuant to Section 4.5(b) will be conditioned upon such persons’ participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such person’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting if such securities are of the same class of securities as the securities to be offered in the underwritten offering, and each such person will (together with the Company and the other persons distributing their securities through such underwriting) enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company; provided that the Investor (as opposed to other Holders) shall not be required to indemnify any person in connection with any registration. If any participating person disapproves of the terms of the underwriting, such person may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company, the managing underwriters and the Investor (if the Investor is participating in the underwriting).

 
 

 

(vi) If either (x) the Company grants “piggyback” registration rights to one or more third parties to include their securities in an underwritten offering under the Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(ii) or (y) a Piggyback Registration under Section 4.5(b)(iv) relates to an underwritten offering on behalf of the Company, and in either case the managing underwriters advise the Company that in their reasonable opinion the number of securities requested to be included in such offering exceeds the number which can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of such offering (including an adverse effect on the per share offering price), the Company will include in such offering only such number of securities that in the reasonable opinion of such managing underwriters can be sold without adversely affecting the marketability of the offering (including an adverse effect on the per share offering price), which securities will be so included in the following order of priority: (A) first, in the case of a Piggyback Registration under Section 4.5(b)(iv), the securities the Company proposes to sell, (B) then the Registrable Securities of the Investor and all other Holders who have requested inclusion of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(ii) or Section 4.5(b)(iv), as applicable, pro rata on the basis of the aggregate number of such securities or shares owned by each such person and (C) lastly, any other securities of the Company that have been requested to be so included, subject to the terms of this Agreement; provided, however, that if the Company has, prior to the Signing Date, entered into an agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the order of priority contemplated hereby then it shall apply the order of priority in such conflicting agreement to the extent that it would otherwise result in a breach under such agreement.

(c) Expenses of Registration. All Registration Expenses incurred in connection with any registration, qualification or compliance hereunder shall be borne by the Company.  All Selling Expenses incurred in connection with any registrations hereunder shall be borne by the holders of the securities so registered pro rata on the basis of the aggregate offering or sale price of the securities so registered.

(d) Obligations of the Company. Whenever required to effect the registration of any Registrable Securities or facilitate the distribution of Registrable Securities pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall, as expeditiously as reasonably practicable:

(i) Prepare and file with the SEC a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment with respect to a proposed offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement, subject to Section 4.5(d), keep such registration statement effective and keep such prospectus supplement current until the securities described therein are no longer Registrable Securities.

 
 

 

(ii) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to the applicable registration statement and the prospectus or prospectus supplement used in connection with such registration statement as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement.

(iii) Furnish to the Holders and any underwriters such number of copies of the applicable registration statement and each such amendment and supplement thereto (including in each case all exhibits) and of a prospectus, including a preliminary prospectus, in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as they may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of Registrable Securities owned or to be distributed by them.

(iv) Use its reasonable best efforts to register and qualify the securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as shall be reasonably requested by the Holders or any managing underwriter(s), to keep such registration or qualification in effect for so long as such registration statement remains in effect, and to take any other action which may be reasonably necessary to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the securities owned by such Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do business or to file a general consent to service of process in any such states or jurisdictions.

(v) Notify each Holder of Registrable Securities at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Securities Act of the happening of any event as a result of which the applicable prospectus, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the circumstances then existing.

(vi) Give written notice to the Holders:

(A) when any registration statement filed pursuant to Section 4.5(a) or any amendment thereto has been filed with the SEC (except for any amendment effected by the filing of a document with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act) and when such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(B) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements to any registration statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

 
 

 

(C) of the issuance by the SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(D) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the applicable Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(E) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in any effective registration statement or the prospectus related to the registration statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading (which notice shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made); and

(F) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement contemplated by Section 4.5(d)(x) cease to be true and correct.

(vii) Use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance or obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement referred to in Section 4.5(d)(vi)(C) at the earliest practicable time.

(viii) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 4.5(d)(v) or 4.5(d)(vi)(E), promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to such registration statement or a supplement to the related prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to the Holders and any underwriters, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  If the Company notifies the Holders in accordance with Section 4.5(d)(vi)(E) to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Holders and any underwriters shall suspend use of such prospectus and use their reasonable best efforts to return to the Company all copies of such prospectus (at the Company’s expense) other than permanent file copies then in such Holders’ or underwriters’ possession.  The total number of days that any such suspension may be in effect in any 12-month period shall not exceed 90 days.

(ix) Use reasonable best efforts to procure the cooperation of the Company’s transfer agent in settling any offering or sale of Registrable Securities, including with respect to the transfer of physical stock certificates into book-entry form in accordance with any procedures reasonably requested by the Holders or any managing underwriter(s).

 
 

 

(x) If an underwritten offering is requested pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(ii), enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form, scope and substance and take all such other actions reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith or by the managing underwriter(s), if any, to expedite or facilitate the underwritten disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in connection therewith in any underwritten offering (including making members of management and executives of the Company available to participate in “road shows”, similar sales events and other marketing activities), (A) make such representations and warranties to the Holders that are selling stockholders and the managing underwriter(s), if any, with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, and the Shelf Registration Statement, prospectus and documents, if any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, in each case, in customary form, substance and scope, and, if true, confirm the same if and when requested, (B) use its reasonable best efforts to furnish the underwriters with opinions of counsel to the Company, addressed to the managing underwriter(s), if any, covering the matters customarily covered in such opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (C) use its reasonable best efforts to obtain “cold comfort” letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are included in the Shelf Registration Statement) who have certified the financial statements included in such Shelf Registration Statement, addressed to each of the managing underwriter(s), if any, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters, (D) if an underwriting agreement is entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and procedures customary in underwritten offerings (provided that the Investor shall not be obligated to provide any indemnity), and (E) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold in connection therewith, their counsel and the managing underwriter(s), if any, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.

(xi) Make available for inspection by a representative of Holders that are selling stockholders, the managing underwriter(s), if any, and any attorneys or accountants retained by such Holders or managing underwriter(s), at the offices where normally kept, during reasonable business hours, financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company to supply all information in each case reasonably requested (and of the type customarily provided in connection with due diligence conducted in connection with a registered public offering of securities) by any such representative, managing underwriter(s), attorney or accountant in connection with such Shelf Registration Statement.

(xii) Use reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on each national securities exchange on which similar securities issued by the Company are then listed or, if no similar securities issued by the Company are then listed on any national securities exchange, use its reasonable best efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities to be listed on such securities exchange as the Investor may designate.

 
 

 

(xiii) If requested by Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered and/or sold in connection therewith, or the managing underwriter(s), if any, promptly include in a prospectus supplement or amendment such information as the Holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being registered and/or sold in connection therewith or managing underwriter(s), if any, may reasonably request in order to permit the intended method of distribution of such securities and make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or such amendment as soon as practicable after the Company has received such request.

(xiv) Timely provide to its security holders earning statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.

(e) Suspension of Sales. Upon receipt of written notice from the Company that a registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement contains or may contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omits or may omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that circumstances exist that make inadvisable use of such registration statement, prospectus or prospectus supplement, the Investor and each Holder of Registrable Securities shall forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities until the Investor and/or Holder has received copies of a supplemented or amended prospectus or prospectus supplement, or until the Investor and/or such Holder is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the prospectus and, if applicable, prospectus supplement may be resumed, and, if so directed by the Company, the Investor and/or such Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in the Investor and/or such Holder’s possession, of the prospectus and, if applicable, prospectus supplement covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice.  The total number of days that any such suspension may be in effect in any 12-month period shall not exceed 90 days.

(f) Termination of Registration Rights. A Holder’s registration rights as to any securities held by such Holder (and its Affiliates, partners, members and former members) shall not be available unless such securities are Registrable Securities.

(g) Furnishing Information.

(i) Neither the Investor nor any Holder shall use any free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405) in connection with the sale of Registrable Securities without the prior written consent of the Company.

(ii) It shall be a condition precedent to the obligations of the Company to take any action pursuant to Section 4.5(d) that Investor and/or the selling Holders and the underwriters, if any, shall furnish to the Company such information regarding themselves, the Registrable Securities held by them and the intended method of disposition of such securities as shall be required to effect the registered offering of their Registrable Securities.

 
 

 

(h) Indemnification.

(i) The Company agrees to indemnify each Holder and, if a Holder is a person other than an individual, such Holder’s officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives and Affiliates, and each Person, if any, that controls a Holder within the meaning of the Securities Act (each, an “Indemnitee”), against any and all losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of attorneys and other professionals incurred in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs and expenses), joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of material fact contained in any registration statement, including any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any amendments or supplements thereto or any documents incorporated therein by reference or contained in any free writing prospectus (as such term is defined in Rule 405) prepared by the Company or authorized by it in writing for use by such Holder (or any amendment or supplement thereto); or any omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the Company shall not be liable to such Indemnitee in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage, liability (or action or proceeding in respect thereof) or expense arises out of or is based upon (A) an untrue statement or omission made in such registration statement, including any such preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any such amendments or supplements thereto or contained in any free writing prospectus (as such term is defined in Rule 405) prepared by the Company or authorized by it in writing for use by such Holder (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with information regarding such Indemnitee or its plan of distribution or ownership interests which was furnished in writing to the Company by such Indemnitee for use in connection with such registration statement, including any such preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or any such amendments or supplements thereto, or (B)  offers or sales effected by or on behalf of such Indemnitee “by means of” (as defined in Rule 159A) a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) that was not authorized in writing by the Company.

(ii) If the indemnification provided for in Section 4.5(h)(i) is unavailable to an Indemnitee with respect to any losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs or expenses referred to therein or is insufficient to hold the Indemnitee harmless as contemplated therein, then the Company, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnitee, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnitee as a result of such losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs or expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the Indemnitee, on the one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, actions, liabilities, costs or expenses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the Indemnitee, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other factors, whether the untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Indemnitee and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission;  the Company and each Holder agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4.5(h)(ii) were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 4.5(h)(i).  No Indemnitee guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from the Company if the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

 
 

 

(i) Assignment of Registration Rights. The rights of the Investor to registration of Registrable Securities pursuant to Section 4.5(b) may be assigned by the Investor to a transferee or assignee of Registrable Securities with a liquidation preference or, in the case of the Warrant, the liquidation preference of the underlying shares of Warrant Preferred Stock, no less than an amount equal to (i) 2% of the initial aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares if such initial aggregate liquidation preference is less than $2 billion and (ii) $200 million if the initial aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares is equal to or greater than $2 billion; provided, however, the transferor shall, within ten days after such transfer, furnish to the Company written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the number and type of Registrable Securities that are being assigned.

(j) Clear Market. With respect to any underwritten offering of Registrable Securities by the Investor or other Holders pursuant to this Section 4.5, the Company agrees not to effect (other than pursuant to such registration or pursuant to a Special Registration) any public sale or distribution, or to file any Shelf Registration Statement (other than such registration or a Special Registration) covering any preferred stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for preferred stock of the Company, during the period not to exceed ten days prior and 60 days following the effective date of such offering or such longer period up to 90 days as may be requested by the managing underwriter for such underwritten offering.  The Company also agrees to cause such of its directors and senior executive officers to execute and deliver customary lock-up agreements in such form and for such time period up to 90 days as may be requested by the managing underwriter.  “Special Registration” means the registration of

(A) equity securities and/or options or other rights in respect thereof solely registered on Form S­4 or Form S-8 (or successor form) or (B) shares of equity securities and/or options or other rights in respect thereof to be offered to directors, members of management, employees, consultants, customers, lenders or vendors of the Company or Company Subsidiaries or in connection with dividend reinvestment plans.

(k) Rule 144; Rule 144A. With a view to making available to the Investor and Holders the benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company agrees to use its reasonable best efforts to:

 
 

 

(i) make and keep public information available, as those terms are understood and defined in Rule 144(c)(1) or any similar or analogous rule promulgated under the Securities Act, at all times after the Signing Date;

(ii) (A) file with the SEC, in a timely manner, all reports and other documents required of the Company under the Exchange Act, and (B) if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, make available, upon the request of any Holder, such information necessary to permit sales pursuant to Rule 144A (including the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act);

(iii) so long as the Investor or a Holder owns any Registrable Securities, furnish to the Investor or such Holder forthwith upon request: a written statement by the Company as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and of the Exchange Act; a copy of the most recent annual or quarterly report of the Company; and such other reports and documents as the Investor or Holder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation of the SEC allowing it to sell any such securities to the public without registration; and

(iv) take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act.

(l) As used in this Section 4.5, the following terms shall have the following respective meanings:

(i) “Holder” means the Investor and any other holder of Registrable Securities to whom the registration rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred in compliance with Section 4.5(h) hereof.

(ii) “Holders’ Counsel” means one counsel for the selling Holders chosen by Holders holding a majority interest in the Registrable Securities being registered.

(iii) “Register,” “registered,” and “registration” shall refer to a registration effected by preparing and (A) filing a registration statement or amendment thereto in compliance with the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations thereunder, and the declaration or ordering of effectiveness of such registration statement or amendment thereto or (B) filing a prospectus and/or prospectus supplement in respect of an appropriate effective registration statement on Form S-3.

(iv) “Registrable Securities” means (A) all Preferred Shares, (B) the Warrant (subject to Section 4.5(q)) and (C) any equity securities issued or issuable directly or indirectly with respect to the securities referred to in the foregoing clauses (A) or (B) by way of conversion, exercise or exchange thereof, including the Warrant Shares, or share dividend or share split or in connection with a combination of shares, recapitalization, reclassification, merger, amalgamation, arrangement, consolidation or other reorganization, provided that, once issued, such securities will not be Registrable Securities when (1) they are sold pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, (2) except as provided below in Section 4.5(p), they may be sold pursuant to Rule 144 without limitation thereunder on volume or manner of sale, (3) they shall have ceased to be outstanding or (4) they have been sold in a private transaction in which the transferor's rights under this Agreement are not assigned to the transferee of the securities. No Registrable Securities may be registered under more than one registration statement at any one time.

 
 

 

(v) “Registration Expenses” mean all expenses incurred by the Company in effecting any registration pursuant to this Agreement (whether or not any registration or prospectus becomes effective or final) or otherwise complying with its obligations under this Section 4.5, including all registration, filing and listing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, blue sky fees and expenses, expenses incurred in connection with any “road show”, the reasonable fees and disbursements of Holders’ Counsel, and expenses of the Company’s independent accountants in connection with any regular or special reviews or audits incident to or required by any such registration, but shall not include Selling Expenses.

(vi) “Rule 144”, “Rule 144A”, “Rule 159A”, “Rule 405” and “Rule 415” mean, in each case, such rule promulgated under the Securities Act (or any successor provision), as the same shall be amended from time to time.

(vii) “Selling Expenses” mean all discounts, selling commissions and stock transfer taxes applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities and fees and disbursements of counsel for any Holder (other than the fees and disbursements of Holders’ Counsel included in Registration Expenses).

(m) At any time, any holder of Securities (including any Holder) may elect to forfeit its rights set forth in this Section 4.5 from that date forward; provided, that a Holder forfeiting such rights shall nonetheless be entitled to participate under Section 4.5(b)(iv) – (vi) in any Pending Underwritten Offering to the same extent that such Holder would have been entitled to if the holder had not withdrawn; and provided, further, that no such forfeiture shall terminate a Holder’s rights or obligations under Section 4.5(g) with respect to any prior registration or Pending Underwritten Offering.  “Pending Underwritten Offering” means, with respect to any Holder forfeiting its rights pursuant to this Section 4.5(m), any underwritten offering of Registrable Securities in which such Holder has advised the Company of its intent to register its Registrable Securities either pursuant to Section 4.5(b)(ii) or 4.5(b)(iv) prior to the date of such Holder’s forfeiture.

(n) Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge that there would be no adequate remedy at law if the Company fails to perform any of its obligations under this Section 4.5 and that the Investor and the Holders from time to time may be irreparably harmed by any such failure, and accordingly agree that the Investor and such Holders, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, to the fullest extent permitted and enforceable under applicable law shall be entitled to compel specific performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 4.5 in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Section 4.5.

 
 

 

(o) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not, on or after the Signing Date, enter into any agreement with respect to its securities that may impair the rights granted to the Investor and the Holders under this Section 4.5 or that otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof in any manner that may impair the rights granted to the Investor and the Holders under this Section 4.5. In the event the Company has, prior to the Signing Date, entered into any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Investor and the Holders under this Section 4.5 (including agreements that are inconsistent with the order of priority contemplated by Section 4.5(b)(vi)) or that may otherwise conflict with the provisions hereof, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to amend such agreements to ensure they are consistent with the provisions of this Section 4.5.

(p) Certain Offerings by the Investor. In the case of any securities held by the Investor that cease to be Registrable Securities solely by reason of clause (2) in the definition of “Registrable Securities,” the provisions of Sections 4.5(b)(ii), clauses (iv), (ix) and (x)-(xii) of Section 4.5(d), Section 4.5(h) and Section 4.5(j) shall continue to apply until such securities otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities.  In any such case, an “underwritten” offering or other disposition shall include any distribution of such securities on behalf of the Investor by one or more broker-dealers, an “underwriting agreement” shall include any purchase agreement entered into by such broker-dealers, and any “registration statement” or “prospectus” shall include any offering document approved by the Company and used in connection with such distribution.

(q) Registered Sales of the Warrant. The Holders agree to sell the Warrant or any portion thereof under the Shelf Registration Statement only beginning 30 days after notifying the Company of any such sale, during which 30-day period the Investor and all Holders of the Warrant shall take reasonable steps to agree to revisions to the Warrant to permit a public distribution of the Warrant, including entering into a warrant agreement and appointing a warrant agent.

4.6 Depositary Shares. Upon request by the Investor at any time following the Closing Date, the Company shall promptly enter into a depositary arrangement, pursuant to customary agreements reasonably satisfactory to the Investor and with a depositary reasonably acceptable to the Investor, pursuant to which the Preferred Shares or the Warrant Shares may be deposited and depositary shares, each representing a fraction of a Preferred Share or Warrant Share, as applicable, as specified by the Investor, may be issued. From and after the execution of any such depositary arrangement, and the deposit of any Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares, as applicable, pursuant thereto, the depositary shares issued pursuant thereto shall be deemed “Preferred Shares”, “Warrant Shares” and, as applicable, “Registrable Securities” for purposes of this Agreement.

 
 

 

4.7 Restriction on Dividends and Repurchases.

(a) Prior to the earlier of (x) the third anniversary of the Closing Date and (y) the date on which all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares have been redeemed in whole or the Investor has transferred all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares to third parties which are not Affiliates of the Investor, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall, without the consent of the Investor, declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Company or any Company Subsidiary (other than (i) regular quarterly cash dividends of not more than the amount of the last quarterly cash dividend per share declared or, if lower, announced to its holders of Common Stock an intention to declare, on the Common Stock prior to November 17, 2008, as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar transaction, (ii) dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock, (iii) regular dividends on shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms thereof and which are permitted under the terms of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares, (iv) dividends or distributions by any wholly-owned Company Subsidiary or (v) dividends or distributions by any Company Subsidiary required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to November 17, 2008).

(b) During the period beginning on the third anniversary of the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date and (ii) the date on which all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares have been redeemed in whole or the Investor has transferred all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares to third parties which are not Affiliates of the Investor, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall, without the consent of the Investor, (A) pay any per share dividend or distribution on capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Company at a per annum rate that is in excess of 103% of the aggregate per share dividends and distributions for the immediately prior fiscal year (other than regular dividends on shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms thereof and which are permitted under the terms of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares); provided that no increase in the aggregate amount of dividends or distributions on Common Stock shall be permitted as a result of any dividends or distributions paid in shares of Common Stock, any stock split or any similar transaction or (B) pay aggregate dividends or distributions on capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of any Company Subsidiary that is in excess of 103% of the aggregate dividends and distributions paid for the immediately prior fiscal year (other than in the case of this clause (B), (1) regular dividends on shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms thereof and which are permitted under the terms of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares, (2) dividends or distributions by any wholly-owned Company Subsidiary, (3) dividends or distributions by any Company Subsidiary required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to November 17, 2008) or (4) dividends or distributions on newly issued shares of capital stock for cash or other property.

(c) Prior to the earlier of (x) the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date and (y) the date on which all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares have been redeemed in whole or the Investor has transferred all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares to third parties which are not Affiliates of the Investor, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall, without the consent of the Investor, redeem, purchase or acquire any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any trust preferred securities issued by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, other than (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares, (ii) in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, (iii) the acquisition by the Company or any of the Company Subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Company or any other Company Subsidiary), including as trustees or custodians, (iv) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock or trust preferred securities for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case set forth in this clause (iv), solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock (clauses (ii) and (iii), collectively, the “Permitted Repurchases”), (v) redemptions of securities held by the Company or any wholly-owned Company Subsidiary or (vi) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of any Company Subsidiary required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to November 17, 2008.

 
 

 

(d) Until such time as the Investor ceases to own any Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares, the Company shall not repurchase any Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares from any holder thereof, whether by means of open market purchase, negotiated transaction, or otherwise, other than Permitted Repurchases, unless it offers to repurchase a ratable portion of the Preferred Shares or Warrant Shares, as the case may be, then held by the Investor on the same terms and conditions.

(e) During the period beginning on the tenth anniversary of the Closing and ending on the date on which all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares have been redeemed in whole or the Investor has transferred all of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares to third parties which are not Affiliates of the Investor, neither the Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall, without the consent of the Investor, (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution on capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Company or any Company Subsidiary; or (ii) redeem, purchase or acquire any shares of Common Stock or other capital stock or other equity securities of any kind of the Company or any Company Subsidiary, or any trust preferred securities issued by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, other than (A) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of the Preferred Shares and Warrant Shares, (B) regular dividends on shares of preferred stock in accordance with the terms thereof and which are permitted under the terms of the Preferred Shares and the Warrant Shares, or (C) dividends or distributions by any wholly-owned Company Subsidiary.

(f) “Junior Stock” means Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Company the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to the Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Company the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to the Preferred Shares as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).

 
 

 

4.8 Executive Compensation. Until such time as the Investor ceases to own any debt or equity securities of the Company acquired pursuant to this Agreement or the Warrant, the Company shall take all necessary action to ensure that its Benefit Plans with respect to its Senior Executive Officers comply in all respects with Section 111(b) of the EESA as implemented by any guidance or regulation thereunder that has been issued and is in effect as of the Closing Date, and shall not adopt any new Benefit Plan with respect to its Senior Executive Officers that does not comply therewith.  “Senior Executive Officers” means the Company's "senior executive officers" as defined in subsection 111(b)(3) of the EESA and regulations issued thereunder, including the rules set forth in 31 C.F.R. Part 30.

4.9 Related Party Transactions. Until such time as the Investor ceases to own any Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares, the Company and the Company Subsidiaries shall not enter into transactions with Affiliates or related persons (within the meaning of Item 404 under the SEC’s Regulation S-K) unless (i) such transactions are on terms no less favorable to the Company and the Company Subsidiaries than could be obtained from an unaffiliated third party, and (ii) have been approved by the audit committee of the Board of Directors or comparable body of independent directors of the Company.

4.10 Bank and Thrift Holding Company Status. If the Company is a Bank Holding Company or a Savings and Loan Holding Company on the Signing Date, then the Company shall maintain its status as a Bank Holding Company or Savings and Loan Holding Company, as the case may be, for as long as the Investor owns any Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares.  The Company shall redeem all Purchased Securities and Warrant Shares held by the Investor prior to terminating its status as a Bank Holding Company or Savings and Loan Holding Company, as applicable.  “Bank Holding Company” means a company registered as such with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”) pursuant to 12 U.S.C. Sec.1842 and the regulations of the Federal Reserve promulgated thereunder.  “Savings and Loan Holding Company” means a company registered as such with the Office of Thrift Supervision pursuant to 12 U.S.C. Sec.1467(a) and the regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision promulgated thereunder.

4.11 Predominantly Financial. For as long as the Investor owns any Purchased Securities or Warrant Shares, the Company, to the extent it is not itself an insured depository institution, agrees to remain predominantly engaged in financial activities.  A company is predominantly engaged in financial activities if the annual gross revenues derived by the company and all subsidiaries of the company (excluding revenues derived from subsidiary depository institutions), on a consolidated basis, from engaging in activities that are financial in nature or are incidental to a financial activity under subsection (k) of Section 4 of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)) represent at least 85 percent of the consolidated annual gross revenues of the company.

 
 

 

Article V
Miscellaneous

5.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

(a) by either the Investor or the Company if the Closing shall not have occurred by the 30th calendar day following the Signing Date; provided, however, that in the event the Closing has not occurred by such 30th calendar day, the parties will consult in good faith to determine whether to extend the term of this Agreement, it being understood that the parties shall be required to consult only until the fifth day after such 30th calendar day and not be under any obligation to extend the term of this Agreement thereafter; provided, further, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 5.1(a) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation or warranty or failure to perform any obligation under this Agreement shall have caused or resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on or prior to such date; or

(b) by either the Investor or the Company in the event that any Governmental Entity shall have issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; or

(c) by the mutual written consent of the Investor and the Company.

In the event of termination of this Agreement as provided in this Section 5.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no liability on the part of either party hereto except that nothing herein shall relieve either party from liability for any breach of this Agreement.

5.2 Survival of Representations and Warranties. All covenants and agreements, other than those which by their terms apply in whole or in part after the Closing, shall terminate as of the Closing. The representations and warranties of the Company made herein or in any certificates delivered in connection with the Closing shall survive the Closing without limitation.

5.3 Amendment. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement will be effective unless made in writing and signed by an officer or a duly authorized representative of each party; provided that the Investor may unilaterally amend any provision of this Agreement to the extent required to comply with any changes after the Signing Date in applicable federal statutes.  No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right, power or privilege.  The rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative of any rights or remedies provided by law.

5.4 Waiver of Conditions. The conditions to each party’s obligation to consummate the Purchase are for the sole benefit of such party and may be waived by such party in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable law. No waiver will be effective unless it is in a writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the waiving party that makes express reference to the provision or provisions subject to such waiver.

 
 

 

5.5 Governing Law: Submission to Jurisdiction, Etc. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State. Each of the parties hereto agrees (a) to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and the United States Court of Federal Claims for any and all civil actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, and

(b) that notice may be served upon (i) the Company at the address and in the manner set forth for notices to the Company in Section 5.6 and (ii) the Investor in accordance with federal law.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the parties hereto hereby unconditionally waives trial by jury in any civil legal action or proceeding relating to this Agreement or the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

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

If to the Investor:

United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW,
Room 2312
Washington, D.C. 20220
Attention: Assistant General Counsel (Banking and Finance) Facsimile: (202) 622-1974

5.7 Definitions

(a) When a reference is made in this Agreement to a subsidiary of a person, the term “subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other entity (x) of which such person or a subsidiary of such person is a general partner or (y) of which a majority of the voting securities or other voting interests, or a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or persons performing similar functions with respect to such entity, is directly or indirectly owned by such person and/or one or more subsidiaries thereof.

(b) The term “Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such other person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”) when used with respect to any person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to cause the direction of management and/or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities by contract or otherwise.

 
 

 

(c) The terms “knowledge of the Company” or “Company’s knowledge” mean the actual knowledge after reasonable and due inquiry of the “officers” (as such term is defined in Rule 3b-2 under the Exchange Act, but excluding any Vice President or Secretary) of the Company.

5.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation nor liability arising hereunder or by reason hereof shall be assignable by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party, and any attempt to assign any right, remedy, obligation or liability hereunder without such consent shall be void, except (a) an assignment, in the case of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders (a “Business Combination”) where such party is not the surviving entity, or a sale of substantially all of its assets, to the entity which is the survivor of such Business Combination or the purchaser in such sale and (b) as provided in Sections 3.5 and 4.5.

5.9 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement or the Warrant, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination, the parties shall negotiate in good faith in an effort to agree upon a suitable and equitable substitute provision to effect the original intent of the parties.

5.10 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Nothing contained in this Agreement, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any person or entity other than the Company and the Investor any benefit, right or remedies, except that the provisions of Section 4.5 shall inure to the benefit of the persons referred to in that Section.

* * *

 
 

 

ANNEX A

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS FOR PREFERRED STOCK

[SEE ATTACHED]

 
 

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

OF

FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES A

OF

SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia (the “Issuer”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, does hereby certify:

The board of directors of the Issuer (the “Board of Directors”) or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, adopted the following resolution effective on July 13, 2009 creating a series of 12,900 shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer designated as “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A”.

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Issuer be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Issuer a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A” (the “Designated Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 12,900.

Part 2. Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Schedule A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

Part. 3. Definitions. The following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the Standard Provisions in Schedule A hereto) as defined below:

(a)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer.

(b)           “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

 
 

 

(c)           “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Issuer the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

(d)           “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

(e)           “Minimum Amount” means $3,225,000.

(f)           “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Issuer (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively).

(g)           “Signing Date” means the Original Issue Date.

Part. 4. Certain Voting Matters.  Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 
 

 

Schedule A

STANDARD PROVISIONS

Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Issuer.

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred

Stock:

(a)           “Applicable Dividend Rate” means (i) during the period from the Original Issue

Date to, but excluding, the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 5% per annum and (ii) from and after the first day of the first Dividend Period commencing on or after the fifth anniversary of the Original Issue Date, 9% per annum.

(b)           “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Issuer as defined in Section 3 (q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

(c)           “Business Combination” means a merger, consolidation, statutory share

exchange or similar transaction that requires the approval of the Issuer’s stockholders.

(d)           “Business Day” means any day except Saturday, Sunday and any day on which

banking institutions in the State of New York generally are authorized or required by law or other governmental actions to close.

(e)           “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Issuer, as they may be amended from time to

time.

(f)           “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.

(g)           “Charter” means the Issuer’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of

association, or similar organizational document.

(h)           “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(i)           “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(j)           “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

 
 

 

(k)           “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first issued.

(l)           “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

(m)           “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Issuer, including the Designated Preferred Stock.

(n)           “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Issuer to persons other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Issuer at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Issuer’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).

(o)           “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.

(p)           “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

(q)           “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.

Section 3. Dividends.

(a)           Rate. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Dividend Rate on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

 
 

 

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Issuer on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).

(b)           Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (iii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock.

 
 

 

When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Issuer will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 4. Liquidation Rights.

(a)           Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Issuer, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Issuer, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Issuer ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).

(b)           Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

 
 

 

(c)           Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Issuer (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

(d)           Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

Section 5. Redemption.

(a)           Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).

 
 

 

The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Issuer or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.

(b)           No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.

(c)           Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Issuer. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

(d)           Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.

 
 

 

(e)           Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Issuer, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Issuer, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Issuer for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

(f)           Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).

Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.

Section 7. Voting Rights.

(a)           General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

(b)           Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the Preferred Directors and each a Preferred Director) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 
 

 

(c)           Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

(i)           Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Issuer ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer;

(ii)           Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock; or

(iii)           Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Issuer with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Issuer is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

 
 

 

provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Issuer to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.

(d)           Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.

(e)           Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Issuer nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

 
 

 

Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Issuer, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Issuer shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Issuer. The Issuer shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Issuer of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Issuer.

Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

 
 

 

ANNEX B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS
FOR WARRANT PREFERRED STOCK

[SEE ATTACHED]

 
 

 

CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS

OF

FIXED RATE CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES B

OF

SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Georgia (the “Issuer”), in accordance with the provisions of Section 14-2-602 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, does hereby certify:

The board of directors of the Issuer (the “Board of Directors”) or an applicable committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, adopted the following resolution effective on July 13, 2009 creating a series of 645.00645 shares of Preferred Stock of the Issuer designated as “Fixed Rate  Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B”.

RESOLVED, that pursuant to the provisions of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of the Issuer and applicable law, a series of Preferred Stock, no par value per share, of the Issuer be and hereby is created, and that the designation and number of shares of such series, and the voting and other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, are as follows:

Part 1. Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of preferred stock of the Issuer a series of preferred stock designated as the “Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B” (the “Designated Preferred  Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be 645.00645.

Part 2. Standard Provisions. The Standard Provisions contained in Schedule A attached hereto are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Certificate of Designations to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

Part. 3. Definitions. The following terms are used in this Certificate of Designations (including the Standard Provisions in Schedule A hereto) as defined below:

(a)           “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Issuer.

(b)           “Dividend Payment Date” means February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

 
 

 

(c)           “Junior Stock” means the Common Stock and any other class or series of stock of the Issuer the terms of which expressly provide that it ranks junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

(d)           “Liquidation Amount” means $1,000 per share of Designated Preferred Stock.

(e)           “Minimum Amount” means $161,250.

(f)            “Parity Stock” means any class or series of stock of the Issuer (other than Designated Preferred Stock) the terms of which do not expressly provide that such class or series will rank senior or junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to dividend rights and/or as to rights on liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer (in each case without regard to whether dividends accrue cumulatively or non-cumulatively). Without limiting the foregoing, Parity Stock shall include the Issuer’s UST Preferred Stock.

(g)           “Signing Date” means the Original Issue Date.

(h)           “UST Preferred Stock” means the Issuer’s Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A.

Part. 4. Certain Voting Matters.  Holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote for each such share on any matter on which holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, including any action by written consent.

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 
 

 

Schedule A

STANDARD PROVISIONS

Section 1. General Matters. Each share of Designated Preferred Stock shall be identical in all respects to every other share of Designated Preferred Stock. The Designated Preferred Stock shall be perpetual, subject to the provisions of Section 5 of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations. The Designated Preferred Stock shall rank equally with Parity Stock and shall rank senior to Junior Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Issuer.

Section 2. Standard Definitions. As used herein with respect to Designated Preferred Stock:

(a)           “Appropriate Federal Banking Agency” means the “appropriate Federal banking agency” with respect to the Issuer as defined in Section 3 (q) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. Section 1813(q)), or any successor provision.

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

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

(d)           “Bylaws” means the bylaws of the Issuer, as they may be amended from time to time.

(e)           “Certificate of Designations” means the Certificate of Designations or comparable instrument relating to the Designated Preferred Stock, of which these Standard Provisions form a part, as it may be amended from time to time.

(f)           “Charter” means the Issuer’s certificate or articles of incorporation, articles of association, or similar organizational document.

(g)           “Dividend Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(h)           “Dividend Record Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(i)           “Liquidation Preference” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(a).

(j)           “Original Issue Date” means the date on which shares of Designated Preferred Stock are first issued.

(k)           “Preferred Director” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(b).

 
 

 

(l)             “Preferred Stock” means any and all series of preferred stock of the Issuer, including the Designated Preferred Stock.

(m)           “Qualified Equity Offering” means the sale and issuance for cash by the Issuer to persons other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries after the Original Issue Date of shares of perpetual Preferred Stock, Common Stock or any combination of such stock, that, in each case, qualify as and may be included in Tier 1 capital of the Issuer at the time of issuance under the applicable risk-based capital guidelines of the Issuer’s Appropriate Federal Banking Agency (other than any such sales and issuances made pursuant to agreements or arrangements entered into, or pursuant to financing plans which were publicly announced, on or prior to November 17, 2008).

(n)           “Standard Provisions” mean these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations relating to the Designated Preferred Stock.

(o)           “Successor Preferred Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 5(a).

(p)           “Voting Parity Stock” means, with regard to any matter as to which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as specified in Sections 7(a) and 7(b) of these Standard Provisions that form a part of the Certificate of Designations, any and all series of Parity Stock upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter.

Section 3. Dividends.

(a)           Rate. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, on each share of Designated Preferred Stock if, as and when declared by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, but only out of assets legally available therefor, cumulative cash dividends with respect to each Dividend Period (as defined below) at a per annum rate of 9.0% on (i) the Liquidation Amount per share of Designated Preferred Stock and (ii) the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends for any prior Dividend Period on such share of Designated Preferred Stock, if any. Such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the Original Issue Date, shall compound on each subsequent Dividend Payment Date (i.e., no dividends shall accrue on other dividends unless and until the first Dividend Payment Date for such other dividends has passed without such other dividends having been paid on such date) and shall be payable quarterly in arrears on each Dividend Payment Date, commencing with the first such Dividend Payment Date to occur at least 20 calendar days after the Original Issue Date. In the event that any Dividend Payment Date would otherwise fall on a day that is not a Business Day, the dividend payment due on that date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day and no additional dividends will accrue as a result of that postponement. The period from and including any Dividend Payment Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date is a “Dividend Period”, provided that the initial Dividend Period shall be the period from and including the Original Issue Date to, but excluding, the next Dividend Payment Date.

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock in respect of any Dividend Period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. The amount of dividends payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any date prior to the end of a Dividend Period, and for the initial Dividend Period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, and actual days elapsed over a 30-day month.

 
 

 

Dividends that are payable on Designated Preferred Stock on any Dividend Payment Date will be payable to holders of record of Designated Preferred Stock as they appear on the stock register of the Issuer on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day immediately preceding such Dividend Payment Date or such other record date fixed by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors that is not more than 60 nor less than 10 days prior to such Dividend Payment Date (each, a “Dividend Record Date”). Any such day that is a Dividend Record Date shall be a Dividend Record Date whether or not such day is a Business Day.

Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to any dividends, whether payable in cash, securities or other property, other than dividends (if any) declared and payable on Designated Preferred Stock as specified in this Section 3 (subject to the other provisions of the Certificate of Designations).

(b)           Priority of Dividends. So long as any share of Designated Preferred Stock remains outstanding, no dividend or distribution shall be declared or paid on the Common Stock or any other shares of Junior Stock (other than dividends payable solely in shares of Common Stock) or Parity Stock, subject to the immediately following paragraph in the case of Parity Stock, and no Common Stock, Junior Stock or Parity Stock shall be, directly or indirectly, purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries unless all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been or are contemporaneously declared and paid in full (or have been declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside for the benefit of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock on the applicable record date). The foregoing limitation shall not apply to (i) redemptions, purchases or other acquisitions of shares of Common Stock or other Junior Stock in connection with the administration of any employee benefit plan in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; (ii) the acquisition by the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries of record ownership in Junior Stock or Parity Stock for the beneficial ownership of any other persons (other than the Issuer or any of its subsidiaries), including as trustees or custodians; and (iii) the exchange or conversion of Junior Stock for or into other Junior Stock or of Parity Stock for or into other Parity Stock (with the same or lesser aggregate liquidation amount) or Junior Stock, in each case, solely to the extent required pursuant to binding contractual agreements entered into prior to the Signing Date or any subsequent agreement for the accelerated exercise, settlement or exchange thereof for Common Stock.

 
 

 

When dividends are not paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for payment thereof set aside for the benefit of the holders thereof on the applicable record date) on any Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within a Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) in full upon Designated Preferred Stock and any shares of Parity Stock, all dividends declared on Designated Preferred Stock and all such Parity Stock and payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) shall be declared pro rata so that the respective amounts of such dividends declared shall bear the same ratio to each other as all accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) and all Parity Stock payable on such Dividend Payment Date (or, in the case of Parity Stock having dividend payment dates different from the Dividend Payment Dates, on a dividend payment date falling within the Dividend Period related to such Dividend Payment Date) (subject to their having been declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors out of legally available funds and including, in the case of Parity Stock that bears cumulative dividends, all accrued but unpaid dividends) bear to each other. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors determines not to pay any dividend or a full dividend on a Dividend Payment Date, the Issuer will provide written notice to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock prior to such Dividend Payment Date.

Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, such dividends (payable in cash, securities or other property) as may be determined by the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors may be declared and paid on any securities, including Common Stock and other Junior Stock, from time to time out of any funds legally available for such payment, and holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividends.

Section 4. Liquidation Rights.

(a)           Voluntary or Involuntary Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Issuer, whether voluntary or involuntary, holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive for each share of Designated Preferred Stock, out of the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof (whether capital or surplus) available for distribution to stockholders of the Issuer, subject to the rights of any creditors of the Issuer, before any distribution of such assets or proceeds is made to or set aside for the holders of Common Stock and any other stock of the Issuer ranking junior to Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, payment in full in an amount equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) the amount of any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), whether or not declared, to the date of payment (such amounts collectively, the “Liquidation Preference”).

(b)           Partial Payment. If in any distribution described in Section 4(a) above the assets of the Issuer or proceeds thereof are not sufficient to pay in full the amounts payable with respect to all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution, holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the holders of such other stock shall share ratably in any such distribution in proportion to the full respective distributions to which they are entitled.

(c)           Residual Distributions. If the Liquidation Preference has been paid in full to all holders of Designated Preferred Stock and the corresponding amounts payable with respect of any other stock of the Issuer ranking equally with Designated Preferred Stock as to such distribution has been paid in full, the holders of other stock of the Issuer shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the Issuer (or proceeds thereof) according to their respective rights and preferences.

 
 

 

(d)           Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets Not Liquidation. For purposes of this Section 4, the merger or consolidation of the Issuer with any other corporation or other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Designated Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or other property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange (for cash, securities or other property) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Issuer, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer.

Section 5. Redemption.

(a)           Optional Redemption. Except as provided below, the Designated Preferred Stock may not be redeemed prior to the later of (i) first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date; and (ii) the date on which all outstanding shares of UST Preferred Stock have been redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer. On or after the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, out of funds legally available therefor, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the first Dividend Payment Date falling on or after the third anniversary of the Original Issue Date, the Issuer, at its option, subject to the approval of the Appropriate Federal Banking Agency and subject to the requirement that all outstanding shares of UST Preferred Stock shall previously have been redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer, may redeem, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, upon notice given as provided in Section 5(c) below, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the Liquidation Amount per share and (ii) except as otherwise provided below, any accrued and unpaid dividends (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount) (regardless of whether any dividends are actually declared) to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption; provided that (x) the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) has received aggregate gross proceeds of not less than the Minimum Amount (plus the “Minimum Amount” as defined in the relevant certificate of designations for each other outstanding series of preferred stock of such successor that was originally issued to the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Successor Preferred Stock”) in connection with the Troubled Asset Relief Program Capital Purchase Program) from one or more Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor), and (y) the aggregate redemption price of the Designated Preferred Stock (and any Successor Preferred Stock) redeemed pursuant to this paragraph may not exceed the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Issuer (or any successor by Business Combination) from such Qualified Equity Offerings (including Qualified Equity Offerings of such successor).

 
 

 

The redemption price for any shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be payable on the redemption date to the holder of such shares against surrender of the certificate(s) evidencing such shares to the Issuer or its agent. Any declared but unpaid dividends payable on a redemption date that occurs subsequent to the Dividend Record Date for a Dividend Period shall not be paid to the holder entitled to receive the redemption price on the redemption date, but rather shall be paid to the holder of record of the redeemed shares on such Dividend Record Date relating to the Dividend Payment Date as provided in Section 3 above.

(b)           No Sinking Fund. The Designated Preferred Stock will not be subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock will have no right to require redemption or repurchase of any shares of Designated Preferred Stock.

(c)           Notice of Redemption. Notice of every redemption of shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be given by first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the holders of record of the shares to be redeemed at their respective last addresses appearing on the books of the Issuer. Such mailing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. Any notice mailed as provided in this Subsection shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing thereof, to any holder of shares of Designated Preferred Stock designated for redemption shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other shares of Designated Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility. Each notice of redemption given to a holder shall state: (1) the redemption date; (2) the number of shares of Designated Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (3) the redemption price; and (4) the place or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price.

(d)           Partial Redemption. In case of any redemption of part of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or in such other manner as the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof may determine to be fair and equitable. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If fewer than all the shares represented by any certificate are redeemed, a new certificate shall be issued representing the unredeemed shares without charge to the holder thereof.

(e)           Effectiveness of Redemption. If notice of redemption has been duly given and if on or before the redemption date specified in the notice all funds necessary for the redemption have been deposited by the Issuer, in trust for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, with a bank or trust company doing business in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of at least $500 million and selected by the Board of Directors, so as to be and continue to be available solely therefor, then, notwithstanding that any certificate for any share so called for redemption has not been surrendered for cancellation, on and after the redemption date dividends shall cease to accrue on all shares so called for redemption, all shares so called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith on such redemption date cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders thereof to receive the amount payable on such redemption from such bank or trust company, without interest. Any funds unclaimed at the end of three years from the redemption date shall, to the extent permitted by law, be released to the Issuer, after which time the holders of the shares so called for redemption shall look only to the Issuer for payment of the redemption price of such shares.

 
 

 

(f)           Status of Redeemed Shares. Shares of Designated Preferred Stock that are redeemed, repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Issuer shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock (provided that any such cancelled shares of Designated Preferred Stock may be reissued only as shares of any series of Preferred Stock other than Designated Preferred Stock).

Section 6. Conversion. Holders of Designated Preferred Stock shares shall have no right to exchange or convert such shares into any other securities.

Section 7. Voting Rights.

(a)           General. The holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any voting rights except as set forth below or as otherwise from time to time required by law.

(b)           Preferred Stock Directors. Whenever, at any time or times, dividends payable on the shares of Designated Preferred Stock have not been paid for an aggregate of six quarterly Dividend Periods or more, whether or not consecutive, the authorized number of directors of the Issuer shall automatically be increased by two and the holders of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have the right, with holders of shares of any one or more other classes or series of Voting Parity Stock outstanding at the time, voting together as a class, to elect two directors (hereinafter the Preferred Directors and each a Preferred Director) to fill such newly created directorships at the Issuer’s next annual meeting of stockholders (or at a special meeting called for that purpose prior to such next annual meeting) and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders until all accrued and unpaid dividends for all past Dividend Periods, including the latest completed Dividend Period (including, if applicable as provided in Section 3(a) above, dividends on such amount), on all outstanding shares of Designated Preferred Stock have been declared and paid in full at which time such right shall terminate with respect to the Designated Preferred Stock, except as herein or by law expressly provided, subject to revesting in the event of each and every subsequent default of the character above mentioned; provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Director that the election of such Preferred Director shall not cause the Issuer to violate any corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the Issuer may then be listed or traded that listed or traded companies must have a majority of independent directors. Upon any termination of the right of the holders of shares of Designated Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock as a class to vote for directors as provided above, the Preferred Directors shall cease to be qualified as directors, the term of office of all Preferred Directors then in office shall terminate immediately and the authorized number of directors shall be reduced by the number of Preferred Directors elected pursuant hereto. Any Preferred Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, and any vacancy created thereby may be filled, only by the affirmative vote of the holders a majority of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding voting separately as a class together with the holders of shares of Voting Parity Stock, to the extent the voting rights of such holders described above are then exercisable. If the office of any Preferred Director becomes vacant for any reason other than removal from office as aforesaid, the remaining Preferred Director may choose a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired term in respect of which such vacancy occurred.

 
 

 

(c)           Class Voting Rights as to Particular Matters. So long as any shares of Designated Preferred Stock are outstanding, in addition to any other vote or consent of stockholders required by law or by the Charter, the vote or consent of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the shares of Designated Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting as a separate class, given in person or by proxy, either in writing without a meeting or by vote at any meeting called for the purpose, shall be necessary for effecting or validating:

(i)            Authorization of Senior Stock. Any amendment or alteration of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter to authorize or create or increase the authorized amount of, or any issuance of, any shares of, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of, any class or series of capital stock of the Issuer ranking senior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to either or both the payment of dividends and/or the distribution of assets on any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer;

(ii)           Amendment of Designated Preferred Stock. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provision of the Certificate of Designations for the Designated Preferred Stock or the Charter (including, unless no vote on such merger or consolidation is required by Section 7(c)(iii) below, any amendment, alteration or repeal by means of a merger, consolidation or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers of the Designated Preferred Stock; or

(iii)           Share Exchanges, Reclassifications, Mergers and Consolidations. Any consummation of a binding share exchange or reclassification involving the Designated Preferred Stock, or of a merger or consolidation of the Issuer with another corporation or other entity, unless in each case (x) the shares of Designated Preferred Stock remain outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the Issuer is not the surviving or resulting entity, are converted into or exchanged for preference securities of the surviving or resulting entity or its ultimate parent, and (y) such shares remaining outstanding or such preference securities, as the case may be, have such rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, taken as a whole, as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the rights, preferences, privileges and voting powers, and limitations and restrictions thereof, of Designated Preferred Stock immediately prior to such consummation, taken as a whole;

 
 

 

provided, however, that for all purposes of this Section 7(c), any increase in the amount of the authorized Preferred Stock, including any increase in the authorized amount of Designated Preferred Stock necessary to satisfy preemptive or similar rights granted by the Issuer to other persons prior to the Signing Date, or the creation and issuance, or an increase in the authorized or issued amount, whether pursuant to preemptive or similar rights or otherwise, of any other series of Preferred Stock, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other series of Preferred Stock, ranking equally with and/or junior to Designated Preferred Stock with respect to the payment of dividends (whether such dividends are cumulative or non-cumulative) and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Issuer will not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers, and shall not require the affirmative vote or consent of, the holders of outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock.

(d)           Changes after Provision for Redemption. No vote or consent of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock shall be required pursuant to Section 7(c) above if, at or prior to the time when any such vote or consent would otherwise be required pursuant to such Section, all outstanding shares of the Designated Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed, or shall have been called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been deposited in trust for such redemption, in each case pursuant to Section 5 above.

(e)           Procedures for Voting and Consents. The rules and procedures for calling and conducting any meeting of the holders of Designated Preferred Stock (including, without limitation, the fixing of a record date in connection therewith), the solicitation and use of proxies at such a meeting, the obtaining of written consents and any other aspect or matter with regard to such a meeting or such consents shall be governed by any rules of the Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may adopt from time to time, which rules and procedures shall conform to the requirements of the Charter, the Bylaws, and applicable law and the rules of any national securities exchange or other trading facility on which Designated Preferred Stock is listed or traded at the time.

Section 8. Record Holders. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Issuer and the transfer agent for Designated Preferred Stock may deem and treat the record holder of any share of Designated Preferred Stock as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Issuer nor such transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

Section 9. Notices. All notices or communications in respect of Designated Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted in this Certificate of Designations, in the Charter or Bylaws or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Designated Preferred Stock are issued in book-entry form through The Depository Trust Company or any similar facility, such notices may be given to the holders of Designated Preferred Stock in any manner permitted by such facility.

Section 10. No Preemptive Rights. No share of Designated Preferred Stock shall have any rights of preemption whatsoever as to any securities of the Issuer, or any warrants, rights or options issued or granted with respect thereto, regardless of how such securities, or such warrants, rights or options, may be designated, issued or granted.

 
 

 

Section 11. Replacement Certificates. The Issuer shall replace any mutilated certificate at the holder’s expense upon surrender of that certificate to the Issuer. The Issuer shall replace certificates that become destroyed, stolen or lost at the holder’s expense upon delivery to the Issuer of reasonably satisfactory evidence that the certificate has been destroyed, stolen or lost, together with any indemnity that may be reasonably required by the Issuer.

Section 12. Other Rights. The shares of Designated Preferred Stock shall not have any rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers or relative, participating, optional or other special rights, or qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, other than as set forth herein or in the Charter or as provided by applicable law.

 
 

 

ANNEX C

FORM OF WAIVER

In consideration for the benefits I will receive as a result of my employer’s participation in the United States Department of the Treasury’s TARP Capital Purchase Program, I hereby voluntarily waive any claim against the United States or my employer for any changes to my compensation or benefits that are required to comply with the regulation issued by the Department of the Treasury as published in the Federal Register on October 20, 2008.

I acknowledge that this regulation may require modification of the compensation, bonus, incentive and other benefit plans, arrangements, policies and agreements (including so-called “golden parachute” agreements) that I have with my employer or in which I participate as they relate to the period the United States holds any equity or debt securities of my employer acquired through the TARP Capital Purchase Program.

This waiver includes all claims I may have under the laws of the United States or any state related to the requirements imposed by the aforementioned regulation, including without limitation a claim for any compensation or other payments I would otherwise receive, any challenge to the process by which this regulation was adopted and any tort or constitutional claim about the effect of these regulations on my employment relationship.

 
 

 

ANNEX D

FORM OF OPINION

(a) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation.

(b) The Preferred Shares have been duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and delivered pursuant to the Agreement, the Preferred Shares will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, will not be issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock issued on the Closing Date with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

(c) The Warrant has been duly authorized and, when executed and delivered as contemplated by the Agreement, will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.

(d) The shares of Warrant Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Warrant and when so issued in accordance with the terms of the Warrant will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will rank pari passu with or senior to all other series or classes of Preferred Stock, whether or not issued or outstanding, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets in the event of any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company.

(e) The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute and deliver the Agreement and the Warrant and to carry out its obligations thereunder (which includes the issuance of the Preferred Shares, Warrant and Warrant Shares).

(f) The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Agreement and the Warrant and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and its stockholders, and no further approval or authorization is required on the part of the Company.

(g) The Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity; provided, however, such counsel need express no opinion with respect to Section 4.5(h) or the severability provisions of the Agreement insofar as Section 4.5(h) is concerned.

 
 

 

ANNEX E

WARRANT TO PURCHASE PREFERRED STOCK

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

WARRANT
to purchase
645.00645
Shares of Preferred Stock
of SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.

Issue Date: July 17, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

 
 

 

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

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

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

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

Liquidation Amount” means the amount set forth in Item 4 of Schedule A hereto.

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

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

“Preferred Stock” means the series of perpetual preferred stock set forth in Item 5 of Schedule A hereto.

Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms incorporated into the Letter Agreement, dated as of the date set forth in Item 6 of Schedule A hereto, as amended from time to time, between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury (the “Letter Agreement”), including all annexes and schedules thereto.

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

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

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

Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

Warrantholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.

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

 
 

 

2.           Number of Shares; Exercise Price.  This certifies that, for value received, the United States Department of the Treasury or its permitted assigns (the “Warrantholder”) is entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, to acquire from the Company, in whole or in part, after the receipt of all applicable Regulatory Approvals, if any, up to an aggregate of the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Preferred Stock set forth in Item 7 of Schedule A hereto (the “Shares”), at a purchase price per share of Preferred Stock equal to the Exercise Price.

3.           Exercise of Warrant; Term.  Subject to Section 2, to the extent permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the right to purchase the Shares represented by this Warrant is exercisable, in whole or in part by the Warrantholder, at any time or from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Warrant by the Company on the date hereof, but in no event later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the tenth anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration Time”), by (A) the surrender of this Warrant and Notice of Exercise annexed hereto, duly completed and executed on behalf of the Warrantholder, at the principal executive office of the Company located at the address set forth in Item 8 of Schedule A hereto (or such other office or agency of the Company in the United States as it may designate by notice in writing to the Warrantholder at the address of the Warrantholder appearing on the books of the Company), and (B) payment of the Exercise Price for the Shares thereby purchased, by having the Company withhold, from the shares of Preferred Stock that would otherwise be delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, shares of Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrant with an aggregate Liquidation Amount equal in value to the aggregate Exercise Price as to which this Warrant is so exercised.

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

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

 
 

 

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

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

7.           Transfer/Assignment.

(A)  Subject to compliance with clause (B) of this Section 7, this Warrant and all rights hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company by the registered holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, and a new warrant shall be made and delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and date as this Warrant but registered in the name of one or more transferees, upon surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of the Company described in Section 3.  All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the new warrants pursuant to this Section 7 shall be paid by the Company.

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

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

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

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

 
 

 

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

12.           Adjustments and Other Rights.  For so long as the Original Warrantholder holds this Warrant or any portion thereof, if any event occurs that, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, would require adjustment of the Exercise Price or number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable in order to fairly and adequately protect the purchase rights of the Warrants in accordance with the essential intent and principles of the Purchase Agreement and this Warrant, then the Board of Directors shall make such adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with such essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the good faith opinion of the Board of Directors, to protect such purchase rights as aforesaid.

Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in this Section 12, the Company shall forthwith file at the principal office of the Company a statement showing in reasonable detail the facts requiring such adjustment and the Exercise Price that shall be in effect and the number of Shares into which this Warrant shall be exercisable after such adjustment, and the Company shall also cause a copy of such statement to be sent by mail, first class postage prepaid, to each Warrantholder at the address appearing in the Company’s records.

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

14.           Governing Law.  This Warrant will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.  Each of the Company and the Warrantholder agrees (a) to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for any civil action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby, and (b) that notice may be served upon the Company at the address in Section 17 below and upon the Warrantholder at the address for the Warrantholder set forth in the registry maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 8 hereof.  To the extent permitted by applicable law, each of the Company and the Warrantholder hereby unconditionally waives trial by jury in any civil legal action or proceeding relating to the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 
 

 

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

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

17.           Notices.  Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, or (b) on the second business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day courier service.  All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in Item 9 of Schedule A hereto, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive such notice.

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

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 
 

 

[Form of Notice of Exercise]

Date:_______________

TO:
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.

RE:
Election to Purchase Preferred Stock

The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant, hereby agrees to subscribe for and purchase such number of shares of Preferred Stock covered by the Warrant such that after giving effect to an exercise pursuant to Section 3(B) of the Warrant, the undersigned will receive the net number of shares of Preferred Stock set forth below.  The undersigned, in accordance with Section 3 of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of Preferred Stock in the manner set forth in Section 3(B) of the Warrant.

Number of Shares of Preferred Stock1
   

The undersigned agrees that it is exercising the attached Warrant in full and that, upon receipt by the undersigned of the number of shares of Preferred Stock set forth above, such Warrant shall be deemed to be cancelled and surrendered to the Company.

 
Holder:
   
 
By:           
   
 
Name:           
   
 
Title:           
   
 
 

1
Number of shares to be received by the undersigned upon exercise of the attached Warrant pursuant to Section 3(B) thereof.

 
 

 

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

Dated:
July 17, 2009
 

 
COMPANY:
     
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
     
 
By:
 
     
 
Name: Larry T. Kuglar
     
 
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
     
 
Attest:
 
     
  By:
 
     
 
Name: Douglas J. Hertha
     
 
Title: Secretary

[Signature Page to Warrant]

 
 

 

SCHEDULE A

Item 1

Name: SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.

Corporate or other organizational form: C Corporation

Jurisdiction of organization: Georgia

Item 2

Exercise Price: $0.01 per share

Item 3

Issue Date: July 17, 2009

Item 4

Liquidation Amount: $1,000 per share

Item 5

Series of Perpetual Preferred Stock: Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B

Item 6

Date of Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury: July 17, 2009

Item 7

Number of shares of Preferred Stock: 645.00645

Item 8

Company’s address:
600 North Glynn Street
Suite B
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214

Item 9

Notice Information:
With Copy to:
 
Larry T. Kuglar
Mr. Robert Klingler, Esq.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein LLP
 
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
One Atlantic Center
 
600 North Glynn Street
1201 West Peachtree Street, 14th FL
 
Suite B
Atlanta, Georgia  30309
 
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
 
 
Telephone:
Telephone:
 
Fax:
Fax:
 
Email:
Email:
 
 
 

 

 
SCHEDULE A
 
ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Company Information:

Name of the Company:  SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.

Corporate or other organizational form:  C Corporation

Jurisdiction of Organization:  Georgia

Appropriate Federal Banking Agency:  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Notice Information:
With Copy to:
 
Larry T. Kuglar
Mr. Robert Klingler, Esq.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
Bryan Cave Powell Goldstein LLP
 
SouthCrest Financial Group, Inc.
One Atlantic Center
 
600 North Glynn Street
1201 West Peachtree Street, 14th Floor
 
Suite B
Atlanta, Georgia  30309
 
Fayetteville, Georgia 30214
 
 
Telephone:
Telephone:
 
Fax:
Fax:
 
Email:
Email:

Terms of the Purchase:

Series of Preferred Stock Purchased:  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A

Per Share Liquidation Preference of Preferred Stock:  $1,000

Number of Shares of Preferred Stock Purchased:  12,900

Dividend Payment Dates on the Preferred Stock:  Feb. 15, May 15, Aug. 15, Nov. 15 each year

Series of Warrant Preferred Stock:  Fixed Rate Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series B

Number of Warrant Shares:  645.00645

Number of Net Warrant Shares (after net settlement): 645

Exercise Price of the Warrant:  $0.01 per share

Purchase Price:  $12,900,000

Closing:
 
Location of Closing:
Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004

Time of Closing:  9:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time

Date of Closing:  July 17, 2009

 
 

 

 
Wire Information for Closing:
ABA Number:
Bank:
Account Name:
Account Number:
Beneficiary:
 
Contact for Confirmation of Wire Information:
 
Name:
Title:
Phone:
Email:

 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE B
 
CAPITALIZATION
 
Capitalization Date:  June 30, 2009
 
Common Stock
 
Par value:  $1.00
 
Total Authorized:  10,000,000
 
Outstanding:  3,931,528
 
Subject to warrants, options, convertible securities, etc.:   185,400
 
Reserved for benefit plans and other issuances: 363,600
 
Remaining authorized but unissued:  5,519,472
 
Shares issued after Capitalization Date (other than pursuant to warrants, options, convertible securities, etc. as set forth above):  - 0 -
 
Preferred Stock
 
Par value:  none
 
Total Authorized:  10,000,000
 
Outstanding (by series):  - 0 -
 
Reserved for issuance:  - 0 -
 
Remaining authorized but unissued: - 0 -
 
Holders of 5% or more of any class of capital stock
 
Primary Address
 
% Owned
         
Robert Cravey
 
600 Glynn St. North
 
5.56%
   
Fayetteville, GA  30214
   
         
Zack D. Cravey, Jr.
 
600 Glynn St. North
 
5.12%
   
Fayetteville, GA  30214
   

 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE C
LITIGATION

List any exceptions to the representation and warranty in Section 2.2(l) of the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms.

If none, please so indicate by checking the box:  x
 
 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE D
 
COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS

List any exceptions to the representation and warranty in the second sentence of Section 2.2(m) of the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms.

If none, please so indicate by checking the box: . x

 
 

 
 
SCHEDULE E
REGULATORY AGREEMENTS

List any exceptions to the representation and warranty in Section 2.2(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms.

During a routine examination of the Bank of Upson (the "Bank"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), one of the on-site examiners verbally speculated to a Bank officer, during the preliminary stages of the examination, that the Department might request that the Bank enter into an informal agreement with the Department.  The Bank did not receive any other notice or communication regarding the potential for an informal action.  At the conclusion of the examination and during the exit interview, the Department stated that it would not seek an informal agreement with, or any other action against, the Bank.  The Bank believed that the comment by the examiner was just speculation (given the current condition of many banks in the metro-Atlanta market), but given the breadth of the warranties in section 2.2(s) of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Bank felt it appropriate to make this disclosure.

If none, please so indicate by checking the box: . o
 
 

EX-10.2 8 ex10_2.htm EXHIBIT 10.2 ex10_2.htm

Exhibit 10.2

United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220


July 17, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Letter Agreement incorporating the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms dated of as of the date of this letter agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) between United States Department of Treasury (“Investor”) and the company named on the signature page hereto (the “Company”).  Investor and the Company desire to amend the Securities Purchase Agreement as follows:
 
1.           Section 2.1(a) of the Securities Purchase Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
“(a)           [Intentionally Omitted.]”
 
2.           Section 2.1(c) of the Securities Purchase Agreement is amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
“(c)           “Previously Disclosed” means information set forth or incorporated in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company filed with the Primary Federal Securities Regulator prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “Last Fiscal Year”) or in its other reports and forms filed with or furnished to the Primary Federal Securities Regulator as contemplated under Sections 13(a), 14(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the last day of the Last Fiscal Year and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement.  “Primary Federal Securities Regulator” means the SEC or the primary federal bank regulator with which the Company files its reports, registration statements, proxy statements and other filings under the Exchange Act.  If the Company is required to make filings with a Primary Federal Securities Regulator other than the SEC, all references in this Agreement to the SEC shall be deemed to refer to the Company’s Primary Federal Securities Regulator.”
 
3.           The definition of “Registrable Securities” in Section 4.5(l)(iv) of the Securities Purchase Agreement is amended by adding the following sentence at the end thereof:

“Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4.5(l)(iv) to the contrary, Registrable Securities shall not include any securities of the Company that are referred to in Section 3(a) of the Securities Act; provided, however, that in the event that the Company’s Primary Federal Securities Regulator is not the SEC, the Company shall take such actions (if any) as are provided for under such Primary Federal Securities Regulator’s rules in order to permit the resale of Registrable Securities by the Holders in accordance with such rules.”

 
 

 
 
From and after the date hereof, each reference in the Securities Purchase Agreement to “this Agreement” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Agreement (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) as amended by this letter agreement and each reference in the Securities Purchase Agreement to “this Securities Purchase Agreement” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Securities Purchase Agreement as amended by this letter agreement.
 
This letter agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

This letter agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement.  Executed signature pages to this letter agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such facsimiles will be deemed sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.
 
[Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]

 
 

 

In witness whereof, the parties have duly executed this letter agreement as of the date first written above.
 


 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
     
     
 
By:
/s/ Herbert M. Allison Jr.
   
Name: Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
   
Title: Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability
     
     
 
COMPANY:
     
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
     
     
 
By:
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar
   
Larry T. Kuglar
   
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 

EX-10.3 9 ex10_3.htm EXHIBIT 10.3 ex10_3.htm

Exhibit 10.3
 
United States Department of the Treasury
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20220


July 17, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is made to that certain Letter Agreement incorporating the Securities Purchase Agreement – Standard Terms dated of as of the date of this letter agreement (the “Securities Purchase Agreement”) between United States Department of Treasury (“Investor”) and the company named on the signature page hereto (the “Company”).  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
 
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as it may be amended from time to time (the “Act”), includes provisions relating to executive compensation and other matters that may be inconsistent with the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Warrant and the Certificates of Designation (the “Transaction Documents”).  Accordingly, Investor and the Company desire to confirm their understanding as follows:
 
1.              Notwithstanding anything in the Transaction Documents to the contrary, in the event that the Act or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder are inconsistent with any of the terms of the Transaction Documents, the Act and such rules and regulations shall control.
 
2.              For the avoidance of doubt (and without limiting the generality of Paragraph 1):
 
(a)           the provisions of Section 111 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended by the Act or otherwise from time to time (“EESA”), shall apply to the Company;
 
(b)           the waiver to be delivered by each of the Company’s Senior Executive Officers pursuant to Section 1.2(d)(v) of the Securities Purchase Agreement shall, in addition, be delivered by any additional highly compensated employees required by applicable rules or regulations under EESA;
 
(c)           the Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer shall provide the written certification of compliance by the Company with the requirements of Section 111 of EESA in the manner specified by Section 111(b)(4) thereunder or in any rules or regulations under EESA; and
 
(d)           the Company shall be permitted to repay preferred shares, and when such preferred shares are repaid, the Investor shall liquidate warrants associated with such preferred shares, all in accordance with the Act and any rules and regulations thereunder.
 
 
 

 
 
From and after the date hereof, each reference in the Securities Purchase Agreement to “this Agreement” or “this Securities Purchase Agreement” or words of like import shall mean and be a reference to the Agreement (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) as amended by this letter agreement.
 
This letter agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State.

This letter agreement, the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Warrant, the Certificate of Designation and any other documents executed by the parties at the Closing constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof.

Nothing in this letter agreement shall be deemed an admission by Investor as to the necessity of obtaining the consent of the Company in order to effect the changes to the Transaction Documents contemplated by this letter agreement, nor shall anything in this letter agreement be deemed to require Investor to obtain the consent of any other TARP recipient (as defined in the Act) participating in the Capital Purchase Program (the “CPP”) in order to effect changes to their documentation under the CPP.

This letter agreement may be executed in any number of separate counterparts, each such counterpart being deemed to be an original instrument, and all such counterparts will together constitute the same agreement.  Executed signature pages to this letter agreement may be delivered by facsimile and such facsimiles will be deemed sufficient as if actual signature pages had been delivered.
 
 
 [Remainder of this page intentionally left blank]
 
 
-2-

 
 
In witness whereof, the parties have duly executed this letter agreement as of the date first written above.
 
 
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
 

 
By:
/s/ Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
 
   
Name: Herbert M. Allison, Jr.
 
   
Title: Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability
 
 

 
COMPANY:
   
 
SOUTHCREST FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

       
 
By:
/s/ Larry T. Kuglar
 
   
Name: Larry T. Kuglar
 
   
Title: President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 

EX-10.4 10 ex10_4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4 Unassociated Document

Exhibit 10.4

FORM OF WAIVER

In consideration for the benefits I will receive as a result of my employer’s participation in the United States Department of the Treasury’s TARP Capital Purchase Program, I hereby voluntarily waive any claim against the United States or any state or territory thereof or my employer or any of its directors, officers, employees and agents for any changes to my compensation or benefits that are required in order to comply with Section 111 of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, as amended (“EESA”), and rules, regulations, guidance or other requirements issued thereunder (collectively, the “EESA Restrictions”).

I acknowledge that the EESA Restrictions may require modification of the employment, compensation, bonus, incentive, severance, retention and other benefit plans, arrangements, policies and agreements (including so-called “golden parachute” agreements), whether or not in writing, that I have with my employer or in which I participate as they relate to the period the United States holds any equity or debt securities of my employer acquired through the TARP Capital Purchase Program and I hereby consent to all such modifications.  I further acknowledge and agree that if my employer notifies me in writing that I have received payments in violation of the EESA Restrictions, I shall repay the aggregate amount of such payments to my employer no later than fifteen business days following my receipt of such notice.

This waiver includes all claims I may have under the laws of the United States or any other jurisdiction related to the requirements imposed by the EESA Restrictions (including without limitation, any claim for any compensation or other payments or benefits I would otherwise receive absent the EESA Restrictions, any challenge to the process by which the EESA Restrictions were adopted and any tort or constitutional claim about the effect of the foregoing on my employment relationship) and I hereby agree that I will not at any time initiate, or cause or permit to be initiated on my behalf, any such claim against the United States, my employer or its directors, officers, employees or agents in or before any local, state, federal or other agency, court or body.




(Remainder of page intentionally left blank)

 
 

 

In witness whereof, I execute this waiver on my own behalf, thereby communicating my acceptance and acknowledgement to the provisions herein.


 
Respectfully,
   
   
   
   
 
[NAME]
 
[TITLE]
 
July 17, 2009
 
 

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