-----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, A1aONaM4AA58Akzd2P+/Uy1znBo3DNf2N+xWK8qL3Pi+at8P8/kiQYMlNAgn/wT8 L3nGMityBKJShBVKki1RKg== 0001085204-07-000059.txt : 20071114 0001085204-07-000059.hdr.sgml : 20071114 20071114133031 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001085204-07-000059 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 29 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20070930 FILED AS OF DATE: 20071114 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20071114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: FIRST BANKS, INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000710507 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS [6021] IRS NUMBER: 431175538 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MO FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31610 FILM NUMBER: 071242862 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 135 N MERAMEC CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63105 BUSINESS PHONE: 3148544600 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 135 N MERAMEC CITY: ST LOUIS STATE: MO ZIP: 63105 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: FIRST BANKS INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940805 10-Q 1 fbi10q093007.txt FORM 10-Q UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from _______ to ________ Commission File Number: 0-20632 FIRST BANKS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) MISSOURI 43-1175538 (State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) of incorporation or organization) 135 North Meramec, Clayton, Missouri 63105 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) (314) 854-4600 (Registrant's telephone number, including area code) -------------------------- Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "accelerated filer and large accelerated filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one): Large accelerated filer [ ] Accelerated filer [ ] Non-accelerated filer [X] Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). [ ] Yes [X] No Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date. Shares Outstanding Class at October 31, 2007 ----- ------------------- Common Stock, $250.00 par value 23,661
FIRST BANKS, INC. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ---- PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS............................................................... 1 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME......................................................... 2 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME.............................................................. 3 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS..................................................... 4 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS................................................ 5 ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS............................................................. 18 ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK................................ 37 ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES................................................................... 37 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 6. EXHIBITS.................................................................................. 38 SIGNATURES............................................................................................. 40
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FIRST BANKS, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (dollars expressed in thousands, except share and per share data) September 30, December 31, 2007 2006 ---- ---- (unaudited) ASSETS ------ Cash and cash equivalents: Cash and due from banks........................................................ $ 183,580 215,974 Short-term investments......................................................... 76,956 153,583 ----------- ---------- Total cash and cash equivalents........................................... 260,536 369,557 ----------- ---------- Investment securities: Trading........................................................................ -- 81,168 Available for sale............................................................. 1,145,870 1,359,729 Held to maturity (fair value of $19,403 and $23,971, respectively)............. 19,647 24,049 ----------- ---------- Total investment securities............................................... 1,165,517 1,464,946 ----------- ---------- Loans: Commercial, financial and agricultural......................................... 2,181,136 1,934,912 Real estate construction and development....................................... 2,001,226 1,832,504 Real estate mortgage........................................................... 3,773,803 3,615,148 Consumer and installment....................................................... 89,351 83,008 Loans held for sale............................................................ 99,470 216,327 ----------- ---------- Total loans............................................................... 8,144,986 7,681,899 Unearned discount.............................................................. (12,213) (15,418) Allowance for loan losses...................................................... (140,165) (145,729) ----------- ---------- Net loans................................................................. 7,992,608 7,520,752 ----------- ---------- Bank premises and equipment, net.................................................... 216,633 178,417 Goodwill and other intangible assets................................................ 314,084 295,382 Bank-owned life insurance........................................................... 115,831 113,778 Deferred income taxes............................................................... 102,459 100,175 Other assets........................................................................ 104,368 115,707 ----------- ---------- Total assets.............................................................. $10,272,036 10,158,714 =========== ========== LIABILITIES ----------- Deposits: Noninterest-bearing demand..................................................... $ 1,195,950 1,281,108 Interest-bearing demand........................................................ 921,447 981,939 Savings and money market....................................................... 2,676,244 2,352,575 Time deposits of $100 or more.................................................. 1,478,159 1,419,579 Other time deposits............................................................ 2,350,545 2,407,885 ----------- ---------- Total deposits............................................................ 8,622,345 8,443,086 Other borrowings.................................................................... 310,772 373,899 Notes payable....................................................................... 10,000 65,000 Subordinated debentures............................................................. 353,733 297,966 Deferred income taxes............................................................... 40,854 42,826 Accrued expenses and other liabilities.............................................. 71,829 130,033 Minority interest in subsidiary..................................................... 5,642 5,469 ----------- ---------- Total liabilities......................................................... 9,415,175 9,358,279 ----------- ---------- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY -------------------- Preferred stock: $1.00 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding.............................................................. -- -- Class A convertible, adjustable rate, $20.00 par value, 750,000 shares authorized, 641,082 shares issued and outstanding..................... 12,822 12,822 Class B adjustable rate, $1.50 par value, 200,000 shares authorized, 160,505 shares issued and outstanding........................................ 241 241 Common stock, $250.00 par value, 25,000 shares authorized, 23,661 shares issued and outstanding........................................... 5,915 5,915 Additional paid-in capital.......................................................... 9,685 9,685 Retained earnings................................................................... 840,779 784,864 Accumulated other comprehensive loss................................................ (12,581) (13,092) ----------- ---------- Total stockholders' equity................................................ 856,861 800,435 ----------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity................................ $10,272,036 10,158,714 =========== ========== The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
FIRST BANKS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - (UNAUDITED) (dollars expressed in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- --------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- Interest income: Interest and fees on loans....................................... $ 160,134 153,394 471,713 426,456 Investment securities............................................ 16,493 13,881 49,867 43,514 Short-term investments........................................... 1,478 1,018 5,671 3,288 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total interest income....................................... 178,105 168,293 527,251 473,258 --------- --------- --------- --------- Interest expense: Deposits: Interest-bearing demand........................................ 2,242 2,057 7,171 5,832 Savings and money market....................................... 21,012 13,491 59,809 36,929 Time deposits of $100 or more.................................. 18,299 15,902 53,533 41,716 Other time deposits............................................ 27,881 25,526 83,851 68,706 Other borrowings................................................. 4,361 4,322 13,653 12,263 Notes payable.................................................... 544 1,434 2,088 4,331 Subordinated debentures.......................................... 5,920 6,377 17,668 17,751 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total interest expense...................................... 80,259 69,109 237,773 187,528 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net interest income......................................... 97,846 99,184 289,478 285,730 Provision for loan losses............................................. 17,000 2,000 26,000 8,000 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses......... 80,846 97,184 263,478 277,730 --------- --------- --------- --------- Noninterest income: Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees.... 12,053 11,122 34,322 32,350 Gain on loans sold and held for sale............................. 3,535 4,604 12,019 17,524 Net (loss) gain on investment securities......................... (74) 1,603 (1,314) (2,384) Bank-owned life insurance investment income...................... 1,081 665 2,793 2,432 Investment management income..................................... 1,447 2,036 4,499 6,633 Insurance fee and commission income.............................. 1,750 1,491 5,313 3,325 Other............................................................ 7,048 8,473 17,828 21,490 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total noninterest income.................................... 26,840 29,994 75,460 81,370 --------- --------- --------- --------- Noninterest expense: Salaries and employee benefits................................... 43,093 42,454 132,053 124,558 Occupancy, net of rental income.................................. 8,321 6,997 23,489 19,657 Furniture and equipment.......................................... 4,944 4,158 14,171 12,237 Postage, printing and supplies................................... 1,609 1,550 5,040 4,964 Information technology fees...................................... 8,995 9,365 27,515 27,616 Legal, examination and professional fees......................... 2,535 2,078 6,949 6,583 Amortization of intangible assets................................ 3,142 2,243 9,295 5,440 Advertising and business development............................. 1,577 1,826 5,147 5,703 Charitable contributions......................................... 1,664 1,594 5,042 4,918 Other............................................................ 8,649 8,208 25,964 24,663 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total noninterest expense................................... 84,529 80,473 254,665 236,339 --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary................. 23,157 46,705 84,273 122,761 Provision for income taxes............................................ 8,087 17,249 30,129 42,452 --------- --------- --------- --------- Income before minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary........................................... 15,070 29,456 54,144 80,309 Minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary...................... 74 (204) 175 (440) --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income.................................................. 14,996 29,660 53,969 80,749 Preferred stock dividends............................................. 196 196 524 524 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income available to common stockholders................. $ 14,800 29,464 53,445 80,225 ========= ========= ========= ========= Basic earnings per common share....................................... $ 625.48 1,245.28 2,258.77 3,390.62 ========= ========= ========= ========= Diluted earnings per common share..................................... $ 623.84 1,231.06 2,243.90 3,347.84 ========= ========= ========= ========= Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding................... 23,661 23,661 23,661 23,661 ========= ========= ========= ========= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
FIRST BANKS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - (UNAUDITED) Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 and Three Months Ended December 31, 2006 (dollars expressed in thousands, except per share data) Accu- Adjustable Rate mulated Preferred Stock Other ----------------- Compre- Total Class A Additional hensive Stock- Conver- Common Paid-In Retained Income holders' tible Class B Stock Capital Earnings (Loss) Equity ----- ------- ----- ------- -------- ------ ------ Balances, December 31, 2005.............................. $12,822 241 5,915 5,910 673,956 (19,906) 678,938 ------- Nine months ended September 30, 2006: Comprehensive income: (1) Net income........................................... -- -- -- -- 80,749 -- 80,749 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains on investment securities.......... -- -- -- -- -- 1,460 1,460 Reclassification adjustment for investment securities losses included in net income........ -- -- -- -- -- 1,487 1,487 Derivative instruments: Current period transactions..................... -- -- -- -- -- 1,773 1,773 ------- Total comprehensive income............................. 85,469 Class A preferred stock dividends, $0.80 per share..... -- -- -- -- (513) -- (513) Class B preferred stock dividends, $0.07 per share..... -- -- -- -- (11) -- (11) ------- --- ----- ----- ------- ------- ------- Balances, September 30, 2006............................. 12,822 241 5,915 5,910 754,181 (15,186) 763,883 ------- Three months ended December 31, 2006: Comprehensive income: Net income........................................... -- -- -- -- 30,945 -- 30,945 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains on investment securities.......... -- -- -- -- -- 2,206 2,206 Reclassification adjustment for investment securities gains included in net income......... -- -- -- -- -- (245) (245) Derivative instruments: Current period transactions..................... -- -- -- -- -- 133 133 ------- Total comprehensive income............................. 33,039 Adjustment for the utilization of net operating losses associated with prior acquisitions.......... -- -- -- 3,775 -- -- 3,775 Class A preferred stock dividends, $0.40 per share..... -- -- -- -- (256) -- (256) Class B preferred stock dividends, $0.04 per share..... -- -- -- -- (6) -- (6) ------- --- ----- ----- ------- ------- ------- Balances, December 31, 2006.............................. 12,822 241 5,915 9,685 784,864 (13,092) 800,435 ------- Nine months ended September 30, 2007: Comprehensive income: (1) Net income........................................... -- -- -- -- 53,969 -- 53,969 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized losses on investment securities......... -- -- -- -- -- (4,448) (4,448) Reclassification adjustment for investment securities gains included in net income......... -- -- -- -- -- (94) (94) Derivative instruments: Current period transactions..................... -- -- -- -- -- 5,053 5,053 ------- Total comprehensive income............................. 54,480 Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.... -- -- -- -- 2,470 -- 2,470 Class A preferred stock dividends, $0.80 per share..... -- -- -- -- (513) -- (513) Class B preferred stock dividends, $0.07 per share..... -- -- -- -- (11) -- (11) ------- --- ----- ----- ------- ------- ------- Balances, September 30, 2007............................. $12,822 241 5,915 9,685 840,779 (12,581) 856,861 ======= === ===== ===== ======= ======= ======= - ------------------------- (1) Disclosure of comprehensive income: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- ------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- Comprehensive income: Net income....................................................... $14,996 29,660 53,969 80,749 Other comprehensive income, net of tax: Unrealized gains (losses) on investment securities............. 4,117 13,363 (4,448) 1,460 Reclassification adjustment for investment securities (gains) losses included in net income............ -- (252) (94) 1,487 Derivative instruments: Current period transactions................................. 5,649 1,935 5,053 1,773 ------- ------- ------- ------- Total comprehensive income......................................... $24,762 44,706 54,480 85,469 ======= ======= ======= ======= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
FIRST BANKS, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - (UNAUDITED) (dollars expressed in thousands) Nine Months Ended September 30, ------------------------- 2007 2006 ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income......................................................................... $ 53,969 80,749 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization of bank premises and equipment..................... 15,162 13,698 Amortization of intangible assets................................................ 9,295 5,440 Other amortization, net of accretion............................................. 2,800 5,458 Originations of loans held for sale.............................................. (433,016) (731,297) Proceeds from sales of loans held for sale....................................... 484,899 723,368 Payments received on loans held for sale......................................... 14,507 25,289 Provision for loan losses........................................................ 26,000 8,000 Provision for current income taxes............................................... 28,773 39,242 Provision for deferred income taxes.............................................. 1,356 3,210 Decrease (increase) in accrued interest receivable............................... 6,667 (4,365) (Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable.................................. (9,581) 6,902 Proceeds from sales of trading securities........................................ 81,038 6,840 Maturities of trading securities................................................. 16,651 657 Purchases of trading securities.................................................. (17,939) (60,877) Gain on loans sold and held for sale............................................. (12,019) (17,524) Net loss on investment securities................................................ 1,314 2,384 Gain on sales of branches, net of expenses....................................... (1,018) -- Other operating activities, net.................................................. (9,085) (17,724) Minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary................................. 175 (440) --------- --------- Net cash provided by operating activities..................................... 259,948 89,010 --------- --------- Cash flows from investing activities: Cash paid for acquired entities, net of cash and cash equivalents received......... (16,233) (245,031) Cash paid for sale of branches, net of cash and cash equivalents sold.............. (48,926) -- Proceeds from sales of investment securities available for sale.................... 487 198,009 Maturities of investment securities available for sale............................. 858,873 771,714 Maturities of investment securities held to maturity............................... 4,510 2,177 Purchases of investment securities available for sale.............................. (643,548) (571,153) Purchases of investment securities held to maturity................................ (133) (865) Proceeds from sales of commercial loans held for sale.............................. 33,471 34,228 Net increase in loans.............................................................. (437,023) (499,582) Recoveries of loans previously charged-off......................................... 6,360 12,405 Purchases of bank premises and equipment........................................... (48,734) (22,041) Other investing activities, net.................................................... 7,159 (2,307) --------- --------- Net cash used in investing activities......................................... (283,737) (322,446) --------- --------- Cash flows from financing activities: Increase (decrease) in demand, savings and money market deposits................... 139,206 (202,750) (Decrease) increase in time deposits............................................... (67,228) 488,795 Decrease in Federal Home Loan Bank advances........................................ (33,325) (43,368) Decrease in securities sold under agreements to repurchase......................... (63,002) (113,733) Repayments of notes payable........................................................ (55,000) (25,000) Proceeds from issuance of subordinated debentures.................................. 77,322 87,631 Repayments of subordinated debentures.............................................. (82,681) -- Payment of preferred stock dividends............................................... (524) (524) --------- --------- Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities........................... (85,232) 191,051 --------- --------- Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents..................................... (109,021) (42,385) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period.......................................... 369,557 286,652 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period................................................ $ 260,536 244,267 ========= ========= Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for: Interest on liabilities......................................................... $ 247,354 180,626 Income taxes.................................................................... 1,636 28,472 ========= ========= Noncash investing and financing activities: Securitization and transfer of loans to investment securities................... $ -- 138,944 Loans held for sale transferred to loan portfolio............................... 86,559 -- Loans transferred to other real estate.......................................... 10,169 6,199 ========= ========= The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
FIRST BANKS, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (1) BASIS OF PRESENTATION The consolidated financial statements of First Banks, Inc. and subsidiaries (First Banks or the Company) are unaudited and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements contained in the 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and conform to predominant practices within the banking industry. Management of First Banks has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Actual results could differ from those estimates. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the interim periods presented herein, have been included. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the parent company and its subsidiaries, giving effect to the minority interest in one subsidiary, as more fully described below, and in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Certain reclassifications of 2006 amounts have been made to conform to the 2007 presentation. First Banks operates through its wholly owned subsidiary bank holding company, The San Francisco Company (SFC), and SFC's wholly owned subsidiary bank, First Bank, both headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. First Bank operates through its branch banking offices and subsidiaries: First Bank Business Capital, Inc.; Missouri Valley Partners, Inc. (MVP); Adrian N. Baker & Company; Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, UPAC of California, Inc. (collectively, UPAC); and Small Business Loan Source LLC (SBLS LLC). All of the subsidiaries are wholly owned, except SBLS LLC, which is 76.0% owned by First Bank and 24.0% owned by First Capital America, Inc. (FCA) as of September 30, 2007, as further described in Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Significant Accounting Policies. First Banks implemented Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 -- Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 -- Accounting for Income Taxes, on January 1, 2007 (FIN 48). The implementation of FIN 48 resulted in the recognition of a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $2.5 million, which was recorded as an increase to beginning retained earnings, as further described in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits is included in interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in noninterest expense. (2) ACQUISITIONS, INTEGRATION COSTS AND OTHER CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS Completed Acquisitions. On February 28, 2007, First Banks completed its acquisition of Royal Oaks Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Royal Oaks Bank, ssb (collectively, Royal Oaks) for $38.6 million in cash. Royal Oaks was headquartered in Houston, Texas and operated five banking offices in the Houston area. In addition, at the time of the acquisition, Royal Oaks was in the process of opening a de novo branch banking office located in the Heights, near downtown Houston, which subsequently opened on April 16, 2007. The acquisition served to expand First Banks' banking franchise in Houston, Texas. The transaction was funded through internally generated funds and the issuance of subordinated debentures associated with the private placement of $25.0 million of trust preferred securities through a newly formed affiliated statutory trust, as further described in Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. At the time of the acquisition, Royal Oaks had assets of $206.9 million, loans, net of unearned discount, of $175.5 million, deposits of $159.1 million and stockholders' equity of $9.6 million. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair value on the acquisition date. Goodwill was $23.0 million and core deposit intangibles, which are being amortized over five years utilizing the straight-line method, were $4.7 million. Goodwill and core deposit intangibles associated with this acquisition are not deductible for tax purposes. Royal Oaks Bancshares, Inc. and Royal Oaks Bank, ssb were merged with and into SFC and First Bank, respectively, at the time of the acquisition. Pending Acquisitions. On August 3, 2007, First Banks entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger providing for the acquisition of Coast Financial Holdings, Inc. and its wholly owned banking subsidiary, Coast Bank of Florida (collectively, Coast). Coast, headquartered in Bradenton, Florida, operates 20 banking offices in Florida's Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties, and has two planned de novo branch offices, one located in the Pinellas County community of Clearwater, and the other located in Sarasota County. At September 30, 2007, Coast had assets of $664.5 million, loans, net of unearned discount, of $564.9 million, deposits of $632.3 million and stockholders' equity of $22.3 million. Under the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, each outstanding share of Coast's common stock will be converted into and will represent the right to receive an amount equal to approximately $22.1 million divided by the number of shares of Coast's common stock outstanding, or approximately $3.40 per share in cash, without interest thereon. This price is subject to adjustment if, on a specified date immediately prior to the date the transaction closes (Determination Date), each of the following conditions exist: (a) Coast's allowance for loan and lease losses plus its tangible equity is less than 75% of Coast's nonperforming loans and leases plus other real estate owned (such difference is referred to as the "Deficiency"), and (b) the Deficiency is greater than $1.0 million. If each of the above conditions exists on the Determination Date, then the $22.1 million will be reduced to the nearest $500,000 increment, upward or downward, to the full amount of the Deficiency and the per share merger price will be reduced accordingly. As of September 30, 2007, the Deficiency, which is subject to further adjustment prior to the closing date of the transaction, was $1.3 million. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals, is expected to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2007. Acquisition and Integration Costs. First Banks accrues certain costs associated with its acquisitions as of the respective consummation dates. The accrued costs relate to adjustments to the staffing levels of the acquired entities or to the anticipated termination of information technology or item processing contracts of the acquired entities prior to their stated contractual expiration dates. The most significant costs that First Banks incurs relate to salary continuation agreements, or other similar agreements, of executive management and certain other employees of the acquired entities that were in place prior to the acquisition dates. These agreements provide for payments over periods generally ranging from two to 15 years and are triggered as a result of the change in control of the acquired entity. Other severance benefits for employees that are terminated in conjunction with the integration of the acquired entities into First Banks' existing operations are normally paid to the recipients within 90 days of the respective consummation date and are expensed in the consolidated statements of income as incurred. The accrued severance balance of $189,000 as of September 30, 2007, as summarized in the following table, is comprised of contractual obligations under salary continuation agreements to five individuals with remaining terms ranging from approximately one to nine years. As the obligation to make payments under these agreements is accrued at the consummation date, such payments do not have any impact on the consolidated statements of income. First Banks also incurs integration costs associated with acquisitions that are expensed in the consolidated statements of income. These costs relate principally to additional costs incurred in conjunction with the information technology conversions of the respective entities. The following table summarizes the cumulative acquisition and integration costs attributable to the Company's acquisitions, which were accrued as of the consummation dates of the respective acquisition and are reflected in accrued and other liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets:
Information Severance Technology Fees Total --------- --------------- ----- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance at December 31, 2006............................. $ 386 -- 386 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007: Amounts accrued during the period.................... 100 512 612 Payments............................................. (297) (512) (809) ------ ----- ----- Balance at September 30, 2007............................ $ 189 -- 189 ====== ===== =====
Other Corporate Transactions. On July 19, 2007, First Bank completed the sale of two banking offices located in Denton and Garland, Texas (collectively, Branch Offices) to Synergy Bank, SSB, a subsidiary of Premier Bancshares, Inc., resulting in a pre-tax gain of $1.0 million. At the time of the transaction, the Branch Offices had loans, net of unearned discount, of $911,000 and deposits of $52.0 million. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, First Bank opened the following de novo branch offices: Branch Office Location Date Opened ---------------------- ----------- St. Louis, Missouri January 22, 2007 Katy (Houston), Texas February 26, 2007 Lincoln (Sacramento), California March 12, 2007 Dardenne Prairie (St. Louis), Missouri May 9, 2007 Chula Vista (San Diego), California June 25, 2007 Brentwood (San Francisco), California September 24, 2007 (3) GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS Goodwill and other intangible assets, net of amortization, were comprised of the following at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
September 30, 2007 December 31, 2006 ------------------------ ----------------------- Gross Gross Carrying Accumulated Carrying Accumulated Amount Amortization Amount Amortization ------ ------------ ------ ------------ (dollars expressed in thousands) Amortized intangible assets: Core deposit intangibles (1)............ $ 64,201 (25,917) 60,867 (18,850) Customer list intangibles............... 23,320 (2,034) 23,320 (913) Goodwill associated with P&A Transactions (2)................. 2,210 (1,395) 2,210 (1,288) -------- -------- -------- -------- Total............................. $ 89,731 (29,346) 86,397 (21,051) ======== ======== ======== ======== Unamortized intangible assets: Goodwill associated with stock purchases...................... $253,699 230,036 ======== ======== --------------- (1) The core deposit intangibles' gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization were reduced by $1.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively, during the third quarter of 2007 in conjunction with the sale of the Branch Offices on July 19, 2007, as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. (2) P&A Transactions represent transactions structured as purchases of certain assets and assumption of selected liabilities.
Amortization of intangible assets was $3.1 million and $9.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $2.2 million and $5.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Amortization of intangible assets, including amortization of core deposit intangibles, customer list intangibles and goodwill associated with P&A Transactions, has been estimated in the following table, and does not take into consideration any potential future acquisitions or branch office purchases.
(dollars expressed in thousands) Year ending December 31: 2007 remaining....................................................... $ 3,111 2008................................................................. 12,446 2009................................................................. 10,660 2010................................................................. 10,282 2011................................................................. 7,980 2012................................................................. 2,399 Thereafter........................................................... 13,507 -------- Total............................................................ $ 60,385 ========
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- ------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance, beginning of period........................ $254,943 226,811 230,958 167,056 Goodwill acquired during the period (1)............. (121) 4,365 24,538 64,171 Acquisition-related adjustments (2)................. (23) 646 (625) 666 Other adjustments (3)............................... (250) -- (250) -- Amortization - P&A Transactions..................... (35) (36) (107) (107) -------- -------- -------- -------- Balance, end of period.............................. $254,514 231,786 254,514 231,786 ======== ======== ======== ======== --------------- (1) Goodwill acquired during the period includes additional purchase accounting adjustments pertaining to the acquisition of Royal Oaks necessary to appropriately adjust preliminary goodwill recorded at the time of the acquisition, which was based upon current estimates available at that time, to reflect the receipt of additional valuation data. (2) Acquisition-related adjustments include additional purchase accounting adjustments for prior years' acquisitions necessary to appropriately adjust preliminary goodwill recorded at the time of the acquisition, which was based upon current estimates available at that time, to reflect the receipt of additional valuation data. Acquisition-related adjustments recorded in 2007 primarily pertain to the acquisition of San Diego Community Bank in August 2006 and acquisition-related adjustments recorded in 2006 primarily pertain to the acquisition of Northway State Bank in October 2005. (3) Other adjustments recorded in 2007 pertain to the sale of the Branch Offices on July 19, 2007, as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(4) SERVICING RIGHTS Mortgage Banking Activities. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, First Banks serviced mortgage loans for others totaling $982.8 million and $1.04 billion, respectively. Changes in mortgage servicing rights, net of amortization, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- ------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance, beginning of period........................... $ 5,004 7,237 5,867 6,623 Originated mortgage servicing rights (1)............... 286 275 941 3,003 Amortization........................................... (637) (998) (2,155) (3,112) ------- ------ ------ ------ Balance, end of period................................. $ 4,653 6,514 4,653 6,514 ======= ====== ====== ====== ------------------------ (1) In March 2006, First Banks capitalized mortgage servicing rights of $1.2 million associated with the securitization of $77.1 million of certain residential mortgage loans held in the Company's loan portfolio, resulting in the recognition of $1.2 million in loan servicing income related to the future servicing of the underlying loans. Additionally, in April 2006, First Banks capitalized mortgage servicing rights of $927,000 associated with the securitization of $61.8 million of certain residential mortgage loans held in the Company's loan portfolio, resulting in the recognition of $927,000 in loan servicing income related to the future servicing of the underlying loans.
First Banks did not incur any impairment of mortgage servicing rights during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006. Amortization of mortgage servicing rights at September 30, 2007 has been estimated in the following table:
(dollars expressed in thousands) Year ending December 31: 2007 remaining........................................................... $ 460 2008..................................................................... 1,258 2009..................................................................... 836 2010..................................................................... 660 2011..................................................................... 548 2012..................................................................... 548 Thereafter............................................................... 343 ------- Total................................................................ $ 4,653 =======
Other Servicing Activities. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, First Banks serviced United States Small Business Administration (SBA) loans for others totaling $150.0 million and $143.4 million, respectively. Changes in SBA servicing rights, net of amortization and impairment, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- ------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance, beginning of period........................... $ 7,620 8,209 8,064 9,489 Originated SBA servicing rights........................ 709 215 1,699 533 Amortization........................................... (417) (396) (1,233) (1,254) Impairment............................................. (56) (180) (674) (920) ------- ------ ------ ------ Balance, end of period................................. $ 7,856 7,848 7,856 7,848 ======= ====== ====== ======
Amortization of SBA servicing rights at September 30, 2007 has been estimated in the following table:
(dollars expressed in thousands) Year ending December 31: 2007 remaining........................................................... $ 426 2008..................................................................... 1,493 2009..................................................................... 1,219 2010..................................................................... 992 2011..................................................................... 805 2012..................................................................... 651 Thereafter............................................................... 2,270 ------- Total................................................................ $ 7,856 =======
(5) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE The following is a reconciliation of basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:
Per Share Income Shares Amount ------ ------ ------ (dollars in thousands, except share and per share data) Three months ended September 30, 2007: Basic EPS - income available to common stockholders...... $14,800 23,661 $ 625.48 Effect of dilutive securities: Class A convertible preferred stock.................... 192 370 (1.64) ------- ------- --------- Diluted EPS - income available to common stockholders.... $14,992 24,031 $ 623.84 ======= ======= ========= Three months ended September 30, 2006: Basic EPS - income available to common stockholders...... $29,464 23,661 $1,245.28 Effect of dilutive securities: Class A convertible preferred stock.................... 192 430 (14.22) ------- ------- --------- Diluted EPS - income available to common stockholders.... $29,656 24,091 $1,231.06 ======= ======= ========= Nine months ended September 30, 2007: Basic EPS - income available to common stockholders...... $53,445 23,661 $2,258.77 Effect of dilutive securities: Class A convertible preferred stock.................... 513 385 (14.87) ------- ------- --------- Diluted EPS - income available to common stockholders.... $53,958 24,046 $2,243.90 ======= ======= ========= Nine months ended September 30, 2006: Basic EPS - income available to common stockholders...... $80,225 23,661 $3,390.62 Effect of dilutive securities: Class A convertible preferred stock.................... 513 456 (42.78) ------- ------- --------- Diluted EPS - income available to common stockholders.... $80,738 24,117 $3,347.84 ======= ======= =========
(6) TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES First Services, L.P., a limited partnership indirectly owned by First Banks' Chairman and members of his immediate family, provides information technology, item processing and various related services to First Banks, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Fees paid under agreements with First Services, L.P. were $7.5 million and $23.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $7.8 million and $22.8 million for the comparable periods in 2006. First Services, L.P. leases information technology and other equipment from First Bank. First Services, L.P. paid First Bank rental fees for the use of that equipment of $903,000 and $2.9 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $976,000 and $3.2 million for the comparable periods in 2006. First Brokerage America, L.L.C., a limited liability company indirectly owned by First Banks' Chairman and members of his immediate family, received approximately $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $703,000 and $2.1 million, respectively, for the comparable periods in 2006, in gross commissions paid by unaffiliated third-party companies. The commissions received were primarily in connection with the sales of annuities, securities and other insurance products to customers of First Bank. First Brokerage America, L.L.C. paid approximately $51,000 and $137,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $28,000 and $79,000 for the comparable periods in 2006, to First Bank in rental payments for occupancy of First Bank premises from which brokerage business is conducted. On January 16, 2007, First Banks contributed 48,796 shares of common stock held in its available-for-sale investment securities portfolio with a fair value of $1.7 million to the Dierberg Operating Foundation, Inc. (Foundation), a charitable foundation established by First Banks' Chairman and members of his immediate family. In conjunction with this transaction, First Banks recorded charitable contributions expense of $1.7 million, which was partially offset by a gain on the contribution of these available-for-sale investment securities of $147,000, representing the difference between the cost basis and the fair value of the common stock on the date of the contribution. In addition, First Banks recognized a tax benefit of $1.0 million associated with this transaction. During the second and third quarter of 2007, First Bank contributed $1.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively, to the Foundation, thereby bringing the total value of charitable contributions to the Foundation to $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, First Bank contributed $1.5 million and $4.5 million, respectively, to the Foundation. First Bank leases certain of its in-store branch offices and ATM sites from Dierbergs Markets, Inc., a grocery store chain headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri that is owned and operated by the brother of First Banks' Chairman and members of his immediate family. Total rent expense incurred by First Bank under the lease obligation contracts was $99,000 and $296,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $96,000 and $287,000 for the comparable periods in 2006. In June 2005, FCA, a corporation owned by First Banks' Chairman and members of his immediate family, became a 49.0% owner of SBLS LLC in exchange for $7.4 million pursuant to a written option agreement with First Bank. On January 2, 2007, First Bank contributed $4.0 million to SBLS LLC in the form of a capital contribution, which increased First Bank's ownership of SBLS LLC to 63.9% and decreased FCA's ownership to 36.1%. On June 29, 2007, First Bank contributed an additional $7.8 million to SBLS LLC in the form of a capital contribution, thereby increasing First Bank's ownership of SBLS LLC to 76.0% and decreasing FCA's ownership to 24.0%. In June 2005, SBLS LLC executed a Multi-Party Agreement by and among SBLS LLC, First Bank, Colson Services Corp., fiscal transfer agent for the SBA, and the SBA, in addition to a Loan and Security Agreement by and among First Bank and the SBA (collectively, the Agreement) that provided a $50.0 million warehouse line of credit for loan funding purposes. The Agreement provided for an initial maturity date of June 30, 2008, which was extended on June 15, 2006 by First Bank to June 30, 2009. Interest was payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a rate equal to First Bank's prime lending rate minus 50 basis points. On March 1, 2007, SBLS LLC modified the Agreement with First Bank. The primary modifications to the structure of the financing arrangement included (a) an increase in the warehouse line of credit from $50.0 million to $60.0 million; and (b) interest was payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a rate equal to First Bank's prime lending rate minus 50 basis points, with the option of electing to have a portion of the outstanding principal balance in amounts not greater than $40.0 million, in minimum increments of $500,000, bear interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 215 basis points, the three-month LIBOR plus 215 basis points or the long-term interest rate swap rate plus 215 basis points, provided that no more than three fixed-rate interest periods may be in effect at any given time and no interest period may extend beyond the maturity date. During the third quarter of 2007, SBLS LLC further modified the Agreement with First Bank. The primary modifications to the structure of the financing arrangement included (a) an extension of the maturity date to June 30, 2010 and (b) interest was payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a rate equal to First Bank's prime lending rate minus 100 basis points, with the option of electing to have a portion of the outstanding principal balance in amounts not greater than $40.0 million, in minimum increments of $500,000, bear interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to the one-month LIBOR plus 165 basis points, the three-month LIBOR plus 165 basis points or the long-term interest rate swap rate plus 165 basis points, provided that no more than three fixed-rate interest periods would be in effect at any given time and no interest period would extend beyond the maturity date. On September 28, 2007, the existing loan under the Agreement was refinanced by a Promissory Note entered into between SBLS LLC and First Bank that provides a $75.0 million unsecured revolving line of credit with a maturity date of September 30, 2008. Interest is payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding loan balances at a current rate equal to the 30-day LIBOR plus 40 basis points. The balance of advances outstanding under the Promissory Note was $47.7 million at September 30, 2007. The balance of advances outstanding under the Agreement was $47.5 million at December 31, 2006. Interest expense recorded by SBLS LLC under the Agreement and the Promissory Note for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 was $835,000 and $2.7 million, respectively, and $796,000 and $2.0 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The balance of the advances under the Promissory Note and the related interest expense recognized by SBLS LLC are fully eliminated for purposes of the Consolidated Financial Statements. First Bank has had in the past, and may have in the future, loan transactions in the ordinary course of business with its directors and/or their affiliates. These loan transactions have been on the same terms, including interest rates and collateral, as those prevailing at the time for comparable transactions with unaffiliated persons and did not involve more than the normal risk of collectibility or present other unfavorable features. Loans to directors, their affiliates and executive officers of First Banks, Inc. were approximately $54.8 million and $55.9 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. First Bank does not extend credit to its officers or to officers of First Banks, Inc., except extensions of credit secured by mortgages on personal residences, loans to purchase automobiles, personal credit card accounts and deposit account overdraft protection under a plan whereby a credit limit has been established in accordance with First Bank's standard credit criteria. In August 2005, First Bank entered into a contract with World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT), a wholly owned subsidiary of World Wide Technology Holding Co., Inc. (WWTHC). WWTHC is an electronic procurement and logistics company in the information technology industry headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The contract provided for WWT to provide information technology services associated with the initial phase of a corporate-wide upgrade of personal computers to First Bank employees in an ongoing effort to further standardize the technological infrastructure throughout the First Bank branch banking network. Mr. David L. Steward, a director of First Banks and a member of the Audit Committee of First Banks, serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWTHC. Prior to entering into this contract, the Audit Committee of First Banks reviewed and approved the utilization of WWT for information technology services for this phase of the project with fees not to exceed $500,000. First Bank made payments of $478,000 under the contract for the first phase of the project, of which $471,000 in payments were made during 2005 and an additional $7,000 in payments were made during the three months ended March 31, 2006. During 2006, First Bank evaluated the second phase of its corporate-wide personal computer upgrade project and entered into a contract with WWT in August 2006 for additional information technology services. Prior to entering into this contract, the Audit Committee of First Banks reviewed and approved the utilization of WWT for this phase of the project with fees not to exceed $500,000. First Bank made payments of $379,000 under the contract for the now completed second phase of the project, of which $367,000 in payments were made in the fourth quarter of 2006 and an additional $12,000 in payments were made during the first quarter of 2007. (7) REGULATORY CAPITAL First Banks and First Bank are subject to various regulatory capital requirements administered by the federal and state banking agencies. Failure to meet minimum capital requirements can initiate certain mandatory and possibly additional discretionary actions by regulators that, if undertaken, could have a direct material effect on First Banks' financial statements. Under capital adequacy guidelines and the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action, First Banks and First Bank must meet specific capital guidelines that involve quantitative measures of assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items as calculated under regulatory accounting practices. Capital amounts and classifications are also subject to qualitative judgments by the regulators about components, risk weightings and other factors. Quantitative measures established by regulation to ensure capital adequacy require First Banks and First Bank to maintain minimum amounts and ratios of total and Tier 1 capital (as defined in the regulations) to risk-weighted assets, and of Tier 1 capital to average assets. Management believes, as of September 30, 2007, First Banks and First Bank were each well capitalized. As of September 30, 2007, the most recent notification from First Banks' primary regulator categorized First Banks and First Bank as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action. To be categorized as well capitalized, First Banks and First Bank must maintain minimum total risk-based, Tier 1 risk-based and Tier 1 leverage ratios as set forth in the following table. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, First Banks' and First Bank's required and actual capital ratios were as follows:
Actual ------------------------------------------ For To be Well September 30, 2007 December 31, 2006 Capital Capitalized Under -------------------- ------------------- Adequacy Prompt Corrective Amount Ratio Amount Ratio Purposes Action Provisions ------ ----- ------ ----- -------- ----------------- (dollars expressed in thousands) Total capital (to risk-weighted assets): First Banks.......................... $1,024,818 10.64% $ 929,688 10.25% 8.0% 10.0% First Bank........................... 981,660 10.22 925,013 10.23 8.0 10.0 Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets): First Banks.......................... 843,366 8.76 789,967 8.71 4.0 6.0 First Bank........................... 861,302 8.96 811,530 8.97 4.0 6.0 Tier 1 capital (to average assets): First Banks.......................... 843,366 8.41 789,967 8.13 3.0 5.0 First Bank........................... 861,302 8.61 811,530 8.38 3.0 5.0
In March 2005, the Federal Reserve adopted a final rule, Risk-Based Capital Standards: Trust Preferred Securities and the Definition of Capital, which allows for the continued limited inclusion of trust preferred securities in Tier 1 capital. The Federal Reserve's final rule limits restricted core capital elements to 25% of the sum of all core capital elements, including restricted core capital elements, net of goodwill less any associated deferred tax liability. Amounts of restricted core capital elements in excess of these limits may generally be included in Tier 2 capital. Specifically, amounts of qualifying trust preferred securities and cumulative perpetual preferred stock in excess of the 25% limit may be included in Tier 2 capital, but will be limited, together with subordinated debt and limited-life preferred stock, to 50% of Tier 1 capital. In addition, the final rule provides that in the last five years before the maturity of the underlying subordinated note, the outstanding amount of the associated trust preferred securities is to be excluded from Tier 1 capital and included in Tier 2 capital, subject to one-fifth amortization per year. The final rule provides for a five-year transition period, ending March 31, 2009, for the application of the quantitative limits. Until March 31, 2009, the aggregate amount of qualifying cumulative perpetual preferred stock and qualifying trust preferred securities that may be included in Tier 1 capital is limited to 25% of the sum of the following core capital elements: qualifying common stockholders' equity, qualifying noncumulative and cumulative perpetual preferred stock, qualifying minority interest in the equity accounts of consolidated subsidiaries and qualifying trust preferred securities. First Banks has determined that the Federal Reserve's final rules that will be effective in March 2009, if implemented as of September 30, 2007, would reduce First Banks' Tier 1 capital (to risk-weighted assets) and Tier 1 capital (to average assets) to 7.88% and 7.56%, respectively, and would not have an impact on total capital (to risk-weighted assets). (8) BUSINESS SEGMENT RESULTS First Banks' business segment is First Bank. The reportable business segment is consistent with the management structure of First Banks, First Bank and the internal reporting system that monitors performance. First Bank provides similar products and services in its defined geographic areas through its branch network. The products and services offered include a broad range of commercial and personal deposit products, including demand, savings, money market and time deposit accounts. In addition, First Bank markets combined basic services for various customer groups, including packaged accounts for more affluent customers, and sweep accounts, lock-box deposits and cash management products for commercial customers. First Bank also offers consumer and commercial loans. Consumer lending includes residential real estate, home equity and installment lending. Commercial lending includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, real estate construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, small business lending, asset-based loans, trade financing and insurance premium financing. Other financial services include mortgage banking, debit cards, brokerage services, employee benefit and commercial and personal insurance services, internet banking, remote deposit, automated teller machines, telephone banking, safe deposit boxes, and trust, private banking and institutional money management services. The revenues generated by First Bank and its subsidiaries consist primarily of interest income, generated from the loan and investment security portfolios, service charges and fees generated from deposit products and services, and fees generated by First Banks' mortgage banking, insurance, and trust, private banking and institutional money management business units. First Banks' products and services are offered to customers primarily within its respective geographic areas, which include eastern Missouri, Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, southern and northern California, and Houston and Dallas, Texas. Certain loan products, including small business loans and insurance premium financing loans, are available nationwide through SBLS LLC and UPAC. The business segment results are consistent with First Banks' internal reporting system and, in all material respects, with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and practices predominant in the banking industry. The business segment results are summarized as follows:
Corporate, Other and Intercompany First Bank Reclassifications Consolidated Totals ---------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31, September 30, December 31, 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance sheet information: Investment securities.................. $ 1,141,782 1,439,118 23,735 25,828 1,165,517 1,464,946 Loans, net of unearned discount........ 8,132,773 7,666,481 -- -- 8,132,773 7,666,481 Goodwill and other intangible assets... 314,084 295,382 -- -- 314,084 295,382 Total assets........................... 10,241,940 10,116,246 30,096 42,468 10,272,036 10,158,714 Deposits............................... 8,668,137 8,550,062 (45,792) (106,976) 8,622,345 8,443,086 Other borrowings....................... 310,772 373,899 -- -- 310,772 373,899 Notes payable.......................... -- -- 10,000 65,000 10,000 65,000 Subordinated debentures................ -- -- 353,733 297,966 353,733 297,966 Stockholders' equity................... 1,158,969 1,086,876 (302,108) (286,441) 856,861 800,435 =========== ========== ======== ======== ========== ========== Corporate, Other and Intercompany First Bank Reclassifications Consolidated Totals ---------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- Three Months Ended Three Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, September 30, September 30, ---------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Income statement information: Interest income........................ $ 177,769 168,024 336 269 178,105 168,293 Interest expense....................... 73,840 61,445 6,419 7,664 80,259 69,109 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net interest income.................. 103,929 106,579 (6,083) (7,395) 97,846 99,184 Provision for loan losses.............. 17,000 2,000 -- -- 17,000 2,000 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses.................... 86,929 104,579 (6,083) (7,395) 80,846 97,184 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Noninterest income..................... 26,991 29,840 (151) 154 26,840 29,994 Amortization of intangible assets...... 3,142 2,243 -- -- 3,142 2,243 Other noninterest expense.............. 80,244 78,117 1,143 113 81,387 78,230 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary........ 30,534 54,059 (7,377) (7,354) 23,157 46,705 Provision for income taxes............. 10,703 19,827 (2,616) (2,578) 8,087 17,249 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Income before minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary........ 19,831 34,232 (4,761) (4,776) 15,070 29,456 Minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary...................... 74 (204) -- -- 74 (204) ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net income........................... $ 19,757 34,436 (4,761) (4,776) 14,996 29,660 =========== ========== ======== ======== ========== ========== Corporate, Other and Intercompany First Bank Reclassifications Consolidated Totals ---------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, September 30, ---------------------------- --------------------------- --------------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Income statement information: Interest income........................ $ 526,415 472,551 836 707 527,251 473,258 Interest expense....................... 218,164 165,808 19,609 21,720 237,773 187,528 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net interest income.................. 308,251 306,743 (18,773) (21,013) 289,478 285,730 Provision for loan losses.............. 26,000 8,000 -- -- 26,000 8,000 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net interest income after provision for loan losses.................... 282,251 298,743 (18,773) (21,013) 263,478 277,730 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Noninterest income..................... 75,787 81,596 (327) (226) 75,460 81,370 Amortization of intangible assets...... 9,295 5,440 -- -- 9,295 5,440 Other noninterest expense.............. 241,308 228,535 4,062 2,364 245,370 230,899 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Income before provision for income taxes and minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary........ 107,435 146,364 (23,162) (23,603) 84,273 122,761 Provision for income taxes............. 38,658 50,717 (8,529) (8,265) 30,129 42,452 ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Income before minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary........ 68,777 95,647 (14,633) (15,338) 54,144 80,309 Minority interest in income (loss) of subsidiary...................... 175 (440) -- -- 175 (440) ----------- ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ---------- Net income........................... $ 68,602 96,087 (14,633) (15,338) 53,969 80,749 =========== ========== ======== ======== ========== ==========
(9) OTHER BORROWINGS Other borrowings were comprised of the following at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
September 30, December 31, 2007 2006 ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Securities sold under agreements to repurchase: Daily......................................................... $206,872 169,874 Term.......................................................... 100,000 200,000 FHLB advances..................................................... 3,900 4,025 -------- -------- Total.................................................... $310,772 373,899 ======== ========
The maturity dates, par amounts, interest rate spreads and interest rate floor strike prices on First Bank's term repurchase agreements as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as follows:
Interest Rate Interest Rate Floor Maturity Date Par Amount Spread (1) Strike Price (1) ------------- ---------- ------ ------------ (dollars expressed in thousands) September 30, 2007: October 12, 2010............................. $ 100,000 LIBOR - 0.5100% 4.50% ========= December 31, 2006: July 19, 2010 (2)............................ $ 100,000 LIBOR + 0.5475% 5.00% October 12, 2010............................. 100,000 LIBOR - 0.5100% 4.50% --------- $ 200,000 ========= ------------------------ (1) The interest rate paid on the term repurchase agreements is based on the three-month LIBOR plus or minus the spread amount shown minus a floating rate, subject to a 0% floor, equal to two times the differential between the three-month LIBOR and the strike price shown, if the three-month LIBOR falls below the strike price associated with the interest rate floor agreements. (2) First Bank terminated this term repurchase agreement on August 7, 2007, resulting in a prepayment penalty of $330,000.
(10) NOTES PAYABLE On August 8, 2007, First Banks entered into a $125.0 million Secured Credit Agreement with a group of unaffiliated financial institutions (Secured Credit Agreement) to renew and modify its existing $96.0 million First Amendment to its Amended and Restated Secured Credit Agreement, dated August 10, 2006 (Predecessor Agreement). The terms and conditions of the Secured Credit Agreement provide for a $125.0 million revolving credit facility that includes: (i) a $5.0 million sub-facility for the issuance of standby letters of credit; (ii) a $10.0 million sub-facility for swingline loans (from the Agent as Swingline Lender); and (iii) three-year term loan conversion options with minimum borrowing amounts of $10.0 million, amortizing with equal quarterly installments of principal based on a four-year straight-line amortization schedule and a final maturity of three years from execution of each term loan, including the existing term loan, which had a balance of $35.0 million as of August 8, 2007 (Existing Term Loan). Each term loan, including the Existing Term Loan, will reduce the availability under the revolving credit facility. First Banks has the right to request an increase in the Secured Credit Agreement to $150.0 million, with a minimum increase of $10.0 million and additional increments of $5.0 million. Interest is payable on outstanding principal loan balances of the revolving credit loan and each term loan at a floating rate equal to either the lender's prime rate or, at First Banks' option, LIBOR plus a margin determined by the outstanding principal loan balances and First Banks' net income for the preceding four calendar quarters. If the outstanding principal loan balances under the revolving credit loan and each term loan are accruing at the prime rate, interest is payable quarterly in arrears. If the outstanding principal loan balances under the revolving credit loan and each term loan are accruing at LIBOR, interest is payable based on the one, two, three or six-month LIBOR, as selected by First Banks. First Banks is also subject to a quarterly commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility. Amounts may be borrowed under the revolving credit facility until August 7, 2008, at which time the principal and interest is due and payable, excluding the term loans. First Banks' Existing Term Loan is payable in quarterly installments of $5.0 million, at a minimum, with the remaining balance to be repaid in full, including any unpaid interest, upon maturity on March 31, 2009. Interest is payable on outstanding principal loan balances of the swingline loans at a floating rate equal to the lender's prime rate. The principal balances of the swingline loans, together with accrued and unpaid interest, are payable on the next to occur date of either the fifteenth day of the month or the last business day of the month following the advance date(s) of the swingline loans. Letters of credit issued to unaffiliated third parties on behalf of First Banks under the $5.0 million standby letter of credit sub-facility portion of the Secured Credit Agreement were $450,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, and had not been drawn on by the counterparties. First Banks had not drawn any advances on the revolving credit sub-facility portion of the Secured Credit Agreement as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, First Banks made payments of $55.0 million on the outstanding principal balance of the Existing Term Loan, reducing the balance from $65.0 million at December 31, 2006 to $10.0 million at September 30, 2007. The Secured Credit Agreement requires maintenance of certain minimum capital ratios for First Banks and First Bank, certain maximum nonperforming assets ratios for First Bank and a minimum return on assets ratio for First Banks. In addition, it contains additional covenants, including a limitation on the amount of dividends on First Banks' common stock that may be paid to stockholders. The Secured Credit Agreement is secured by First Banks' ownership interest in the capital stock of SFC and First Bank. First Banks and First Bank were in compliance with all restrictions and requirements of the Secured Credit Agreement and the Predecessor Agreement at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006. (11) SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES First Banks has formed or assumed various affiliated Delaware or Connecticut statutory and business trusts (collectively, the Trusts) that were created for the sole purpose of issuing trust preferred securities. The trust preferred securities were issued in private placements, with the exception of First Preferred Capital Trust III and First Preferred Capital Trust IV, which were issued in underwritten public offerings. First Banks owns all of the common securities of the Trusts. The gross proceeds of the offerings were used by the Trusts to purchase fixed rate or variable rate subordinated debentures from First Banks. The subordinated debentures are the sole asset of the Trusts. In connection with the issuance of the trust preferred securities, First Banks made certain guarantees and commitments that, in the aggregate, constitute a full and unconditional guarantee by First Banks of the obligations of the Trusts under the trust preferred securities. First Banks' distributions accrued on the subordinated debentures were $5.9 million and $17.6 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $6.1 million and $16.1 million for the comparable periods in 2006. A summary of the subordinated debentures issued to the Trusts in conjunction with the trust preferred securities offerings at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as follows:
Subordinated Debentures -------------------- Trust September December Maturity Call Interest Preferred 30, 31, Name of Trust Issuance Date Date Date (1) Rate (2) Securities 2007 2006 ------------- ------------- ---- ---- ---- ---------- ---- ---- Variable Rate - ------------- First Bank Capital Trust (3) April 2002 April 22, 2032 April 22, 2007 + 387.5 bp $25,000 -- 25,774 First Bank Statutory Trust II September 2004 September 20, 2034 September 20, 2009 + 205.0 bp 20,000 20,619 20,619 Royal Oaks Capital Trust I (4) October 2004 January 7, 2035 January 7, 2010 + 240.0 bp 4,000 4,124 -- First Bank Statutory Trust III November 2004 December 15, 2034 December 15, 2009 + 218.0 bp 40,000 41,238 41,238 First Bank Statutory Trust IV March 2006 March 15, 2036 March 15, 2011 + 142.0 bp 40,000 41,238 41,238 First Bank Statutory Trust V April 2006 June 15, 2036 June 15, 2011 + 145.0 bp 20,000 20,619 20,619 First Bank Statutory Trust VI June 2006 July 7, 2036 July 7, 2011 + 165.0 bp 25,000 25,774 25,774 First Bank Statutory Trust VII December 2006 December 15, 2036 December 15, 2011 + 185.0 bp 50,000 51,547 51,547 First Bank Statutory Trust VIII (5) February 2007 March 30, 2037 March 30, 2012 + 161.0 bp 25,000 25,774 -- First Bank Statutory Trust X (6) August 2007 September 15, 2037 September 15, 2012 + 230.0 bp 15,000 15,464 -- First Bank Statutory Trust IX (7) September 2007 December 15, 2037 December 15, 2012 + 225.0 bp 25,000 25,774 -- First Bank Statutory Trust XI (8) September 2007 December 15, 2037 December 15, 2012 + 285.0 bp 10,000 10,310 -- Fixed Rate - ---------- First Preferred Capital Trust III (9) November 2001 December 31, 2031 December 31, 2006 9.00% 55,200 -- -- First Bank Statutory Trust March 2003 March 20, 2033 March 20, 2008 8.10% 25,000 25,774 25,774 First Preferred Capital Trust IV April 2003 June 30, 2033 June 30, 2008 8.15% 46,000 47,423 47,423 (1) The subordinated debentures are callable at the option of First Banks on the call date shown at 100% of the principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. (2) The interest rates paid on the trust preferred securities are based on either a fixed rate or a variable rate. The variable rate is based on the three-month LIBOR plus the basis point spread shown, with the exception of First Bank Capital Trust, which was based on the six-month LIBOR plus the basis point spread shown. (3) On April 22, 2007, First Banks redeemed the cumulative variable rate trust preferred securities at the liquidation value of $1,000 per preferred security, together with distributions accumulated and unpaid to the redemption date. In conjunction with this transaction, First Banks paid in full its outstanding $25.8 million of subordinated debentures that were issued by First Banks to First Bank Capital Trust. The funds necessary for the redemption of the subordinated debentures were provided by internally generated funds and the net proceeds from the issuance of $25.8 million of subordinated debentures to First Bank Statutory Trust VIII (FBST VIII) on February 23, 2007, as further described below. (4) In conjunction with the acquisition of Royal Oaks on February 28, 2007, as further described in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, First Banks assumed the subordinated debentures of Royal Oaks Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory trust. (5) On February 23, 2007, FBST VIII, a newly formed Delaware statutory trust, issued 25,000 variable rate trust preferred securities at $1,000 per security in a private placement, and issued 774 common securities to First Banks at $1,000 per security. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears. (6) On August 31, 2007, First Bank Statutory Trust X, a newly formed Delaware statutory trust, issued 15,000 variable rate trust preferred securities at$1,000 per security in a private placement, and issued 464 common securities to First Banks at $1,000 per security. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears, beginning on December 15, 2007. (7) On September 20, 2007, First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a newly formed Delaware statutory trust, issued 25,000 variable rate trust preferred securities at $1,000 per security in a private placement, and issued 774 common securities to First Banks at $1,000 per security. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears, beginning on December 15, 2007. (8) On September 28, 2007, First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a newly formed Delaware statutory trust, issued 10,000 variable rate trust preferred securities at $1,000 per security in a private placement, and issued 310 common securities to First Banks at $1,000 per security. Interest is payable quarterly in arrears, beginning on December 15, 2007. (9) On December 31, 2006, First Banks redeemed the cumulative fixed rate trust preferred securities at the liquidation value of $25 per preferred security, together with distributions accumulated and unpaid to the redemption date. In conjunction with this transaction, First Banks paid in full its outstanding $56.9 million of subordinated debentures that were issued by First Banks to First Preferred Capital Trust III. The net proceeds associated with these transactions were paid on January 2, 2007. The funds necessary for the redemption of the subordinated debentures were provided by internally generated funds and the net proceeds from the issuance of additional subordinated debentures to First Bank Statutory Trust VII on December 14, 2006.
(12) INCOME TAXES On January 1, 2007, First Banks implemented FIN 48. The implementation of FIN 48 resulted in the recognition of a cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $2.5 million, which was recorded as an increase to beginning retained earnings. First Banks' liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $2.5 million at January 1, 2007, after consideration of the $2.5 million cumulative effect of change in accounting principle adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings. The total amount of federal and state unrecognized tax benefits at January 1, 2007 that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate, was $1.4 million, net of the federal tax benefit. First Banks' liability for unrecognized tax benefits was $11.7 million at September 30, 2007, of which $2.1 million would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, First Banks recorded additional liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits of $9.2 million that, if recognized, would decrease the effective tax rate by $684,000, net of the Federal tax benefit. First Banks expects a reduction of $759,000 in unrecognized state tax benefits during the remainder of 2007 as a result of the statute of limitations closing for the 2002 and 2003 tax years, of which the impact to the effective tax rate is estimated to be approximately $442,000, net of the Federal tax benefit. In accordance with FIN 48, it is First Banks' policy to separately disclose any interest or penalties arising from the application of federal or state income taxes. Interest related to unrecognized tax benefits is included in interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits are included in noninterest expense. At January 1, 2007 and September 30, 2007, the balance of interest accrued on unrecognized tax benefits was $944,000 and $1.4 million, respectively. The amount of interest expense recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 was ($2,000) and $468,000, respectively. First Banks expects a reduction of approximately $216,000 in accrued interest on unrecognized tax benefits during the remainder of 2007 as a result of the statute of limitations closing for the 2002 and 2003 tax years. There were no penalties related to tax matters accrued at January 1, 2007, nor did the Company recognize any penalties during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007. First Banks and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various states. Management of First Banks believes the accrual for tax liabilities is adequate for all open audit years based on its assessment of many factors, including past experience and interpretations of tax law applied to the facts of each matter. This assessment relies on estimates and assumptions. First Banks is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local income tax examination by tax authorities for the years prior to 2002, with the exception of certain states where the statute of limitations is four years. In those circumstances, First Banks is no longer subject to examination for the years prior to 2001. At September 30, 2007, there were no federal or state income tax examinations in process. (13) CONTINGENT LIABILITIES In October 2000, First Banks entered into two continuing guaranty contracts. For value received, and for the purpose of inducing a pension fund and its trustees and a welfare fund and its trustees (the Funds) to conduct business with MVP, First Bank's institutional investment management subsidiary, First Banks irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed payment of and promised to pay to each of the Funds any amounts up to the sum of $5.0 million to the extent MVP is liable to the Funds for a breach of the Investment Management Agreements (including the Investment Policy Statement and Investment Guidelines), by and between MVP and the Funds and/or any violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by MVP resulting in liability to the Funds. The guaranties are continuing guaranties of all obligations that may arise for transactions occurring prior to termination of the Investment Management Agreements and are coexistent with the term of the Investment Management Agreements. The Investment Management Agreements have no specified term but may be terminated at any time upon written notice by the Trustees or, at First Banks' option, upon thirty days written notice to the Trustees. In the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreements, such termination shall have no effect on the liability of First Banks with respect to obligations incurred before such termination. The obligations of First Banks are joint and several with those of MVP. First Banks does not have any recourse provisions that would enable it to recover from third parties any amounts paid under the contracts nor does First Banks hold any assets as collateral that, upon occurrence of a required payment under the contract, could be liquidated to recover all or a portion of the amount(s) paid. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, First Banks had not recorded a liability for the obligations associated with these guaranty contracts as the likelihood that First Banks will be required to make payments under the contracts is remote. (14) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS In October 2007, First Banks completed the sale of approximately $9.4 million of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans that were transferred to loans held for sale during the quarter ended September 30, 2007. First Banks did not recognize a gain or loss on the sale of these loans in October 2007 as these loans were carried at lower of cost or market value at September 30, 2007. The sale resulted in a decrease in nonperforming loans of approximately $8.6 million, in aggregate. In November 2007, First Banks securitized approximately $102.0 million of certain residential mortgage loans held in its loan portfolio and subsequently sold the securities. In conjunction with the securitization of the loans and the sale of the securities, First Banks recorded a net gain of approximately $146,000. ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The discussion set forth in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business. Generally, forward-looking statements may be identified through the use of words such as: "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," or words of similar meaning or future or conditional terms such as: "will," "would," "should," "could," "may," "likely," "probably," or "possibly." Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, estimates or projections with respect to our future financial condition, and expected or anticipated revenues with respect to our results of operations and our business. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, not all of which can be predicted or anticipated. Factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements herein include market conditions as well as conditions affecting the banking industry generally and factors having a specific impact on us, including but not limited to: fluctuations in interest rates and in the economy, including the threat of future terrorist activities, existing and potential wars and/or military actions related thereto, and domestic responses to terrorism or threats of terrorism; the impact of laws and regulations applicable to us and changes therein; the impact of accounting pronouncements applicable to us and changes therein; competitive conditions in the markets in which we conduct our operations, including competition from banking and non-banking companies with substantially greater resources than us, some of which may offer and develop products and services not offered by us; our ability to control the composition of our loan portfolio without adversely affecting interest income; the credit risk associated with consumers who may not repay loans; the geographic dispersion of our offices; the impact our hedging activities may have on our operating results; the highly regulated environment in which we operate; and our ability to respond to changes in technology. With regard to our efforts to grow through acquisitions, factors that could affect the accuracy or completeness of forward-looking statements contained herein include: our ability to consummate pending acquisitions; the competition of larger acquirers with greater resources; fluctuations in the prices at which acquisition targets may be available for sale; the impact of making acquisitions without using our common stock; and possible asset quality issues, pending litigation, unknown liabilities and/or integration issues with the businesses that we have acquired. For discussion of these and other risk factors, refer to our 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We do not have a duty to and will not update these forward-looking statements. Readers of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should therefore consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and should not place undo reliance on these statements. General We are a registered bank holding company incorporated in Missouri in 1978 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. We operate through our wholly owned subsidiary bank holding company, The San Francisco Company, or SFC, and SFC's wholly owned subsidiary bank, First Bank, both headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. First Bank operates through its subsidiaries, as listed below, and its branch banking offices. First Bank's subsidiaries are wholly owned except Small Business Loan Source LLC, or SBLS LLC, which is 76.0% owned by First Bank and 24.0% owned by First Capital America, Inc. as of September 30, 2007. >> First Bank Business Capital, Inc.; >> Missouri Valley Partners, Inc., or MVP; >> Adrian N. Baker & Company, or Adrian Baker; >> Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, UPAC of California, Inc., collectively UPAC; and >> SBLS LLC. At September 30, 2007, we had assets of $10.27 billion, loans, net of unearned discount, of $8.13 billion, deposits of $8.62 billion and stockholders' equity of $856.9 million, and currently operate 198 branch banking offices in California, Illinois, Missouri and Texas. Through First Bank, we offer a broad range of financial services, including commercial and personal deposit products, commercial and consumer lending, and many other financial products and services. Commercial and personal deposit products include demand, savings, money market and time deposit accounts. In addition, we market combined basic services for various customer groups, including packaged accounts for more affluent customers, and sweep accounts, lock-box deposits and cash management products for commercial customers. Commercial lending includes commercial, financial and agricultural loans, real estate construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, small business lending, asset-based loans, trade financing and insurance premium financing. Consumer lending includes residential real estate, home equity and installment lending. Other financial services include mortgage banking, debit cards, brokerage services, employee benefit and commercial and personal insurance services, internet banking, remote deposit, automated teller machines, telephone banking, safe deposit boxes, and trust, private banking and institutional money management services. The revenues generated by First Bank and its subsidiaries consist primarily of interest income, generated from the loan and investment security portfolios, service charges and fees generated from deposit products and services, and fees and commissions generated by our mortgage banking, insurance, and trust, private banking and institutional money management business units. Our extensive line of products and services are offered to customers primarily within our geographic areas, which include eastern Missouri, Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area, southern and northern California, and Houston and Dallas, Texas. Certain loan products, including small business loans and insurance premium financing loans, are available nationwide through SBLS LLC and UPAC. Primary responsibility for managing our banking unit rests with the officers and directors of each unit, but we centralize many of our overall corporate policies, procedures and administrative functions and provide centralized operational support functions for our subsidiaries. This practice allows us to achieve various operating efficiencies while allowing our banking units to focus on customer service. Financial Condition Total assets were $10.27 billion at September 30, 2007 reflecting a $113.3 million increase from $10.16 billion at December 31, 2006. The net increase in our total assets reflects internal loan growth, our acquisition of Royal Oaks Bancshares, Inc., or Royal Oaks, on February 28, 2007, and the opening of six de novo branch offices during the first nine months of 2007, offset by a net decrease in our investment securities portfolio and in cash and short-term investments, which include federal funds sold and interest-bearing deposits. Our acquisition of Royal Oaks provided assets of $206.9 million, as summarized in the table below and further described in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Loans, net of unearned discount, increased $466.3 million to $8.13 billion at September 30, 2007, from $7.67 billion at December 31, 2006, reflecting internal growth and the addition of $175.5 million of loans associated with our acquisition of Royal Oaks, partially offset by a decrease in loans held for sale as a result of a decline in one-to-four family mortgage loan production volumes, as further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." Funds available from maturities of investment securities and deposit growth, as well as funds available from short-term investments, were utilized to fund internal loan growth. Our investment securities portfolio decreased $299.4 million to $1.17 billion at September 30, 2007, from $1.46 billion at December 31, 2006. Funds provided by maturities of investment securities were reinvested in higher-yielding investment securities as well as used to fund internal loan growth. The decrease in our investment securities portfolio also includes an $81.2 million reduction in our trading portfolio following the liquidation of our trading portfolio in July 2007. Goodwill and other intangible assets increased $18.7 million to $314.1 million at September 30, 2007, primarily resulting from goodwill and core deposit intangibles recorded in conjunction with our acquisition of Royal Oaks, as more fully described in Note 2 and Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The overall increase in our total assets also reflects an increase of $38.2 million in net bank premises and equipment, primarily due to our acquisition of Royal Oaks and capital expenditures associated with de novo branch offices, branch remodels and branch relocations, along with an increase in deferred income taxes of $2.3 million, as more fully described in Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The overall increase in our total assets was partially offset by an $11.3 million decrease in other assets. As shown in the following table, we completed our acquisition of Royal Oaks, located in Houston, Texas, on February 28, 2007, adding a total of six branch offices. In addition, we further expanded our branch office network with the opening of six de novo branch offices during the first nine months of 2007, located in Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco, California, Houston, Texas, and two in the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area.
Loans, Number Net of Goodwill of Entity / Total Unearned Investment Purchase and Other Banking Closing Date Assets Discount Securities Deposits Price Intangibles Locations ------------ ------ -------- ---------- -------- ----- ----------- --------- (dollars expressed in thousands) Royal Oaks Bancshares, Inc. Houston, Texas February 28, 2007 $206,900 175,500 4,100 159,100 38,600 27,700 6 ======== ======= ===== ======= ====== ====== ==
Deposits increased $179.3 million to $8.62 billion at September 30, 2007, from $8.44 billion at December 31, 2006, reflecting growth in savings and money market deposits through enhanced product campaigns, in addition to growth in time deposits greater than $100,000. Deposits provided by our acquisition of Royal Oaks were $159.1 million, in aggregate. Our deposit growth during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 reflects a $323.7 million increase in our savings and money market accounts, and a $58.6 million increase in our time deposits of $100,000 or more; partially offset by an $85.2 million decline in our noninterest-bearing demand accounts, a $60.5 million decline in our interest-bearing demand deposits, and a $57.3 million decline in our other time deposits. Organic growth in our savings, money market and time deposits is primarily attributable to our continued focus on marketing these deposit products, our deposit pricing strategies and our ongoing efforts to further develop multiple account relationships with our customers. Deposits at September 30, 2007 decreased $131.0 million from $8.75 billion at June 30, 2007. The decrease in deposits during the third quarter of 2007 reflects the sale of two banking offices located in Denton and Garland, Texas on July 19, 2007, which resulted in a decrease in deposits of $52.0 million. In addition, we completed certain margin improvement initiatives associated with our deposit portfolio during the third quarter of 2007. These initiatives, in addition to increased competition on interest rates within our market areas, contributed to the attrition of certain deposits during the quarter. The impact of continued aggressive competition within our market areas, coupled with an anticipated amount of attrition associated with our 2006 and 2007 acquisitions and our recent margin improvement initiatives, continue to have a significant influence on the level of our deposits and the interest rates paid on those deposits. Other borrowings, which are comprised of securities sold under agreements to repurchase and Federal Home Loan Bank, or FHLB, advances, were $310.8 million at September 30, 2007 compared to $373.9 million at December 31, 2006. The decrease reflects the termination of a $100.0 million term repurchase agreement in August 2007, as further described in Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, partially offset by a $37.0 million increase in retail securities sold under agreements to repurchase. Notes payable decreased $55.0 million to $10.0 million at September 30, 2007 as a result of scheduled quarterly principal installment payments of $5.0 million and additional prepayments of $40.0 million on our term loan facility, as further described in Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Subordinated debentures increased $55.8 million to $353.7 million at September 30, 2007, from $298.0 million at December 31, 2006. On February 23, 2007, we issued $25.8 million of variable rate subordinated debentures in a private placement to First Bank Statutory Trust VIII, a newly formed statutory trust. A portion of the proceeds from the issuance of these subordinated debentures was utilized to fund our acquisition of Royal Oaks. We also assumed $4.1 million of subordinated debentures with our acquisition of Royal Oaks that Royal Oaks Bancshares, Inc. had previously issued to Royal Oaks Capital Trust I. On April 22, 2007, we repaid in full $25.8 million of variable rate subordinated debentures that were issued to First Bank Capital Trust, or FBCT, in conjunction with the redemption of the cumulative variable rate trust preferred securities issued by FBCT. During the third quarter of 2007, we issued an additional $51.5 million of variable rate subordinated debentures in private placements to three newly formed statutory trusts. On August 31, 2007, we issued $15.5 million of variable rate subordinated debentures to First Bank Statutory Trust X; on September 20, 2007, we issued $25.8 million of variable rate subordinated debentures to First Bank Statutory Trust IX; and on September 28, 2007, we issued $10.3 million of variable rate subordinated debentures to First Bank Statutory Trust XI, as further described in Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. On January 2, 2007, we repaid in full $56.9 million of subordinated debentures in conjunction with the December 31, 2006 redemption of the trust preferred securities of our former business trust, First Preferred Capital Trust III. This payment contributed to a decrease in our accrued expenses and other liabilities, which declined $58.2 million to $71.8 million at September 30, 2007 from $130.0 million at December 31, 2006. Stockholders' equity was $856.9 million and $800.4 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The increase of $56.4 million is attributable to: (a) net income of $54.0 million; (b) a $2.5 million cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle recorded in conjunction with our adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Interpretation No. 48 - -- Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109 - -- Accounting for Income Taxes, or FIN 48, as further discussed in Note 1 and Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements; and (c) a $511,000 decrease in accumulated other comprehensive loss, comprised of a $5.1 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive income related to an increase in the fair value of our derivative financial instruments, and a $4.5 million increase in accumulated other comprehensive loss related to a decrease in the fair value of our available-for-sale investment securities portfolio; partially offset by (d) dividends of $524,000 paid on our Class A and Class B preferred stock. Results of Operations Net Income. Net income was $15.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $29.7 million for the comparable period in 2006. Net income was $54.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $80.7 million for the comparable period in 2006. Our return on average assets was 0.58% and 0.70% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 1.22% and 1.14% for the comparable periods in 2006. Our return on average stockholders' equity was 7.06% and 8.70% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 16.01% and 15.08% for the comparable periods in 2006. The decline in earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 reflects an increase in our provision for loan losses; compression of our net interest margin due primarily to increased deposit costs and competitive pressure on loan yields; lower noninterest income levels primarily attributable to reduced mortgage banking revenues; and higher noninterest expense levels primarily related to recent acquisitions and expansionary de novo branch offices. Our net interest income was $97.8 million and $289.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $99.2 million and $285.7 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Our net interest margin declined to 4.12% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 4.45% and 4.39% for the comparable periods in 2006. The decline in our net interest margin primarily resulted from an increase in higher priced deposits driven by highly competitive pricing within our markets and a shift in our deposit mix to increased time deposits and savings and money market accounts, in contrast to demand accounts, as well as competitive pressures on loan yields. The average rates paid on interest-bearing deposits increased to 3.70% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2006, while the average yield earned on interest-earning assets decreased to 7.48% for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and increased to 7.49% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006, contributing to a reduction in our net interest margin. Average interest-earning assets increased 6.6% and 7.9% to $9.47 billion and $9.44 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, from $8.88 billion and $8.74 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. See further discussion under "--Net Interest Income." Our provision for loan losses increased to $17.0 million and $26.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $2.0 million and $8.0 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase in our provision for loan losses was primarily driven by loan growth, increased net loan charge-offs and deterioration in asset quality within our one-to-four family residential mortgage and real estate construction and development loan portfolios, as further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." Noninterest income was $26.8 million and $75.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $30.0 million and $81.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The decline in our noninterest income primarily resulted from a decline in mortgage banking revenues including significantly reduced gains on loans sold and held for sale. The gain on loans sold and held for sale decreased to $3.5 million and $12.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $4.6 million and $17.5 million for the same periods in 2006 due primarily to a decrease in the volume of loans originated and sold. Gains on loans sold and held for sale for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 also include a $1.7 million gain on the sale of certain nonperforming loans and $2.1 million of increased loan servicing income generated from the capitalization of mortgage servicing rights related to the securitization of $138.9 million of residential mortgage loans. The decrease in noninterest income is also attributable to a $2.8 million gain recognized in the third quarter of 2006 on the cash exchange of stock received as settlement in full of a previously charged-off loan. The overall decline in noninterest income was partially offset by increased revenue from service charges on deposits and customer service fees generated by higher deposit levels and changes in the overall mix of our deposit portfolio; increased insurance fee and commission income generated through our recently acquired insurance brokerage subsidiary in March 2006; a gain on the sale of First Bank's Denton and Garland, Texas branches of $1.0 million during the third quarter of 2007; and a decrease in losses on sales of investment securities. See further discussion under "--Noninterest Income." Noninterest expense was $84.5 million and $254.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $80.5 million and $236.3 million for the same periods in 2006. We attribute the increase in overall expense levels, specifically salaries and employee benefits expense, occupancy and furniture and equipment expense, and amortization of intangible assets, to the significant expansion of our branch office network and employee base following the completion of numerous acquisitions of banks and branch offices in 2006 and 2007; the acquisition of UPAC, our insurance premium financing company, and Adrian Baker, our insurance brokerage agency, in 2006; and the opening of six de novo branch offices during the first nine months of 2007. We continue to closely monitor our noninterest expense levels, and have implemented certain expense reduction measures, including but not limited to, certain staffing reductions primarily associated with our mortgage banking division in light of the discontinuation of the origination and sale of sub-prime loans in the secondary market. We are also evaluating additional expense reduction measures in an effort to reduce our noninterest expense levels in future periods. See further discussion under "--Noninterest Expense." Net Interest Income. Net interest income, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, increased to $290.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $286.9 million for the comparable period in 2006. Net interest income, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, decreased to $98.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to $99.6 million for the comparable period in 2006. Our net interest margin declined 33 and 27 basis points to 4.12% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, from 4.45% and 4.39% for the comparable periods in 2006. Net interest income is the difference between interest earned on our interest-earning assets, such as loans and investment securities, and interest paid on our interest-bearing liabilities, such as deposits and borrowings. Net interest income is affected by the level and composition of assets, liabilities and stockholders' equity, as well as the general level of interest rates and changes in interest rates. Interest income expressed on a tax-equivalent basis includes the additional amount of interest income that would have been earned if our investment in certain tax-exempt interest-earning assets had been made in assets subject to federal, state and local income taxes yielding the same after-tax income. Net interest margin is determined by dividing net interest income computed on a tax-equivalent basis by average interest-earning assets. The interest rate spread is the difference between the average tax-equivalent yield earned on interest-earning assets and the average rate paid on interest-bearing liabilities. The increase in net interest income during the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 reflects an increase in average interest-earning assets provided by internal growth and our 2006 and 2007 acquisitions, and increasing rates earned on our interest-earning assets, partially offset by an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and interest rates paid on those liabilities. The decrease in net interest income during the three months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 reflects lower rates earned on interest-earning assets, primarily attributable to a reduction in yields on our loan portfolio, as discussed below, and an increase in average interest-bearing liabilities and interest rates paid on those liabilities, partially offset by an increase in average interest-earning assets. The decline in our net interest margin was primarily due to an increase in higher priced deposits driven by competitive conditions within our markets and a shift in our deposit mix that reflects increased average time deposits and savings and money market accounts, in contrast to demand accounts. The average rates paid on our interest-bearing deposits increased 37 and 62 basis points to 3.70% during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 3.33% and 3.08% for the same periods in 2006. The average yield earned on our interest-earning assets decreased five basis points to 7.48% for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 7.53% for the same period in 2006, and increased 23 basis points to 7.49% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, from 7.26% for the same period in 2006, contributing to a reduction of our net interest margin. Average interest-earning assets increased $586.3 million, or 6.6%, to $9.47 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2007, from $8.88 billion for the comparable period in 2006, and average interest-earning assets increased $694.5 million, or 7.9%, to $9.44 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, from $8.74 billion for the comparable period in 2006. The increase is primarily attributable to continued internal loan growth, and interest-earning assets provided by our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007, which provided assets, in aggregate, of $794.3 million and $206.9 million, respectively. Average interest-bearing liabilities increased $619.3 million, or 8.2%, to $8.16 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2007, from $7.54 billion for the comparable period in 2006, and average interest-bearing liabilities increased $725.2 million, or 9.8%, to $8.11 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, from $7.39 billion for the comparable period in 2006. Interest income on our loan portfolio, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, increased to $160.4 million and $472.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $153.5 million and $426.9 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Average loans, net of unearned discount, increased $441.7 million and $573.8 million to $8.08 billion and $7.96 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, from $7.63 billion and $7.38 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. The yield on our loan portfolio decreased 10 basis points to 7.88% for the three months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 7.98% for the comparable period in 2006, reflecting competitive pressures on loan yields within our markets, an increase in the average amount of nonaccrual loans during the third quarter of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006, and a 50 basis point drop in the prime rate on September 18, 2007. The yield on our loan portfolio increased 21 basis points to 7.94% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 7.73% for the same period in 2006, reflecting the rise in short-term interest rates during the period. The increase in average loans reflects internal growth and our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007, partially offset by the sale of certain loans in the second and third quarters of 2007, as further described under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses," and a reduction in loans throughout 2006 related to the securitization of certain of our residential mortgage loans held in our loan portfolio, the sale of certain residential mortgage and other loans, loan payoffs and external refinancing of various credits. Our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007 provided loans, net of unearned discount, of $545.1 million and $175.5 million, in aggregate, respectively, as of the dates of acquisition. The increase in average loans for the first nine months of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 primarily resulted from an increase in average commercial, financial and agricultural loans of $332.8 million; an increase in average real estate construction and development loans of $208.8 million; and an increase in average real estate mortgage loans of $88.0 million. Interest income on our investment securities, expressed on a tax-equivalent basis, increased to $16.7 million and $50.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $14.1 million and $44.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Average investment securities were $1.28 billion and $1.34 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $1.17 billion and $1.27 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. The yield on our investment portfolio was 5.16% and 5.06% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 4.78% and 4.66% for the comparable periods in 2006. Investment securities provided by our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007 were $37.3 million and $4.1 million, in aggregate, respectively, as of the dates of acquisition. Funds available from maturities of investment securities were partially utilized to reinvest in higher-yielding available-for-sale investment securities. The remaining funds were utilized to fund internal loan growth, along with funds available from deposit growth and short-term investments. In March 2006 and April 2006, our investment securities increased $77.1 million and $61.8 million, respectively, due to the securitization of $138.9 million of certain of our residential mortgage loans held in our loan portfolio. Additionally, as further discussed under "--Interest Rate Risk Management," we terminated $200.0 million of our term repurchase agreements during the first and second quarters of 2006 and sold $200.0 million of available-for-sale investment securities associated with the termination of the term repurchase agreements. During the second quarter of 2006, we also entered into a $100.0 million term repurchase agreement and purchased $100.0 million of available-for-sale investment securities associated with the new term repurchase agreement. Interest expense on our interest-bearing deposits increased to $69.4 million and $204.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $57.0 million and $153.2 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Average interest-bearing deposits increased to $7.45 billion and $7.39 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, from $6.78 billion and $6.64 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase in average interest-bearing deposits reflects internal growth through enhanced product campaigns, and growth provided by our acquisitions completed during 2006 and 2007, which provided interest-bearing deposits of $405.1 million and $134.2 million, in aggregate, respectively, as of the dates of acquisition. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our deposit portfolio was 3.70% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to 3.33% and 3.08% for the comparable periods in 2006, reflecting increases of 37 and 62 basis points, respectively. The increase in the aggregate weighted average rate paid for these periods is reflective of competitive pricing conditions within our markets and a change in the mix of our average deposits to increased time deposits and savings and money market accounts. Average time deposits were $3.82 billion and $3.84 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $3.73 billion and $3.57 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. Average savings and money market deposits were $2.69 billion and $2.59 billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $2.10 billion and $2.12 billion for the comparable periods in 2006. Average interest-bearing demand deposits were $944.5 million and $962.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $949.2 million and $960.0 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Interest expense on our other borrowings was $4.4 million and $13.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $4.3 million and $12.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Average other borrowings were $374.1 million and $374.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, and $375.3 million and $382.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our other borrowings was 4.62% and 4.87% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 4.57% and 4.29% for the comparable periods in 2006. The increased rates paid on our other borrowings reflect the rise in short-term interest rates during the periods. Average other borrowings reflect: (a) the termination of $200.0 million of term repurchase agreements during the first six months of 2006; (b) a $100.0 million term repurchase agreement entered into during the third quarter of 2006; and (c) the subsequent termination of the $100.0 million term repurchase agreement in August 2007. In addition, we prepaid $35.3 million of FHLB advances during 2006 that we assumed with certain bank acquisitions. Interest expense on our notes payable was $544,000 and $2.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $1.4 million and $4.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Our notes payable averaged $29.1 million and $41.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $85.3 million and $93.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our notes payable was 7.42% and 6.79% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 6.67% and 6.20% for the comparable periods in 2006, reflecting the rise in short-term interest rates during the periods. The weighted average rate paid on our notes payable includes unused commitment, arrangement and renewal fees. Exclusive of these fees, the weighted average rate paid on our notes payable was 6.51% and 6.54% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 6.36% and 6.06% for the same periods in 2006. The decrease in our average notes payable is attributable to contractual payments and additional prepayments made on our term loan, as further described in Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Interest expense on our subordinated debentures was $5.9 million and $17.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $6.4 million and $17.8 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Average subordinated debentures were $310.8 million and $309.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $304.4 million and $270.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The aggregate weighted average rate paid on our subordinated debentures was 7.56% and 7.63% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 8.31% and 8.77% for the comparable periods in 2006. The change in volumes and average rates paid reflects: (a) the issuance of $139.2 million of variable rate subordinated debentures in private placements during 2006 through four newly formed statutory trusts, partially offset by the repayment of $56.9 million of 9.0% fixed rate subordinated debentures on December 31, 2006; (b) the issuance of $25.8 million of variable rate subordinated debentures in a private placement through a newly formed statutory trust that we completed on February 23, 2007; (c) the repayment of $25.8 million of variable rate subordinated debentures on April 22, 2007; and (d) the issuance of $51.5 million of variable rate subordinated debentures in private placements through three newly formed statutory trusts that we completed during the third quarter of 2007, as further described in Note 11 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Although we have increased the overall level of our outstanding subordinated debentures, we have significantly reduced the cost of these long-term borrowings through the refinancing of certain higher fixed and variable rate issues. The following table sets forth, on a tax-equivalent basis, certain information relating to our average balance sheets, and reflects the average yield earned on interest-earning assets, the average cost of our interest-bearing liabilities and the resulting net interest income for the periods presented.
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ------------------------- ------------------------ ------------------------- ------------------------ Interest Interest Interest Interest Average Income/ Yield/ Average Income/ Yield/ Average Income/ Yield/ Average Income/ Yield/ Balance Expense Rate Balance Expense Rate Balance Expense Rate Balance Expense Rate ------- ------- ---- ------- ------- ---- ------- ------- ---- ------- ------- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) ASSETS ------ Interest-earning assets: Loans (1)(2)(3)(4).......... $ 8,076,224 160,352 7.88% $7,634,494 153,540 7.98% $ 7,955,916 472,319 7.94% $7,382,161 426,877 7.73% Investment securities (4)... 1,284,707 16,702 5.16 1,174,077 14,134 4.78 1,336,036 50,526 5.06 1,270,896 44,279 4.66 Short-term investments...... 109,800 1,478 5.34 75,835 1,018 5.33 144,709 5,671 5.24 89,084 3,288 4.93 ----------- ------- ---------- ------- ----------- ------- ---------- ------- Total interest-earning assets................ 9,470,731 178,532 7.48 8,884,406 168,692 7.53 9,436,661 528,516 7.49 8,742,141 474,444 7.26 ------- ------- ------- ------- Nonearning assets............. 875,622 776,127 860,875 736,317 ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total assets............ $10,346,353 $9,660,533 $10,297,536 $9,478,458 =========== ========== =========== ========== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY -------------------- Interest-bearing liabilities: Interest-bearing deposits: Interest-bearing demand... $ 944,542 2,242 0.94% $ 949,195 2,057 0.86% $ 962,396 7,171 1.00% $ 959,983 5,832 0.81% Savings and money market.. 2,687,208 21,012 3.10 2,104,323 13,491 2.54 2,587,286 59,809 3.09 2,117,601 36,929 2.33 Time deposits of $100 or more................. 1,462,548 18,299 4.96 1,369,503 15,902 4.61 1,455,660 53,533 4.92 1,288,897 41,716 4.33 Other time deposits....... 2,355,710 27,881 4.70 2,356,661 25,526 4.30 2,383,236 83,851 4.70 2,276,270 68,706 4.04 ----------- ------- ---------- ------- ----------- ------- ---------- ------- Total interest-bearing deposits.............. 7,450,008 69,434 3.70 6,779,682 56,976 3.33 7,388,578 204,364 3.70 6,642,751 153,183 3.08 Other borrowings............ 374,143 4,361 4.62 375,278 4,322 4.57 374,825 13,653 4.87 382,280 12,263 4.29 Notes payable (5)........... 29,070 544 7.42 85,315 1,434 6.67 41,089 2,088 6.79 93,417 4,331 6.20 Subordinated debentures (3). 310,804 5,920 7.56 304,412 6,377 8.31 309,752 17,668 7.63 270,568 17,751 8.77 ----------- ------- ---------- ------- ----------- ------- ---------- ------- Total interest-bearing liabilities........... 8,164,025 80,259 3.90 7,544,687 69,109 3.63 8,114,244 237,773 3.92 7,389,016 187,528 3.39 ------- ------- ------- ------- Noninterest-bearing liabilities: Demand deposits............. 1,225,157 1,257,277 1,233,565 1,263,623 Other liabilities........... 114,555 123,611 120,534 109,743 ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total liabilities....... 9,503,737 8,925,575 9,468,343 8,762,382 Stockholders' equity.......... 842,616 734,958 829,193 716,076 ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity.. $10,346,353 $9,660,533 $10,297,536 $9,478,458 =========== ========== =========== ========== Net interest income........... 98,273 99,583 290,743 286,916 ======= ======= ======= ======= Interest rate spread.......... 3.58 3.90 3.57 3.87 Net interest margin (6)....... 4.12% 4.45% 4.12% 4.39% ==== ==== ==== ==== - -------------------- (1) For purposes of these computations, nonaccrual loans are included in the average loan amounts. (2) Interest income on loans includes loan fees. (3) Interest income and interest expense include the effects of interest rate swap agreements. (4) Information is presented on a tax-equivalent basis assuming a tax rate of 35%. The tax-equivalent adjustments were approximately $427,000 and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, and $399,000 and $1.2 million for the comparable periods in 2006, respectively. (5) Interest expense on our notes payable includes commitment, arrangement and renewal fees. Exclusive of these fees, the interest rates paid were 6.51% and 6.54% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, and 6.36% and 6.06% for the comparable periods in 2006, respectively. (6) Net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income (expressed on a tax-equivalent basis) to average interest-earning assets.
Provision for Loan Losses. We recorded provisions for loan losses of $17.0 million and $26.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to $2.0 million and $8.0 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase in our provision for loan losses was primarily driven by an increase in nonperforming loans within certain segments of our loan portfolio, primarily our one-to-four family residential mortgage portfolio and real estate construction and development portfolio, increased net loan charge-offs and growth within our loan portfolio, as further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." Tables summarizing nonperforming assets, past due loans and loan charge-off and recovery experience are presented under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." Noninterest Income. Noninterest income was $26.8 million and $75.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $30.0 million and $81.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Noninterest income consists primarily of service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees, mortgage-banking revenues, investment management income, insurance fee and commission income and other income. Service charges on deposit accounts and customer service fees were $12.1 million and $34.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $11.1 million and $32.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase in service charges and customer service fees was primarily attributable to increased deposit account balances associated with internal growth and our acquisitions of banks completed in 2006 and 2007, as further described under "--Financial Condition" and in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, in addition to changes in the overall mix of our deposit portfolio. The increase is also attributable to pricing increases on certain service charges and customer service fees instituted to reflect current market conditions. The gain on loans sold and held for sale was $3.5 million and $12.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $4.6 million and $17.5 million for the comparable periods in 2006. We primarily attribute the decrease to: (a) a decrease in the volume of mortgage loans originated and subsequently sold in the secondary market; (b) an $851,000 gain, before applicable income taxes, recorded on the sale of approximately $13.4 million of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans in April 2007 and a $266,000 gain, before applicable income taxes, recorded on the sale of approximately $33.2 million of certain commercial, commercial real estate and real estate construction loans in September 2007, as further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses," compared to a $1.7 million gain, before applicable income taxes, recorded on the sale of certain nonperforming loans in March 2006; and (c) the recognition of $2.1 million of income generated from the capitalization of mortgage servicing rights in March and April 2006 pertaining to the securitization and transfer to our investment portfolio of $138.9 million in aggregate of residential mortgage loans held in our loan portfolio, as further described in Note 4 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. As further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses," we discontinued the origination and sale in the secondary market of sub-prime loans in the first quarter of 2007, and as such, the discontinuation of these activities has reduced the amount of gains on loans sold and held for sale, in comparison to the level that we had historically generated through the origination and sale of these sub-prime loan products. Historically, approximately 40% of our origination and sale volume was related to sub-prime loan products. We recorded a net loss on investment securities of $74,000 and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to a net gain on investment securities of $1.6 million and a net loss on investment securities of $2.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006. These amounts reflect a net loss of $74,000 and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to a net gain of $1.2 million and a net loss of $96,000 for the comparable periods in 2006, related to changes in the fair value of securities held in our trading portfolio. We liquidated our trading portfolio in July 2007. The net loss on investment securities for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 also includes a gain of $389,000 recognized in August 2006 on the redemption of common stock held as an available-for-sale investment security and a net loss of $2.7 million in aggregate on the sale of certain available-for-sale investment securities associated with the termination of $200.0 million of term repurchase agreements during the first and second quarters of 2006, as further described under "--Interest Rate Risk Management." Bank-owned life insurance investment income was $1.1 million and $2.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $665,000 and $2.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006, reflecting changes in the performance of the underlying investments surrounding the insurance contracts attributable to the portfolio mix of investments and overall market conditions during the respective periods. Investment management income generated by MVP, our institutional money management subsidiary, was $1.4 million and $4.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $2.0 million and $6.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006, reflecting decreased portfolio management fee income associated with changes in the level of assets under management. Insurance fee and commission income generated by Adrian Baker, our insurance brokerage agency acquired in March 2006, was $1.8 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $1.5 million and $3.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006, reflecting increased customer volumes, partially offset by reductions in premiums attributable to current market conditions within the insurance industry. Other income was $7.0 million and $17.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $8.5 million and $21.5 million for the comparable periods in 2006. We primarily attribute the decline in other income to: >> a decrease of $2.8 million in gains on sales of other assets, attributable to a $2.8 million gain recognized in September 2006 on the sale of stock that was acquired as settlement in full of a loan previously charged-off; >> a decrease of $1.9 million in gains on sales of other real estate, primarily attributable to a gain of $1.5 million recognized on the sale of a parcel of other real estate in January 2006; and >> a release fee of $938,000 received during the first quarter of 2006 on funds collected from a loan previously sold in which First Bank was entitled to 25% of any future fees collected on the loan under a defined release fee agreement that was entered into in conjunction with the loan sale; partially offset by >> a pre-tax gain of $1.0 million recorded in July 2007 on the sale of our two banking offices located in Denton and Garland, Texas, as further described in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Noninterest Expense. Noninterest expense was $84.5 million and $254.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $80.5 million and $236.3 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Our efficiency ratio was 67.79% and 69.78% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to 62.30% and 64.38% for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase in noninterest expense was primarily attributable to our de novo branch openings and our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007, which contributed to increased salaries and employee benefits expense, occupancy and furniture and equipment expense and amortization of intangible assets, as well as increases in other expense. Salaries and employee benefits expense was $43.1 million and $132.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $42.5 million and $124.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006. We attribute the overall increase to higher salaries and employee benefits expenses associated with an aggregate of 18 additional branch offices acquired in 2006 and 2007, our acquisitions of Adrian Baker and UPAC in 2006, six de novo branch offices opened in 2007 and generally higher salary and employee benefit costs associated with employing and retaining qualified personnel. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in salaries and employee benefits expense associated with our mortgage banking division as a result of expense reduction measures taken by management in light of the discontinuation of the origination and sale in the secondary market of sub-prime loans, as further discussed under "--Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." We continue our efforts to monitor and reduce our noninterest expense levels with the implementation of these and other employee related expense reduction measures. Occupancy, net of rental income, and furniture and equipment expense was $13.3 million and $37.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $11.2 million and $31.9 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The increase reflects higher levels of expense resulting from our de novo branch openings and acquisitions in 2006 and 2007, as discussed above, as well as increased technology equipment expenditures, continued expansion and renovation of certain corporate and branch offices, increased expenses associated with the purchase and/or lease of properties that will be utilized for future branch office locations, and increased depreciation expense associated with acquisitions and capital expenditures. Information technology and item processing fees were $9.0 million and $27.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $9.4 million and $27.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006. As more fully described in Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, First Services, L.P., a limited partnership indirectly owned by our Chairman and members of his immediate family, provides information technology and various operational support services to our subsidiaries and us. Information technology fees also include fees paid to outside servicers associated with our mortgage banking and trust divisions, and Adrian Baker, MVP, SBLS LLC and UPAC. The relatively stable level to moderate decrease of these fees in 2007 reflects a reduction in the number of acquisitions completed during 2007 compared to 2006 and enhanced automation of certain services, including remote deposit, branch capture, and electronic image exchange, which has significantly contributed to reduced manual processes and reduced costs associated with these services, partially offset by depreciation associated with the related capital expenditures necessary to support the enhanced delivery channels and the addition of de novo branch offices. Legal, examination and professional fees were $2.5 million and $6.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $2.1 million and $6.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006. The continued expansion of overall corporate activities, the ongoing professional services utilized by certain of our acquired entities, and the level of legal fees associated with certain litigation matters have all contributed to the overall expense levels in 2006 and 2007. Amortization of intangible assets was $3.1 million and $9.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $2.2 million and $5.4 million for the comparable periods in 2006, as further described in Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The increase was attributable to core deposit intangibles associated with our acquisitions completed in 2006 and 2007, in addition to the customer list intangibles associated with our acquisitions of Adrian Baker and UPAC in March 2006 and May 2006, respectively. Charitable contributions expense was $1.7 million and $5.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $1.6 million and $4.9 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Our charitable contribution expense levels are primarily attributable to charitable contributions made to the Dierberg Operating Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation established by our Chairman and members of his immediate family, as further described in Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Other expense was $8.6 million and $26.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $8.2 million and $24.7 million for the comparable periods in 2006. Other expense encompasses numerous general and administrative expenses including communications, insurance, freight and courier services, correspondent bank charges, miscellaneous losses and recoveries, expenses on other real estate owned, memberships and subscriptions, transfer agent fees, sales taxes and travel, meals and entertainment. The increase in other expense was primarily attributable to: >> expenses associated with continued growth and expansion of our banking franchise, including our de novo branch offices and our acquisitions completed during 2006 and 2007; partially offset by >> a $617,000 specific reserve established in March 2006 and an increase of $746,000 to the specific reserve in June 2006 for the estimated loss associated with a $3.1 million unfunded letter of credit acquired in conjunction with the acquisition of a bank in late 2004; and >> a $470,000 loss recognized on a liquidation sale of residential real estate and personal property of an SBA guaranteed loan in June 2006. We continue to closely monitor our noninterest expense levels, and have implemented certain expense reduction measures and are further evaluating additional expense reduction measures in an effort to reduce our noninterest expenses levels in future periods. Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes was $8.1 million and $30.1 million, representing an effective income tax rate of 34.9% and 35.8%, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to $17.2 million and $42.5 million, representing an effective income tax rate of 36.9% and 34.6%, respectively, for the comparable periods in 2006. The decrease in our provision for income taxes primarily reflects our reduced earnings. The increase in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006 is primarily due to the reversal of a federal tax reserve of $2.5 million and a state tax reserve of $748,000 in the first quarter of 2006, as they were no longer deemed necessary due to the resolution of a potential tax liability. Interest Rate Risk Management We utilize derivative financial instruments to assist in our management of interest rate sensitivity by modifying the repricing, maturity and option characteristics of certain assets and liabilities. The derivative financial instruments we held as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 are summarized as follows:
September 30, 2007 December 31, 2006 ------------------------ ----------------------- Notional Credit Notional Credit Amount Exposure Amount Exposure ------ -------- ------ -------- (dollars expressed in thousands) Cash flow hedges............................. $ 400,000 45 600,000 4,369 Interest rate floor agreements............... 300,000 679 300,000 376 Interest rate cap agreements................. 400,000 98 400,000 139 Interest rate lock commitments............... 6,300 -- 5,900 -- Forward commitments to sell mortgage-backed securities................. 50,000 -- 54,000 -- ========= ===== ======== =====
The notional amounts of our derivative financial instruments do not represent amounts exchanged by the parties and, therefore, are not a measure of our credit exposure through our use of these instruments. The credit exposure represents the loss we would incur in the event the counterparties failed completely to perform according to the terms of the derivative financial instruments and the collateral held to support the credit exposure was of no value. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we realized net interest expense of $652,000 and $3.5 million, respectively, on our derivative financial instruments, in comparison to net interest expense of $1.2 million and $3.6 million for the comparable periods in 2006. We recorded net gains on derivative instruments, which are included in noninterest income in the consolidated statements of income, of $603,000 and $261,000 for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to net gains of $10,000 and net losses of $59,000 for the comparable periods in 2006. The net gains recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and the net gains and net losses recorded for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, respectively, reflect changes in the value of our interest rate floor agreements entered into in September 2005 and August 2006, and changes in the value of our interest rate cap agreements entered into in September 2006. Cash Flow Hedges. We entered into the following interest rate swap agreements, which have been designated as cash flow hedges, to effectively lengthen the repricing characteristics of certain interest-earning assets to correspond more closely with their funding source with the objective of stabilizing cash flow, and accordingly, net interest income over time: >> In July 2003, we entered into an interest rate swap agreement with a $200.0 million notional amount. The underlying hedged assets were certain variable rate loans within our commercial loan portfolio. The swap agreement provided for us to receive a fixed rate of interest and pay an adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the weighted average prime lending rate minus 2.85%. The terms of the swap agreement provided for us to pay and receive interest on a quarterly basis. The interest rate swap agreement matured on July 31, 2007. >> In September 2006, we entered into a $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate swap agreement and a $200.0 million notional amount four-year interest rate swap agreement. The underlying hedged assets are certain variable rate loans within our commercial loan portfolio. The swap agreements provide for us to receive a fixed rate of interest and pay an adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the weighted average prime lending rate minus 2.86%. The terms of the swap agreements provide for us to pay and receive interest on a quarterly basis. The amount receivable by us under the swap agreements was $752,000 and $7.0 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, and the amount payable by us under the swap agreements was $706,000 and $2.7 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The maturity dates, notional amounts, interest rates paid and received and fair value of our interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were as follows:
Notional Interest Rate Interest Rate Fair Maturity Date Amount Paid Received Value ------------- ------ ---- -------- ----- (dollars expressed in thousands) September 30, 2007: September 18, 2009...................... $ 200,000 4.89% 5.20% $ 2,528 September 20, 2010...................... 200,000 4.89 5.20 3,088 --------- -------- $ 400,000 4.89 5.20 $ 5,616 ========= ===== ===== ======== December 31, 2006: July 31, 2007........................... $ 200,000 5.40% 3.08% $ (2,705) September 18, 2009...................... 200,000 5.39 5.20 98 September 20, 2010...................... 200,000 5.39 5.20 449 --------- -------- $ 600,000 5.39 4.49 $ (2,158) ========= ===== ===== ========
Interest Rate Floor Agreements. In September 2005, we entered into a $100.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate floor agreement in conjunction with our interest rate risk management program. The interest rate floor agreement provides for us to receive a quarterly fixed rate of interest of 5.00% should the three-month London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, equal or fall below the strike price of 2.00%. In August 2006, we entered into a $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate floor agreement in conjunction with the restructuring of one of our $100.0 million term repurchase agreements, as further described below, to further stabilize net interest income in the event of a declining rate scenario. The interest rate floor agreement provides for us to receive a quarterly adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the differential between the strike price of 4.00% and the three-month LIBOR should the three-month LIBOR equal or fall below the strike price. The fair value of the interest rate floor agreements, which is included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets, was $679,000 and $376,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Interest Rate Floor Agreements Embedded in Term Repurchase Agreements. We have term repurchase agreements under master repurchase agreements with unaffiliated third parties, as further described in Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. The underlying securities associated with the term repurchase agreements are mortgage-backed securities and callable U.S. Government agency securities and are held by other financial institutions under safekeeping agreements. The term repurchase agreements were entered into with the objective of stabilizing net interest income over time, further protecting our net interest margin against changes in interest rates and providing funding for security purchases. The interest rate floor agreements included within the term repurchase agreements represent embedded derivative instruments which, in accordance with existing accounting literature governing derivative instruments, are not required to be separated from the term repurchase agreements and accounted for separately as a derivative financial instrument. As such, the term repurchase agreements are reflected in other borrowings in our consolidated balance sheets and the related interest expense is reflected as interest expense on other borrowings in our consolidated statements of income. In the first and second quarters of 2006, we terminated $200.0 million of the $300.0 million of term repurchase agreements outstanding at December 31 2005, resulting in the recognition of a $2.7 million loss on the sale of $200.0 million of investment securities held in our available-for-sale investment portfolio, and prepayment penalties of $306,000 incurred in conjunction with the early termination of these term repurchase agreements. Additionally, in August 2006, we restructured the remaining $100.0 million term repurchase agreement to extend the maturity date to October 12, 2010 and to modify the pricing structure, including the interest rate floor strike price. We did not incur any costs associated with the restructuring of the agreement. In July 2006, we entered into a $100.0 million four-year term repurchase agreement under a master repurchase agreement with an unaffiliated third party. On August 7, 2007, we terminated this $100.0 million term repurchase agreement with a maturity date of July 19, 2010, and incurred a prepayment penalty of $330,000 in conjunction with the early termination of the term repurchase agreement, as further described in Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. Interest Rate Cap Agreements. In September 2006, we entered into a $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate cap agreement and a $200.0 million notional amount four-year interest rate cap agreement in conjunction with the interest rate swap agreements designated as cash flow hedges that we entered into in September 2006, as previously described, to limit the net interest expense associated with our interest rate swap agreements in the event of a rising rate scenario. The $200.0 million notional amount three-year interest rate cap agreement provides for us to receive a quarterly adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the differential between the three-month LIBOR and the strike price of 7.00% should the three-month LIBOR exceed the strike price. The $200.0 million notional amount four-year interest rate cap agreement provides for us to receive a quarterly adjustable rate of interest equivalent to the differential between the three-month LIBOR and the strike price of 7.50% should the three-month LIBOR exceed the strike price. The fair value of the interest rate cap agreements, which is included in other assets in our consolidated balance sheets, was $98,000 and $139,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Pledged Collateral. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we had accepted cash of $7.0 million and $4.2 million, respectively, as collateral in connection with our interest rate swap agreements. Interest Rate Lock Commitments / Forward Commitments to Sell Mortgage-Backed Securities. Derivative financial instruments issued by us consist of interest rate lock commitments to originate fixed-rate loans to be sold. Commitments to originate fixed-rate loans consist primarily of residential real estate loans. These net loan commitments and loans held for sale are hedged with forward contracts to sell mortgage-backed securities. The fair value of these interest rate lock commitments was $142,000 and ($17,000) at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The fair value of the forward contracts to sell mortgage-backed securities was ($273,000) and $86,000 at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses Interest earned on First Bank's loan portfolio represents the principal source of our income. Interest and fees on loans represented 89.9% and 89.5% of total interest income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, in comparison to 91.1% and 90.1% for the comparable periods in 2006. Loans, net of unearned discount, increased $466.3 million to $8.13 billion, or 79.2% of assets, at September 30, 2007, compared to $7.67 billion, or 75.5% of assets, at December 31, 2006. The following table summarizes the composition of our loan portfolio at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
September 30, December 31, 2007 2006 ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Commercial, financial and agricultural............................ $2,181,136 1,934,912 Real estate construction and development.......................... 2,001,226 1,832,504 Real estate mortgage: One-to-four family residential loans.......................... 1,356,513 1,270,158 Multi-family residential loans................................ 154,393 141,341 Commercial real estate loans.................................. 2,262,897 2,203,649 Consumer and installment, net of unearned discount................ 77,138 67,590 Loans held for sale............................................... 99,470 216,327 ---------- ---------- Total loans, net of unearned discount......................... $8,132,773 7,666,481 ========== ==========
We primarily attribute the net increase in our loan portfolio during the first nine months of 2007 to: >> an increase of $246.2 million in our commercial, financial and agricultural portfolio due to continued internal loan production growth and $45.1 million of loans provided by our acquisition of Royal Oaks; >> an increase of $168.7 million in our real estate construction and development portfolio resulting primarily from new loan originations and seasonal fluctuations on existing and available credit lines, as well as $54.8 million of loans provided by our acquisition of Royal Oaks; and >> an increase of $158.7 million in our real estate mortgage portfolio, primarily attributable to loans totaling $70.6 million provided by our acquisition of Royal Oaks, and internal loan growth; partially offset by >> a decrease of $116.9 million in our loans held for sale portfolio, reflecting the discontinuation of the origination and sale of sub-prime loan products in early 2007 which has led to a significant decrease in loan production volume of real estate mortgage loans that are subsequently sold in the secondary mortgage market, and the timing of loan originations and subsequent sales in the secondary mortgage market. In addition to internal loan growth of $341.3 million and our acquisition of Royal Oaks, which provided loans, net of unearned discount, of $175.5 million, the overall increase in loans, net of unearned discount was partially offset by the sale of approximately $13.4 million of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans and $33.2 million of certain commercial, commercial real estate and real estate construction loans, as further discussed below. Nonperforming assets include nonaccrual loans, restructured loans and other real estate. The following table presents the categories of nonperforming assets and certain ratios as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006:
September 30, December 31, 2007 2006 ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Commercial, financial and agricultural: Nonaccrual................................................... $ 5,749 9,879 Real estate construction and development: Nonaccrual................................................... 42,291 13,344 Real estate mortgage: One-to-four family residential: Nonaccrual............................................... 38,081 18,885 Restructured............................................. 7 9 Multi-family residential loans: Nonaccrual............................................... 336 272 Commercial real estate loans: Nonaccrual............................................... 8,131 6,260 Consumer and installment: Nonaccrual................................................... 201 81 ---------- --------- Total nonperforming loans.............................. 94,796 48,730 Other real estate................................................. 7,854 6,433 ---------- --------- Total nonperforming assets............................. $ 102,650 55,163 ========== ========= Loans, net of unearned discount................................... $8,132,773 7,666,481 ========== ========= Loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing................. $ 7,555 5,653 ========== ========= Ratio of: Allowance for loan losses to loans.............................. 1.72% 1.90% Nonperforming loans to loans.................................... 1.17 0.64 Allowance for loan losses to nonperforming loans................ 147.86 299.05 Nonperforming assets to loans and other real estate............. 1.26 0.72 ========== =========
Nonperforming loans, consisting of loans on nonaccrual status and restructured loans, were $94.8 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $63.5 million at June 30, 2007, $48.7 million at December 31, 2006 and $79.1 million at September 30, 2006. Nonperforming loans were 1.17% of loans, net of unearned discount, at September 30, 2007, compared to 0.79%, 0.64% and 1.02% of loans, net of unearned discount, at June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Other real estate owned was $7.9 million, $8.0 million, $6.4 million and $6.9 million at September 30, 2007, June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Our nonperforming assets, consisting of nonperforming loans and other real estate owned, were $102.7 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $71.5 million, $55.2 million and $86.0 million at June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Our loans past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest were $7.6 million, $4.4 million, $5.7 million and $6.4 million at September 30, 2007, June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. Nonperforming loans at September 30, 2007 increased $31.3 million, or 49.4%, from nonperforming loans at June 30, 2007, $46.1 million, or 94.5%, from nonperforming loans at December 31, 2006, and $15.7 million, or 19.9%, from nonperforming loans at September 30, 2006. The increase in the overall level of our nonperforming loans during the first nine months of 2007 primarily resulted from an increase in nonperforming loans within our real estate construction and development loan portfolio and within our one-to-four family residential loan portfolio. This increase was partially offset by the sale of approximately $19.2 million of certain nonperforming loans, in aggregate, during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as further discussed below. The amount of nonperforming loans within our real estate construction and development loan portfolio increased $21.3 million to $42.3 million at September 30, 2007, from $21.0 at June 30, 2007, and increased $29.0 million from $13.3 million at December 31, 2006. The increase in the third quarter of 2007 was primarily attributable to two significant credits placed on nonaccrual status with a total combined principal balance of $32.9 million, partially offset by the payoff of a single nonperforming loan of $4.6 million and loan sales of $2.8 million. The increase for the first nine months of 2007 is primarily attributable to the third quarter events in addition to two significant credits with a combined principal balance of $10.2 million being placed on nonaccrual status early in 2007, of which one credit in the amount of $4.6 million was paid off in the third quarter of 2007. The increase in nonperforming loans within our real estate construction and development portfolio reflects a continued decline in market conditions, resulting in increased developer inventories, slower lot and home sales, and declining real estate market values in many of our markets. The increase in nonperforming loans is also attributable to an increase of $10.9 million in our one-to-four family residential mortgage loan portfolio to $38.1 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $27.2 million at June 30, 2007, and an increase of 19.2 million from $18.9 million at December 31, 2006. This increase was driven by current market conditions, repurchases of certain sub-prime residential mortgage loans sold with recourse, primarily due to early payment default, that were placed back into our one-to-four family residential mortgage loan portfolio, and the overall deterioration of sub-prime residential mortgage loan products experienced throughout the mortgage banking industry. Our involvement in the sub-prime market had been limited to the origination and subsequent sale of these loans in the secondary market, and historically represented approximately 40% of our mortgage banking loan origination and sale volumes. During the first quarter of 2007, we discontinued loan originations of this product following a decline in bid prices and in market liquidity for these loan products. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, we placed approximately $63.5 million of one-to-four family residential mortgage loans associated with our mortgage banking division on nonaccrual status. This increase in nonaccrual loans was partially offset by net loan charge-offs of $20.4 million, loan sales resulting in a decrease in nonperforming loans of $11.5 million, and other payment activity. Of the $63.5 million placed on nonaccrual status, approximately $27.8 million represented repurchases of residential mortgage loans sold with recourse. Repurchases of mortgage loans sold with recourse declined to $6.3 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $17.2 million for the second quarter of 2007. The reduced level of repurchase activity is reflective of our exit from the sub-prime market in early 2007. Our primary recourse risk, attributable to early payment default on sub-prime residential mortgage loan products that we previously sold in the secondary market, expires throughout the remainder of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008. We have taken measures throughout 2007 to reduce the level of our nonperforming loans through the sale of certain loans. The sales resulted in a reduction in nonperforming loans of approximately $19.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, as described below: >> In March 2007, we entered into a commitment to sell certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans that were either nonperforming loans or were deemed by management to be problem credits. Subsequent to recording loan charge-offs to reduce these loans to the lower of cost or estimated fair value at the time of transfer, as further discussed below, we transferred approximately $17.5 million of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans to our held for sale loan portfolio. In April 2007, we completed the sale of approximately $13.4 million of these loans, received payoffs on a portion of the loans held for sale at March 31, 2007 of approximately $1.1 million, and transferred approximately $2.6 million of loans that were not ultimately included in the sale back into our residential mortgage loan portfolio. These transactions resulted in a decrease in nonperforming loans of approximately $11.5 million, in aggregate; and >> During the third quarter of 2007, we entered into a commitment to sell certain commercial, commercial real estate and real estate construction loans that were either nonperforming loans or were deemed by management to be problem credits. Subsequent to recording loan charge-offs to reduce these loans to the lower of cost or estimated fair value at the time of transfer, as further discussed below, we transferred approximately $36.5 million of these loans to our held for sale loan portfolio. We completed the sale of approximately $33.2 million of these loans in September 2007, resulting in a pre-tax gain of $266,000 and a decrease in nonperforming loans of approximately $7.7 million, in aggregate. At September 30, 2007, approximately $3.3 million of these loans remain in our held for sale portfolio. Also in the third quarter of 2007, we entered into a commitment to sell certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans that were either nonperforming loans or were deemed by management to be problem credits. Subsequent to recording loan charge-offs to reduce these loans to the lower of cost or estimated fair value at the time of transfer, as further discussed below, we transferred approximately $10.5 million of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans to our held for sale loan portfolio. In October 2007, we completed the sale of approximately $9.4 million of these loans and received payoffs on the remaining portion of the loans held for sale. We did not record a gain or loss on the sale of these loans. These transactions resulted in a decrease in nonperforming loans of approximately $8.6 million, in aggregate, as further described in Note 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. We expect the declining market conditions associated with our real estate construction and development and one-to-four family residential mortgage loan portfolios to continue in the near term, which could increase the amount of our nonperforming loans. Changes in the allowance for loan losses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, -------------------- ------------------- 2007 2006 2007 2006 ---- ---- ---- ---- (dollars expressed in thousands) Balance, beginning of period.................... $ 142,922 147,383 145,729 135,330 Acquired allowances for loan losses............. -- 1,264 2,925 5,208 --------- -------- -------- -------- 142,922 148,647 148,654 140,538 --------- -------- -------- -------- Loans charged-off............................... (22,571) (5,292) (40,849) (11,633) Recoveries of loans previously charged-off...... 2,814 3,955 6,360 12,405 --------- -------- -------- -------- Net loan (charge-offs) recoveries............. (19,757) (1,337) (34,489) 772 --------- -------- -------- -------- Provision for loan losses....................... 17,000 2,000 26,000 8,000 --------- -------- -------- -------- Balance, end of period ......................... $ 140,165 149,310 140,165 149,310 ========= ======== ======== ========
Our allowance for loan losses was $140.2 million at September 30, 2007, compared to $142.9 million, $145.7 million and $149.3 million at June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively, representing 1.72%, 1.79%, 1.90% and 1.93% of loans, net of unearned discount, respectively. Our allowance for loan losses as a percentage of nonperforming loans was 147.86% at September 30, 2007, compared to 225.19%, 299.05% and 188.79% at June 30, 2007, December 31, 2006 and September 30, 2006, respectively. We recorded net loan charge-offs of $19.8 million and $34.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, respectively, compared to net loan charge-offs of $1.3 million and net loan recoveries of $772,000 for the comparable periods in 2006. The increased level of net loan charge-offs recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 reflects $20.4 million of charge-offs associated with our one-to-four family residential portfolio, of which $4.3 million and $4.6 million were recorded in the first and third quarters of 2007, respectively, in conjunction with the transfer of certain repurchased and other residential mortgage loans to our loans held for sale portfolio, and subsequent sale in April 2007 and October 2007, as previously discussed. Furthermore, net loan charge-offs include $9.3 million of charge-offs recorded in the third quarter of 2007 in conjunction with the transfer of approximately $36.5 million of certain nonperforming and problem commercial credits to our loans held for sale portfolio, of which $33.2 million were sold in September 2007, as previously discussed. Net loan charge-offs for the first nine months of 2007 also include a charge-off of $2.5 million on a residential development and construction credit relationship and a $1.5 million charge-off on a commercial credit relationship. Net loan recoveries recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 reflect a loan recovery of $5.0 million on the payoff of a single nonperforming loan in the first quarter of 2006. Our net loan charge-offs as a percentage of average loans were 0.43% for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to net loan recoveries as a percentage of average loans of 0.01% for the same period in 2006. Each month, the credit administration department provides management with detailed lists of loans on the watch list and summaries of the entire loan portfolio by risk rating. These are coupled with analyses of changes in the risk profile of the portfolio, changes in past-due and nonperforming loans and changes in watch list and classified loans over time. In this manner, we continually monitor the overall increases or decreases in the level of risk in our loan portfolio. Factors are applied to the loan portfolio for each category of loan risk to determine acceptable levels of allowance for loan losses. In addition, a quarterly evaluation of each lending unit is performed based on certain factors, such as lending personnel experience, recent credit reviews, loan concentrations and other factors. Based on this evaluation, changes to the allowance for loan losses may be required due to the perceived risk of particular portfolios. The calculated allowance required for the portfolio is then compared to the actual allowance balance to determine the adjustments necessary to maintain the allowance at an appropriate level. In addition, management exercises a certain degree of judgment in its analysis of the overall adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. In its analysis, management considers the changes in the portfolio, including growth, composition, the ratio of net loans to total assets, and the economic conditions of the regions in which we operate. Based on this quantitative and qualitative analysis, adjustments are made to the allowance for loan losses. Such adjustments are reflected in our consolidated statements of income. We continue to closely monitor our loan portfolio and address the ongoing challenges posed by the current economic environment and market conditions, including reduced loan demand, highly competitive markets and pricing within certain sectors of our loan portfolio. We also continue to closely monitor our level of nonperforming loans in an effort to continue to reduce the overall level of nonperforming loans in our loan portfolio. We consider these factors in our overall assessment of the adequacy of the allowance for loan losses. Liquidity Our liquidity is the ability to maintain a cash flow that is adequate to fund operations, service debt obligations and meet obligations and other commitments on a timely basis. We receive funds for liquidity from customer deposits, loan payments, maturities of loans and investments, sales of investments and earnings. In addition, we may avail ourselves of other sources of funds by issuing certificates of deposit in denominations of $100,000 or more, borrowing federal funds, selling securities under agreements to repurchase and utilizing borrowings from the FHLB and other borrowings, including our term loan and our revolving credit line. The aggregate funds acquired from these sources were $1.80 billion and $1.86 billion at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. The following table presents the maturity structure of these other sources of funds, which consists of certificates of deposit of $100,000 or more and other borrowings, including our notes payable, at September 30, 2007:
Certificates of Deposit Other of $100,000 or More Borrowings Total ------------------- ---------- ----- (dollars expressed in thousands) Three months or less............................. $ 546,216 214,872 761,088 Over three months through six months............. 377,261 5,000 382,261 Over six months through twelve months............ 402,583 107 402,690 Over twelve months............................... 152,099 100,793 252,892 ---------- -------- ---------- Total....................................... $1,478,159 320,772 1,798,931 ========== ======== ==========
In addition to these sources of funds, First Bank has established a borrowing relationship with the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. This borrowing relationship, which is secured by commercial loans, provides an additional liquidity facility that may be utilized for contingency purposes. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, First Bank's borrowing capacity under the agreement was approximately $553.8 million and $639.1 million, respectively. In addition, First Bank's borrowing capacity through its relationship with the FHLB was approximately $745.8 million and $666.0 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. We had FHLB advances outstanding of $3.9 million and $4.0 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, all of which represent advances assumed in conjunction with various acquisitions. In addition to our owned banking facilities, we have entered into long-term leasing arrangements to support our ongoing activities. The required payments under such commitments and other obligations at September 30, 2007 were as follows:
Less than 1-3 3-5 Over 1 Year Years Years 5 Years Total (1) ------ ----- ----- ------- ----- (dollars expressed in thousands) Operating leases........................ $ 15,892 27,318 15,776 45,631 104,617 Certificates of deposit (2)............. 3,342,686 398,764 76,349 10,905 3,828,704 Other borrowings (2).................... 209,872 107 100,793 -- 310,772 Notes payable (2)....................... 10,000 -- -- -- 10,000 Subordinated debentures (2)............. -- -- -- 353,733 353,733 Other contractual obligations........... 560 177 136 94 967 ---------- -------- -------- -------- ---------- Total.............................. $3,579,010 426,366 193,054 410,363 4,608,793 ========== ======== ======== ======== ========== --------------- (1) Amounts exclude FIN 48 unrecognized tax liabilities of $11.7 million and related accrued interest expense of $1.4 million for which the timing of payment of such liabilities cannot be reasonably estimated as of September 30, 2007. (2) Amounts exclude the related interest expense accrued on these obligations as of September 30, 2007.
Management believes the available liquidity and operating results of First Bank will be sufficient to provide funds for growth and to permit the distribution of dividends to us sufficient to meet our operating and debt service requirements, both on a short-term and long-term basis, and to pay interest on the subordinated debentures that we issued to our affiliated statutory and business financing trusts. Effects of New Accounting Standards In February 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 155 -- Accounting For Certain Hybrid Financial Instruments, an amendment of SFAS No. 133 -- Accounting For Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities and SFAS No. 140. SFAS No. 155 allows entities to remeasure at fair value a hybrid financial instrument that contains an embedded derivative that otherwise would require bifurcation from the host instrument, if the holder irrevocably elects to account for the whole instrument on a fair value basis. Subsequent changes in the fair value of the instrument would be recognized in earnings. In January 2007, the FASB posted to its website revisions to certain SFAS No. 133 implementation issues that were affected by the issuance of SFAS No. 155 and SFAS No. 156 (discussed below). These revisions provide a narrow scope exception for securitized interests in prepayable financial assets that only contain an embedded derivative that results from the embedded call options in the underlying prepayable financial assets if certain criteria are met. SFAS No. 155 is effective for financial instruments acquired, issued, or subject to a remeasurement event occurring after the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after September 15, 2006. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year unless the entity has already issued interim financial statements during that fiscal year. We implemented SFAS No. 155 on January 1, 2007, which did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In March 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 156 - Accounting for Servicing of Financial Assets. SFAS No. 156, an amendment of FASB SFAS No. 140 - Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities, addresses the recognition and measurement of separately recognized servicing assets and liabilities and allows mark-to-market accounting for servicing rights resulting in reporting that is similar to fair value hedge accounting, but without the effort and system costs needed to identify effective hedging instruments and document hedging relationships. SFAS No. 156 is effective for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2006. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an entity's fiscal year unless the entity has already issued interim financial statements during that fiscal year. We implemented SFAS No. 156 on January 1, 2007, which did not have a material impact on our financial condition or results of operations. In June 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48 -- Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an Interpretation of SFAS No. 109 -- Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes in financial statements and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. We implemented FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, as further described in Note 1 and Note 12 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 - Fair Value Measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements, and does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an entity's fiscal year unless the entity has already issued interim financial statements during that fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 157 to determine their impact on our financial condition and results of operations. In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159 - The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of SFAS No. 115. SFAS No. 159 provides entities with an option to report selected financial assets and liabilities at fair value in an effort to reduce both complexity in accounting for financial instruments and the volatility in earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. Retrospective application is not allowed. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an entity's fiscal year that begins on or before November 15, 2007, provided the entity also elects to adopt all of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 at the early adoption date. We are currently evaluating the requirements of SFAS No. 159 to determine their impact on our financial condition and results of operations. ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK At December 31, 2006, our risk management program's simulation model indicated a loss of projected net interest income should interest rates decline. We are "asset-sensitive," indicating that our assets would generally reprice with changes in rates more rapidly than our liabilities. While a decline in interest rates of less than 100 basis points was projected to have a relatively minimal impact on our net interest income, an instantaneous parallel decline in the interest yield curve of 100 basis points indicated a pre-tax projected loss of approximately 3.7% of net interest income, based on assets and liabilities at December 31, 2006. At September 30, 2007, we remain in an "asset-sensitive" position and thus, remain subject to a higher level of risk in a declining interest rate environment. Although we do not anticipate that instantaneous shifts in the yield curve as projected in our simulation model are likely, these are indications of the effects that changes in interest rates would have over time. Our asset-sensitive position, coupled with reduced income associated with our interest rate swap agreements and increases in prevailing interest rates, is reflected in our net interest margin for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 as compared to the comparable period in 2006 and further discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Results of Operations." During the first quarter of 2007, we discontinued our activities in the sub-prime residential mortgage market in response to increased market risk experienced within the industry associated with these product lines. While we continue to be susceptible to the risk of future repurchases of loans associated with the sales of these loans, such risk has declined throughout the remainder of 2007 as we initially expected. Our repurchases of mortgage loans sold with recourse has declined to $6.3 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to $17.2 million for the second quarter of 2007, as further discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Loans and Allowance for Loan Losses." Our reduced activities within the sub-prime market have resulted in a decline in our noninterest income, as further discussed under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Results of Operations." During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, our asset-sensitive position and overall susceptibility to market risks have not changed materially. ITEM 4 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES Our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of our "disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on such evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of such period, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective in recording, processing, summarizing and reporting, on a timely basis, information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act. There have not been any changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. PART II - OTHER INFORMATION ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS The exhibits are numbered in accordance with the Exhibit Table of Item 601 of Regulation S-K. Exhibit Number Description -------------- ----------- 4.1 Indenture between First Banks, Inc., as Company, and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee, dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.2 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of First Bank Statutory Trust X by and among LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.3 Guarantee Agreement by and between First Banks, Inc. and LaSalle Bank National Association, dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.4 Placement Agreement by and among First Bank Statutory Trust X, as Issuer, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and Cohen & Company, as Placement Agent, dated as of August 29, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.5 Junior Subordinated Debt Security due 2037 of First Banks, Inc., dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.6 Debenture Subscription Agreement by and between First Banks, Inc. and First Bank Statutory Trust X, dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.7 Capital Securities Certificate P-001 of First Bank Statutory Trust X, dated as of August 31, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.8 Indenture between First Banks, Inc., as Issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.9 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of First Bank Statutory Trust IX by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee and Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.10 Guarantee Agreement by and between First Banks, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.11 Placement Agreement by and among First Banks, Inc., First Bank Statutory Trust IX and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as Placement Agents, dated as of September 13, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.12 Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc., dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.13 Capital Securities Subscription Agreement by and among First Bank Statutory Trust IX, First Banks, Inc. and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd., dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.14 Capital Securities Subscription Agreement by and among First Bank Statutory Trust IX, First Banks, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.15 Capital Securities Certificate P-1 of First Bank Statutory Trust IX, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.16 Capital Securities Certificate P-2 of First Bank Statutory Trust IX, dated as of September 20, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.17 Indenture between First Banks, Inc., as Issuer, and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.18 Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of First Bank Statutory Trust XI by and among Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee and Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.19 Guarantee Agreement by and between First Banks, Inc. and Wilmington Trust Company, dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.20 Placement Agreement by and among First Banks, Inc., First Bank Statutory Trust XI and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as Placement Agents, dated as of September 27, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.21 Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc., dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.22 Capital Securities Subscription Agreement by and among First Bank Statutory Trust XI, First Banks, Inc. and First Tennessee Bank National Association, dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 4.23 Capital Securities Certificate P-1 of First Bank Statutory Trust XI, dated as of September 28, 2007 - filed herewith. 10 Secured Credit Agreement ($125.0 million Revolving Credit Facility, Including $10.0 million Swingline Sub- Facility and $5.0 million Letter of Credit Sub- Facility), dated as of August 8, 2007, by and among First Banks, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., LaSalle Bank National Association, The Northern Trust Company, Union Bank of California, N.A., Fifth Third Bank (Chicago) and U.S. Bank National Association - filed herewith. 31.1 Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Executive Officer - filed herewith. 31.2 Rule 13a-14(a) / 15d-14(a) Certifications of Chief Financial Officer - filed herewith. 32.1 Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer - filed herewith. 32.2 Section 1350 Certifications of Chief Financial Officer - filed herewith. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. Date: November 14, 2007 FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy ------------------------------------------- Terrance M. McCarthy President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------- Lisa K. Vansickle Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) EX-31 2 exhibit311.txt EXHIBIT 31.1 EXHIBIT 31.1 CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 I, Terrance M. McCarthy, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Report") of First Banks, Inc. (the "Registrant"); 2. Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report; 4. The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Registrant and have: a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared; b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and c) Disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting. Date: November 14, 2007 FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy ------------------------------------------- Terrance M. McCarthy President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) EX-31 3 exhibit312.txt EXHIBIT 31.2 EXHIBIT 31.2 CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a) UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 I, Lisa K. Vansickle, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the "Report") of First Banks, Inc. (the "Registrant"); 2. Based on my knowledge, this Report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this Report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the Registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this Report; 4. The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Registrant and have: a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the Registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this Report is being prepared; b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this Report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this Report based on such evaluation; and c) Disclosed in this Report any change in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the Registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and 5. The Registrant's other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the Registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions): a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Registrant's internal control over financial reporting. Date: November 14, 2007 FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------- Lisa K. Vansickle Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) EX-32 4 exhibit321.txt EXHIBIT 32.1 EXHIBIT 32.1 CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 I, Terrance M. McCarthy, President and Chief Executive Officer of First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that: (1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: November 14, 2007 By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy ------------------------------------------ Terrance M. McCarthy President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) EX-32 5 exhibit322.txt EXHIBIT 32.2 EXHIBIT 32.2 CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 I, Lisa K. Vansickle, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, that: (1) The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Date: November 14, 2007 By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------ Lisa K. Vansickle Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) EX-4 6 fbstxindent.txt EXHIBIT 4.1 EXHIBIT 4.1 FIRST BANKS, INC. as Company INDENTURE Dated as of August 31, 2007 LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION As Trustee JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES Due September 15, 2037
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.01. Definitions...........................................................................1 ARTICLE II DEBT SECURITIES SECTION 2.01. Authentication and Dating.............................................................9 SECTION 2.02. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.......................................9 SECTION 2.03. Form and Denomination of Debt Securities.............................................10 SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities.........................................................10 SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt Securities.............................10 SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities.................................13 SECTION 2.07. Temporary Debt Securities............................................................14 SECTION 2.08. Payment of Interest..................................................................15 SECTION 2.09. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc............................................16 SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest..............................................................16 SECTION 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period.................................................18 SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers........................................................................19 SECTION 2.13. Income Tax Certification.............................................................19 SECTION 2.14. Global Debentures....................................................................19 ARTICLE III PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debt Securities...........................................................................21 SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc................................................22 SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office...................................23 SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent.........................................................23 SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee...............................................................24 SECTION 3.06. Additional Interest..................................................................24 SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.............................................25 SECTION 3.08. Limitation on Dividends..............................................................25 SECTION 3.09. Covenants as to the Trust............................................................25 ARTICLE IV LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists...............................................................26 SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.................................................26 SECTION 4.03. Financial and Other Information......................................................27 ARTICLE V REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT SECTION 5.01. Events of Default....................................................................28 SECTION 5.02. Payment of Debt Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.................................30 SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee...........................................31 SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders.......................................................32 SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee...............................................................32 SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing...................................................33 SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.......33 SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults...................................................................34 SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs.............................................................34 ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee...............................................35 SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.................................................36 SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc..................................................37 SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities..................................................................37 SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust...........................................................37 SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.................................................38 SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence....................................................39 SECTION 6.08. Eligibility of Trustee...............................................................39 SECTION 6.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar...................................................................39 SECTION 6.10. Acceptance by Successor..............................................................41 SECTION 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc............................................................42 SECTION 6.12. Authenticating Agents................................................................42 ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders............................................................43 SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders................................................44 SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.......................................................44 SECTION 7.04. Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding..............................45 SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound.................................45 ARTICLE VIII SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings.................................................................45 SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee..........................................................46 SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.......................................46 SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting............................................................46 SECTION 8.05. Regulations..........................................................................47 SECTION 8.06. Voting...............................................................................47 SECTION 8.07. Quorum; Actions......................................................................48 SECTION 8.08. Written Consent Without a Meeting....................................................48 ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders...........................49 SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders..............................50 SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures....................................................51 SECTION 9.04. Notation on Debt Securities..........................................................51 SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be furnished to Trustee..........52 ARTICLE X REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption..................................................................52 SECTION 10.02. Special Event Redemption.............................................................52 SECTION 10.03. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities...................................52 SECTION 10.04. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption.....................................53 ARTICLE XI CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms......................................54 SECTION 11.02. Successor Entity to be Substituted...................................................54 SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee............................................55 ARTICLE XII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture...............................................................55 SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee......................................56 SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held....................................................56 SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys...........................................................56 ARTICLE XIII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate Obligations...........................57 ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 14.01. Successors...........................................................................57 SECTION 14.02. Official Acts by Successor Entity....................................................57 SECTION 14.03. Surrender of Company Powers..........................................................57 SECTION 14.04. Addresses for Notices, etc...........................................................57 SECTION 14.05. Governing Law........................................................................58 SECTION 14.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.....................................58 SECTION 14.07. Non-Business Days....................................................................58 SECTION 14.08. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.....................................................59 SECTION 14.09. Execution in Counterparts............................................................59 SECTION 14.10. Severability.........................................................................59 SECTION 14.11. Assignment...........................................................................59 SECTION 14.12. Acknowledgment of Rights.............................................................59 ARTICLE XV SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate.............................................................60 SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness.......................................................60 SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.................................................61 SECTION 15.04. Subrogation..........................................................................62 SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination..................................................63 SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company................................................................63 SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee, Holders of Senior Indebtedness................................64 SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired....................................................64 EXHIBITS EXHIBIT A FORM OF DEBT SECURITY
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of August 31, 2007, between First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Missouri (hereinafter sometimes called the "Company"), and LaSalle Bank National Association as trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee"). W I T N E S S E T H: WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2037 (the "Debt Securities") under this Indenture and to provide, among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debt Securities by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debt Securities as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.01. Definitions. ----------- The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.01. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.06. "Additional Provisions" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.01. "Authenticating Agent" means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12. "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors. "Board of Directors" means the board of directors or the executive committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in Wilmington, Delaware, New York City or the city of the Principal Office of the Trustee or the Company are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Calculation Agent" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first paragraph hereof with respect to the Debt Securities and the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Trust Securities. "Capital Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which are designated as "TP Securities" and rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. The Capital Securities sold by the Trust to the initial purchaser(s) pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement(s) shall be issued in book entry form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee on behalf of the Depository Trust Company, without coupons, and held by the Institutional Trustee as custodian for the Depository Trust Company. "Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement that the Company will enter into with LaSalle Bank National Association or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust. "Capital Treatment Event" means, if the Company is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or any rules, guidelines or policies of any applicable regulatory authority for the Company or (b) any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debt Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that, within 90 days of the receipt of such opinion, the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities will not be eligible to be treated by the Company as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank or financial holding companies), as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as Tier 1 Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the distribution of the Debt Securities in connection with the liquidation of the Trust by the Company shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Certificate" means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust which are designated as "Common Securities" and rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that if an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) has occurred and is continuing, the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. "Company" means First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Missouri, and, subject to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns. "Debt Security" or "Debt Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture. "Debt Security Register" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05. "Debt Security Registrar" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05. "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of August 31, 2007, as amended or supplemented from time to time. "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.08. "Deferred Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. "Depositary" means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Company or any successor thereto. DTC will be the initial Depositary. "Depositary Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary. "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation. "Event of Default" means any event specified in Section 5.01, which has continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. "Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. "Global Debenture" means a security that evidences all or part of the Debt Securities, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary. "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both. "Initial Purchaser" means the initial purchaser of the Capital Securities. "Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration. "Interest Payment Date" means March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2007, during the term of this Indenture. "Interest Payment Period" means the period from and including an Interest Payment Date, or in the case of the first Interest Payment Period, the original date of issuance of the Debt Securities, to, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the last Interest Payment Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be. "Interest Rate" means, with respect to any Interest Payment Period, a per annum rate of interest, equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Interest Payment Date, plus 2.30%; provided, however, that the Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the original issuance of the Debt Securities. "LIBOR" means the London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe as determined by the Calculation Agent according to Section 2.10(b). "LIBOR Banking Day" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(1). "LIBOR Business Day" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(1). "LIBOR Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b). "Liquidation Amount" means the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Trust Security. "Maturity Date" means September 15, 2037. "Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President or any Vice President, and by the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.06 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies. "Outstanding" means, when used with reference to Debt Securities, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, as of any particular time, all Debt Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except (a) Debt Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; (b) Debt Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, that, if such Debt Securities, or -------- portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Articles X and XIV or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Debt Securities paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debt Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.06 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debt Securities are held by bona fide holders in due course. "Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.04(e). "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Placement Agent" means Cohen & Company. "Predecessor Security" of any particular Debt Security means every previous Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Debt Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.06 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debt Security. "Principal Office of the Trustee" means the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at all times shall be located within the United States and at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1511, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attn: CDO Trust Services Group - First Bank Statutory Trust X. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt Securities to the Redemption Date. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the CDO Trust Services Group in the Principal Office of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Securityholder," "holder of Debt Securities" or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debt Security is registered on the Debt Security Register. "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker's acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred, unless, with the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if not otherwise generally approved, it is provided in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, that such obligations are not superior or are pari passu in right of payment to the Debt Securities; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (A) any debt securities issued to any trust other than the Trust (or a trustee of such trust) that is a financing vehicle of the Company (a "financing entity"), in connection with the issuance by such financing entity of equity or other securities in transactions substantially similar in structure to the transactions contemplated hereunder and in the Declaration (each of which are pari passu in all respects with the Debt Securities), (B) any guarantees of the Company in respect of the equity or other securities of any financing entity referred to in clause (A) above or (C) any other instruments classified as subordinated or pari passu to the Debt Securities by the Federal Reserve from time to time hereafter. "Special Event" means any of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event. "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.02. "Special Redemption Price" means, with respect to the redemption of any Debt Security following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2008 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date:
Special Redemption During the Percentage of Principal ----------------------------- ----------------------- 12-Month Period Beginning September 15 Amount -------------------------------------- ------ 2008 103.140% 2009 102.355% 2010 101.570% 2011 100.785% 2012 and thereafter 100.000%
"Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement (an "Administrative Action")) or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debt Securities, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debt Securities; (ii) if the Company is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, interest payable by the Company on the Debt Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to or otherwise required to pay, or required to withhold from distributions to holders of Trust Securities, more than a de minimis amount of other taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges. "Trust" means First Bank Statutory Trust X, the Delaware statutory trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debt Securities under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time-to-time, or any successor legislation. "Trust Securities" means Common Securities and Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust X. "Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. "United States" means the United States of America and the District of Columbia. "U.S. Person" has the meaning given to United States Person as set forth in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. ARTICLE II DEBT SECURITIES SECTION 2.01. Authentication and Dating. ------------------------- Upon the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $15,464,000 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debt Securities to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, President or Chief Financial Officer or one of its Vice Presidents, without any further action by the Company hereunder. In authenticating such Debt Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or other officers with appropriate delegated authority of the Company as the case may be. The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Securityholders. The Trustee shall also be entitled to receive an opinion of counsel to the effect that (1) all conditions precedent to the execution, delivery and authentication of the Debt Securities have been complied with; (2) the Debt Securities are not required to be registered under the Securities Act; and (3) the Indenture is not required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The definitive Debt Securities shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debt Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Debt Securities. SECTION 2.02 Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. ----------------------------------------------- The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debt Securities shall be in substantially the following form: This represents Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee By ------------------------------- Authorized Signatory SECTION 2.03 Form and Denomination of Debt Securities. ---------------------------------------- The Debt Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. The Debt Securities shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Debt Securities shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. SECTION 2.04. Execution of Debt Securities. ---------------------------- The Debt Securities shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of any of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vice Chairman, President or Chief Financial Officer or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal (if legally required), which may be affixed thereto or printed, engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise, and which need not be attested. Only such Debt Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized officer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debt Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debt Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Securityholder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debt Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Debt Securities so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debt Securities nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debt Securities had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debt Security may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debt Security, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer. Every Debt Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. SECTION 2.05. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debt -------------------------------------------------------- Securities. - ---------- The Trustee, in its capacity as "Debt Security Registrar", shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.02, a register (the "Debt Security Register") for the Debt Securities issued hereunder in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Debt Security Registrar shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debt Securities as provided in this Article II. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. Debt Securities to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debt Security or Debt Securities which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debt Security for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debt Security by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.02, and delivery of such Debt Security, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debt Security. All Debt Securities presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by, a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and either the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by, the Securityholder or such Securityholder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Neither the Trustee nor the Debt Security Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act (under and as defined in the Declaration), applicable state securities laws or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Investment Company Act (under and as defined in the Declaration). No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debt Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debt Security for a period of 15 days immediately preceding the date of selection of Debt Securities for redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Debt Securities may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable law, which legend shall be placed on each Debt Security: THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL AND SECURED CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS NOT SECURED. SECTION 2.06. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debt Securities. ---------------------------------------------------- In case any Debt Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debt Security bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debt Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debt Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debt Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debt Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debt Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debt Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debt Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debt Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debt Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof. Every substituted Debt Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.06 by virtue of the fact that any such Debt Security is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debt Securities duly issued hereunder. All Debt Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender. SECTION 2.07. Temporary Debt Securities. ------------------------- Pending the preparation of definitive Debt Securities, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debt Securities that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debt Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debt Securities but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debt Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debt Security shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debt Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debt Securities and thereupon any or all temporary Debt Securities may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.02, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debt Securities a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debt Securities. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debt Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debt Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder. SECTION 2.08. Payment of Interest. ------------------- Each Debt Security will bear interest at the then applicable Interest Rate from and including each Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the first Interest Payment Period, the original date of issuance of such Debt Security to, but excluding, the next succeeding Interest Payment Date or, in the case of the last Interest Payment Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as applicable, on the principal thereof, on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on Deferred Interest and on any overdue installment of interest (including Defaulted Interest), payable on each Interest Payment Date commencing on December 15, 2007. Interest and any Deferred Interest on any Debt Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date, the Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or the Special Redemption Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. In the event that any Debt Security or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and either on or prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Debt Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Security. Any interest on any Debt Security, other than Deferred Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for by the Company, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Securityholder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such Securityholder, and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debt Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than fifteen nor less than ten days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than ten days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Debt Security Register, not less than ten days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debt Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and thereafter the Company shall have no further payment obligation in respect of the Defaulted Interest. Any interest scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debt Securities. The term "regular record date" as used in this Indenture shall mean the fifteenth day prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date whether or not such date is a Business Day. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debt Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debt Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debt Security. SECTION 2.09. Cancellation of Debt Securities Paid, etc. ------------------------------------------ All Debt Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debt Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Debt Securities in accordance with its customary practices, unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing, in which case the Trustee shall dispose of such Debt Securities as directed by the Company. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debt Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debt Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. SECTION 2.10. Computation of Interest. ----------------------- (a) The amount of interest payable for any Interest Payment Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period; provided, however, that upon the -------- ------- occurrence of a Special Event Redemption pursuant to Section 10.02 the amounts payable pursuant to this Indenture shall be calculated as set forth in the definition of Special Redemption Price. (b) LIBOR, for any Interest Payment Period, shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions: (1) On the second LIBOR Business Day (provided, that on such day commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a "LIBOR Banking Day"), and otherwise the next preceding LIBOR Business Day that is also a LIBOR Banking Day) prior to March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (or, with respect to the first Interest Payment Period, on August 29, 2007) (each such day, a "LIBOR Determination Date" for the following Interest Payment Period), the Calculation Agent shall obtain the rate for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR 01 Page (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions) or such other page as may replace such page as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date, as reported by Bloomberg Financial markets Commodities News or any successor service ("Reuters Screen"), and the rate so obtained shall be LIBOR for such Interest Payment Period. "LIBOR Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in The City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed. If such rate is superseded on Reuters Screen by a corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on the same LIBOR Determination Date, the corrected rate as so substituted will be LIBOR for that Interest Payment Period. (2) If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London Interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent) by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such a quotation, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that at least two leading banks in the City of New York (as selected by the Calculation Agent) are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent). As used herein, "Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London Interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent. (3) If the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR for the applicable Interest Payment Period shall be LIBOR in effect for the immediately preceding Interest Payment Period. (c) All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debt Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward). (d) As soon as practicable following each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event later than the 30th day following such LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent shall notify, in writing, the Company, the Institutional Trustee and the Paying Agent of the applicable Interest Rate in effect for the related Interest Payment Period. The Calculation Agent shall, upon the request of any Securityholder, provide the Interest Rate then in effect. All calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Company and the Securityholders. Any error in a calculation of the Interest Rate by the Calculation Agent may be corrected at any time by the delivery of notice of such corrected Interest Rate as provided above. The Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on information received from the Calculation Agent or the Company as to the Interest Rate. The Company shall, from time to time, provide any necessary information to the Paying Agent relating to any original issue discount and interest on the Debt Securities that is included in any payment and reportable for taxable income calculation purposes. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable Interest Rate shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on Debentures at such Interest Rate. SECTION 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period. ------------------------------------ So long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right under the Indenture, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to twenty consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest distribution period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities; provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided further, however, that during any such -------- ------- ------- Extension Period, the Company shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.08 of this Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided, that such period -------- together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed twenty consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin any Extension Period or extend an Extension Period ("Notice") not later than the related regular record date for the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Notice shall describe, in reasonable detail, why the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company's understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the Placement Agent shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period and other information that such Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems relevant to the Company's election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders. SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. ------------- The Company in issuing the Debt Securities may use a "CUSIP" number (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use a "CUSIP" number in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, -------- that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such number either as printed on the Debt Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debt Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP number. SECTION 2.13. Income Tax Certification. ------------------------ As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the Debt Securities without the imposition of withholding tax, the Trustee shall require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S. federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701 (a)(30) of the Code (under and as defined in the Declaration) or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, and any other certification acceptable to it to enable the Trustee or any Paying Agent to determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or other charges that they may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of such Debt Securities. SECTION 2.14. Global Debentures. ----------------- (a) Upon the election of the holder of Outstanding Debt Securities, which election need not be in writing, the Debt Securities owned by such holder shall be issued in the form of one or more Global Debentures registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee. Each Global Debenture issued under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated by the Company for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Debenture shall constitute a single Debt Security for all purposes of this Indenture. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Debenture may be exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Debenture in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Depositary advises the Trustee and the Company in writing that such Depositary is no longer willing or able to properly discharge its responsibilities as Depositary with respect to such Global Debenture, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days of receipt by the Company of such notice, (ii) such Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and no successor is appointed by the Company within ninety (90) days after obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee a company order stating that the Company elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Trustee shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all owners of beneficial interests in such Global Debenture of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of Debt Securities to such owners of beneficial interests requesting the same. Upon the issuance of such Debt Securities and the registration in the Debt Security Register of such Debt Securities in the names of such owners of the beneficial interests therein, the Trustee shall recognize such owners of beneficial interests as holders hereof. (c) If any Global Debenture is to be exchanged for other Debt Securities or canceled in part, or if another Debt Security is to be exchanged in whole or in part for a beneficial interest in any Global Debenture, then either (i) such Global Debenture shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Article II or (ii) the principal amount thereof ---------- shall be reduced or increased by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the principal amount of such other Debt Security to be so exchanged for a beneficial interest therein, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Debt Security Registrar, whereupon the Trustee, in accordance with the applicable depository procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender or adjustment of a Global Debenture by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities issuable in exchange for such Global Debenture (or any portion thereof) in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. The Trustee shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions. (d) Every Debt Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Debenture or any portion thereof shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Debenture, unless such Debt Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Debenture or a nominee thereof. (e) Debt Securities distributed to holders of Book-Entry Capital Securities (as defined in the Trust Agreement) upon the dissolution of the Trust shall be distributed in the form of one or more Global Debentures registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee, and deposited with the Debt Security Registrar, as custodian for such Depositary, or with such Depositary, for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities represented thereby (or such other accounts as they may direct). Debt Securities distributed to holders of Capital Securities other than Book-Entry Capital Securities upon the dissolution of the Trust shall not be issued in the form of a Global Debenture or any other form intended to facilitate book-entry trading in beneficial interests in such Debt Securities. (f) The Depositary or its nominee, as the registered owner of a Global Debenture, shall be the holder of such Global Debenture for all purposes under this Indenture and the Debt Securities, and owners of beneficial interests in a Global Debenture shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depository Procedures. Accordingly, any such owner's beneficial interest in a Global Debenture shall be shown only on, and the transfer of such interest shall be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee or its Depositary Participants. The Debt Security Registrar and the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Indenture relating to a Global Debenture (including the payment of principal and interest thereon and the giving of instructions or directions by owners of beneficial interests therein and the giving of notices) as the sole holder of the Debt Security and shall have no obligations to the owners of beneficial interests therein. Neither the Trustee nor the Debt Security Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers affected by the Depositary. (g) The rights of owners of beneficial interests in a Global Debenture shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreements between such owners and the Depositary and/or its Depositary Participants. (h) No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Debenture held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Debenture, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Debenture for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Debenture or maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by a Depositary or impair, as between a Depositary and such holders of beneficial interests, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depositary (or its nominee) as holder of any Debt Security. ARTICLE III PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY SECTION 3.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed -------------------------------------------------------- Treatment of the Debt Securities. - -------------------------------- (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid all payments due on the Debt Securities at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debt Securities. At the option of the Company, each installment of interest on the Debt Securities may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the Securityholders entitled thereto as they appear on the Debt Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated by such Securityholders to the Paying Agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or any Debt Security, if the Trust or the Trustee of the Trust is the holder of any Debt Security, then all payments in respect of such Debt Security shall be made by the Company in immediately available funds when due. (b) The Company and each of the Securityholders will treat the Debt Securities as indebtedness, and the amounts, other than payments of principal, payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debt Securities as interest, for all U.S. federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of the Debt Securities will be made free and clear of U.S. withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided (i) an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 or W-8BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its U.S. or non-U.S. status for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and establishing a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax, or (ii) any other applicable form establishing a complete exemption from U.S. withholding tax. (c) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company represents that it has no intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by commencing an Extension Period. (d) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company represents that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under this Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debt Securities are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company's ability to make any payments of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities. SECTION 3.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. -------------------------------------- So long as any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in this Indenture and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debt Securities or of this Indenture may be served. The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at LaSalle Bank National Association, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1511, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention: CDO Trust Services Group - First Bank Statutory Trust X as such office or agency. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee. In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Debt Securities may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, -------- however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the - ------- Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof. SECTION 3.03. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office. -------------------------------------------------- The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.09, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder. SECTION 3.04. Provision as to Paying Agent. ---------------------------- (a) If the Company shall appoint a Paying Agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.04: (1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of all payments due on the Debt Securities (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders; (2) that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debt Securities) to make any payment on the Debt Securities when the same shall be due and payable; and (3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent. (b) If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the payments due on the Debt Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders a sum sufficient to pay such payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debt Securities) to make any payment on the Debt Securities when the same shall become due and payable. Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for the Debt Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the payments on the Debt Securities, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay all payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act. (c) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debt Securities, or for any other reason, pay, ordirect any Paying Agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions herein contained. (d) Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject to Sections 12.03 and 12.04. (e) The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee to act as Paying Agent (the "Paying Agent"). SECTION 3.05. Certificate to Trustee. ---------------------- The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debt Securities are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof. SECTION 3.06. Additional Interest. ------------------- If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debt Securities and is subject to or otherwise required to pay, or is required to withhold from distributions to holders of Trust Securities, any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (the "Additional Interest") on the Debt Securities as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Trust for distribution to holders of Trust Securities after paying all taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received and retained for distribution to holders of Trust Securities after paying all taxes (including withholding taxes on distributions to holders of Trust Securities), duties, assessments or other governmental charges if no such additional taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debt Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Interest provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Interest is, was or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Interest (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Interest in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however, that, -------- ------- notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Indenture or any Debt Security, the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Interest that may be due and payable. SECTION 3.07. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions. ---------------------------------------- The Company will not, while any of the Debt Securities remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into any other Person, or merge into itself, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property or capital stock to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with. SECTION 3.08. Limitation on Dividends. ----------------------- If Debt Securities are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debt Securities continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Company may not (A) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (B) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (C) make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (I) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (II) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (III) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). SECTION 3.09. Covenants as to the Trust. ------------------------- For so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, -------- however, that any permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture that - ------- is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, except in connection with a distribution of Debt Securities to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debt Securities. ARTICLE IV LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE SECTION 4.01. Securityholders' Lists. ---------------------- The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee: (a) on each regular record date for an Interest Payment Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of such record date; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.01 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debt Security Registrar. SECTION 4.02. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. ------------------------------------ (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debt Security Registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. (b) In case three or more Securityholders (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debt Security for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debt Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at the election of the Company, either: (1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Securityholders whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application. If the Company shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants, and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement of the Company to the effect that such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debt Securities, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application. (c) Each and every Securityholder, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Securityholders in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.02, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b). SECTION 4.03. Financial and Other Information. ------------------------------- The Company shall deliver to the Trustee to hold on behalf of each Securityholder (1) each Report on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q prepared by the Company and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act within 7 days after the filing thereof, (2) if the Company is not then (y) subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or (z) exempt from reporting pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) thereunder, the Company shall be required to provide within 45 days of the end of each calendar quarterly period and 90 days after the end of each calendar year, the information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act and (3) within 30 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Company, Form 1099 or such other annual U.S. federal income tax information statement required by the Code containing such information with regard to the Debt Securities held by such Trustee to hold on behalf of each Securityholder as is required by the Code and the income tax regulations of the U.S. Treasury thereunder. The Company will cause copies of each FR Y-9 to be delivered to the Trustee to hold on behalf of the Securityholder promptly following their filing with the Federal Reserve. ARTICLE V REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT SECTION 5.01. Events of Default. ----------------- The following events shall be "Events of Default" with respect to Debt Securities: (a) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debt Security when it becomes due and payable (unless the Company has elected and may defer interest payments pursuant to Section 2.11), and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; for the avoidance of doubt, an extension of any interest distribution period by the Company in accordance with Section 2.11 of this Indenture shall not constitute a default under this clause 5.01(a); or (b) the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debt Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 5.01 of this Indenture or otherwise; or (c) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debt Security when it becomes due and payable following the nonpayment of any such interest for 20 or more consecutive quarterly periods; or (d) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in Sections 3.06, 3.07, 3.08 or 3.09 of this Indenture, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (e) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or orders the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (f) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or (g) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (1) the distribution of the Debt Securities to holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (2) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (3) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration. If an Event of Default specified under clause (c) of this Section 5.01 occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debt Securities, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debt Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debt Securities and any premium and interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified under clause (e), (f) or (g) of this Section 5.01 occurs, then, in each and every such case, the entire principal amount of the Debt Securities and any premium and interest accrued, but unpaid, thereon shall ipso facto become immediately due and payable without further action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.01, if at any time during the period in which this Indenture remains in force and effect, the Company ceases or elects to cease to be subject to the supervision and regulations of the Federal Reserve, OTS, OCC or similar regulatory authority overseeing bank, thrift, savings and loan or financial holding companies or similar institutions requiring specifications for the treatment of capital similar in nature to the capital adequacy guidelines under the Federal Reserve rules and regulations, then the first sentence of this paragraph shall be deemed to include clauses (a), (b) and (d) under this Section 5.01 as an Event of Default resulting in an acceleration of payment of the Debt Securities to the same extent as provided herein for clause (c). With respect to clause (d) of this Section 5.01, the Company agrees that in the event of a breach by the Company of its covenants or agreements mentioned therein, any remedy at law or in damages may prove inadequate and therefore the Company agrees that the Trustee shall be entitled to injunctive relief against the Company in the event of any breach or threatened breach by the Company, in addition to any other relief (including damages) available to the Trustee under this Indenture or under law. The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debt Securities shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debt Securities and all payments on the Debt Securities which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon all such payments and Deferred Interest, to the extent permitted by law) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.06, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the payments on Debt Securities which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, and in each and every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon; provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or rescission and annulment shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or rescission and annulment. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken. SECTION 5.02. Payment of Debt Securities on Default; Suit Therefor. ---------------------------------------------------- The Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01, and upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Securityholders, the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debt Securities including Deferred Interest accrued on the Debt Securities; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debt Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable. In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debt Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debt Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debt Securities and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the Securityholders in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debt Securities or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding. All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debt Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debt Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Securityholders. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all the Securityholders, and it shall not be necessary to make any Securityholders parties to any such proceedings. SECTION 5.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. ------------------------------------------ Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates specified pursuant hereto for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debt Securities in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.06; Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV; Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debt Securities, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debt Securities; and Fourth: The balance, if any, to the Company. SECTION 5.04. Proceedings by Securityholders. ------------------------------ No Securityholder shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such Securityholder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; provided, that no Securityholder shall have any right to prejudice the rights of - -------- any other Securityholder, obtain priority or preference over any other such Securityholder or enforce any right under this Indenture except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Securityholders. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any Securityholder to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Securityholder. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity. SECTION 5.05. Proceedings by Trustee. ---------------------- In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. SECTION 5.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. ---------------------------------- Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.06, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debt Securities, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders. SECTION 5.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by -------------------------------------------------------- Majority of Securityholders. - ---------------------------- The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding and, if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debt Securities; provided, however, that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust -------- ------- or a trustee of the Trust, such time, method and place or such exercise, as the case may be, may not be so directed until the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have directed such time, method and place or such exercise, as the case may be; provided, further, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee being advised by counsel shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any declaration of acceleration, or ipso facto acceleration, of the maturity of the Debt Securities, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debt Securities waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.09; provided, however, that if the Debt -------- ------- Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver; provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the outstanding Capital Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver. Upon any such waiver or modification to such waiver, the Default or Event of Default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver or modification to such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 5.07, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debt Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. SECTION 5.08. Notice of Defaults. ------------------ The Trustee shall, within 90 days after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge or received written notice of the occurrence of a Default with respect to the Debt Securities, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such Securityholders appear upon the Debt Security Register, notice of all Defaults with respect to the Debt Securities actually known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.08 being hereby defined to be the events specified in subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of Section 5.01, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, that, except in the case of -------- default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt Securities, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders. SECTION 5.09. Undertaking to Pay Costs. ------------------------ All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debt Securities (or, if such Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of the Trust, more than 10% in liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities), to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable, or to any suit instituted in accordance with Section 14.12. ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE SECTION 6.01. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. -------------------------------------- With respect to the holders of Debt Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debt Securities, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs. No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: (a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred (1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debt Securities as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and (2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture; (b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; (c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture; (d) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities unless either (1) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities or by any Securityholder, except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), 5.01(b) or 5.01(c) hereof (other than an Event of Default resulting from the default in the payment of Additional Interest or premium, if any, if the Trustee does not have actual knowledge or written notice that such payment is due and payable), of which the Trustee shall be deemed to have knowledge; and (e) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may seek and rely on reasonable instructions from the Company. None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers. SECTION 6.02. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. ------------------------------------- Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01: (a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; (c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel; (d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; (e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to the Debt Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person's own affairs; (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby; provided, however, that if the -------- ------- payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding; and (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care. SECTION 6.03. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. ------------------------------------ The recitals contained herein and in the Debt Securities (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debt Securities. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debt Securities or the proceeds of any Debt Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. SECTION 6.04. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer -------------------------------------------------------- Agents or Registrar May Own Debt Securities. - ------------------------------------------- The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any Paying Agent or any transfer agent or any Debt Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debt Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, transfer agent or Debt Security Registrar. SECTION 6.05. Moneys to be Held in Trust. -------------------------- Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys received by the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys, if any, shall be paid from time to time to the Company upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. SECTION 6.06. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. ------------------------------------ Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith between Cohen & Company, the Trustee and the Company, the Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its written request for all documented reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance that arises from its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee (including in its individual capacity) and any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee), except to the extent such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense results from the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of such indemnitee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in the premises. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for documented expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by (and the Company hereby grants and pledges to the Trustee) a lien prior to that of the Debt Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debt Securities. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in subsections (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01, the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debt Security to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debt Securities or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company. SECTION 6.07. Officers' Certificate as Evidence. --------------------------------- Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof. SECTION 6.08. Eligibility of Trustee. ---------------------- The Trustee hereunder shall at all times be a U.S. Person that is a banking corporation or national banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or of the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national banking association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.08 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national banking association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee, notwithstanding that such corporation or national banking association shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.08, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.09. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of ss. 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Indenture. SECTION 6.09. Resignation or Removal of Trustee, Calculation Agent, -------------------------------------------------------- Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar. - --------------------------------------- (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security Registrar may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company's expense, to the Securityholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor or successors by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning party and one copy to the successor. If no successor shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning party may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor. (b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur: (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months, (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.08 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.09, if no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days of the occurrence of any of (1), (2) or (3) above, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debt Security or Debt Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee. (c) Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within ten Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case or in the case of a failure by such Securityholders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.09 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor. (d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Calculation Agent, the Paying Agent and any Debt Security Registrar and appointment of a successor pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.09 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor as provided in Section 6.10. SECTION 6.10. Acceptance by Successor. ----------------------- Any successor Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar appointed as provided in Section 6.09 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring party shall become effective and such successor, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debt Securities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor, the party ceasing to act shall, upon payment of the amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all the rights and powers of the party so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor all property and money held by such retiring party hereunder. Upon reasonable request of any such successor, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor all such rights and powers. Any party ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06. If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.10 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible and qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08. In no event shall a retiring Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor hereunder. Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee, Calculation Agent, Paying Agent or Debt Security Registrar as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession to the Securityholders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Security Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within ten Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor, the successor shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company. SECTION 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. -------------------------- Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, that such Person shall be otherwise eligible and qualified -------- under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debt Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debt Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debt Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debt Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debt Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, -------- however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any - ------- predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debt Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation. SECTION 6.12. Authenticating Agents. --------------------- There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debt Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debt Securities. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a Person organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section. Any Person into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor Person is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debt Securities by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all Securityholders as the names and addresses of such Securityholders appear on the Debt Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debt Securities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein. Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith between Cohen & Company, the Company and the Trustee, the Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee and shall receive such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities incurred in furtherance of its duties under this Section 6.12. ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS SECTION 7.01. Action by Securityholders. ------------------------- Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities or aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such Securityholders voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII or of such holders of Capital Securities duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of the Declaration, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory. If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debt Securities for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debt Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debt Securities shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, -------- ------- agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date. SECTION 7.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders. ------------------------------------- Subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or such Securityholder's agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debt Securities shall be proved by the Debt Security Register or by a certificate of the Debt Security Registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary. The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.06. SECTION 7.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. ------------------------------ Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any transfer agent and any Debt Security Registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debt Security shall be registered upon the Debt Security Register to be, and may treat such Person as, the absolute owner of such Debt Security (whether or not such Debt Security shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debt Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any Securityholder for the time being or upon such Securityholder's order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debt Security. SECTION 7.04. Debt Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding. ------------------------------------------------------- In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debt Securities which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debt Securities or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company (other than the Trust) or any other obligor on the Debt Securities shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided, that for the purposes of determining whether the -------- Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debt Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debt Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Debt Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. SECTION 7.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Securityholders Bound. ---------------------------------------------------- At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Securityholder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.01) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.01) of a Debt Security (or any Debt Security issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debt Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debt Security (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debt Security). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debt Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Securityholder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debt Security, and of any Debt Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debt Security or any Debt Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor. ARTICLE VIII SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS SECTION 8.01. Purposes of Meetings. -------------------- A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes: (a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V; (b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI; (c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02; or (d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law. SECTION 8.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee. --------------------------- The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such place in Chicago, Illinois as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to Securityholders affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debt Securities Register. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. SECTION 8.03. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. ---------------------------------------------- In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.02. SECTION 8.04. Qualifications for Voting. ------------------------- To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall be (a) a holder of one or more Debt Securities with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debt Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel. SECTION 8.05. Regulations. ----------- Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debt Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote at the meeting. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, at any meeting each Securityholder with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Debt Securities held or represented by such Securityholder; provided, however, that -------- ------- no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debt Security challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debt Securities held by such chairman or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating such chairman as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.02 or 8.03 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice. SECTION 8.06. Voting. ------ The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such Securityholders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debt Securities held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.02. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debt Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated. SECTION 8.07. Quorum; Actions. --------------- The Persons entitled to vote a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such -------- ------- meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.02, except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the proviso in the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso -------- ------- in the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action that this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than such specified percentage in outstanding principal amount of the Debt Securities. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Securityholders duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting. SECTION 8.08. Written Consent Without a Meeting. --------------------------------- Whenever under this Indenture, Securityholders are required or permitted to take any action by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the Securityholders of all outstanding Debt Securities entitled to vote thereon. No consent shall be effective to take the action referred to therein unless, within sixty days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required by this paragraph to the Trustee, written consents signed by a sufficient number of Securityholders to take action are delivered to the Trustee at its Principal Office. Delivery made to the Trustee at its Principal Office, shall be by hand or by certificated or registered mail, return receipt requested. Written consent thus given by the Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities as is required hereunder, shall have the same effect as a valid vote of Securityholders of such number of Debt Securities. ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES SECTION 9.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of -------------------------------------------------------- Securityholders. - --------------- The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes: (a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI hereof; (b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the Securityholders as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of such Securityholders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a Default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a Default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, -------- however, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or - ------- condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default; (c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make or amend such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided, that any such -------- action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Securityholders; (d) to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debt Securities, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debt Securities, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities, as required by Section 2.05 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debt Securities is required under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended); provided, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debt Securities then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debt Securities substantially similar to those applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to adversely affect the Securityholders); (e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10; (f) to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or (g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debt Securities, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debt Securities, or to add to the rights of the Securityholders. The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Securityholders at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02. SECTION 9.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. ------------------------------------------------------- With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, then in effect, applicable to indentures qualified thereunder) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders; provided, however, that no such supplemental -------- ------- indenture shall without such consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce (other than as a result of the maturity or earlier redemption of any such Debt Security in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Debt Security) or increase the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding, or change any of the redemption provisions, or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the Securityholder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; and provided, further, -------- ------- that if the Debt Securities are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided, further, that if the consent -------- ------- of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debt Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the outstanding Capital Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders (and holders of Capital Securities, if required) as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debt Security Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. SECTION 9.03. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. --------------------------------- Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Securityholders shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes. SECTION 9.04. Notation on Debt Securities. --------------------------- Debt Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debt Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debt Securities then outstanding. SECTION 9.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be -------------------------------------------------------- furnished to Trustee. - -------------------- The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.06, receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof. ARTICLE X REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES SECTION 10.01. Optional Redemption. ------------------- At any time the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, to redeem the Debt Securities, in whole or (provided that all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid on all Debt Securities for all Interest Payment Periods terminating on or prior to such date) from time to time in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2012 (the "Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price. SECTION 10.02. Special Event Redemption. ------------------------ If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, to redeem the Debt Securities, in whole or in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "Special Redemption Date"), at the Special Redemption Price. SECTION 10.03. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debt Securities. -------------------------------------------------- In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debt Securities, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail, or cause the Trustee to mail (at the expense of the Company) a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to the Securityholders so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debt Security Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debt Security designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debt Security. Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debt Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price (or manner of calculation of the price) at which Debt Securities are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debt Securities are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debt Securities to be redeemed. In case the Debt Securities are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debt Security, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued. On the Business Day prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more Paying Agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Debt Securities so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued to such date. The Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date as to the Redemption Price at which the Debt Securities are to be redeemed and the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debt Securities or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000) to be redeemed. SECTION 10.04. Payment of Debt Securities Called for Redemption. ------------------------------------------------ If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.03, the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be) and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debt Securities at the redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to said date) interest on the Debt Securities or portions of Debt Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debt Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debt Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price, together with unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date (as the case may be). Upon presentation of any Debt Security redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debt Security so presented. ARTICLE XI CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE SECTION 11.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. ----------------------------------------------- Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or corporations (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property or capital stock of the Company or its successor or successors to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that -------- ------- the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, (i) upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the successor entity shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia (unless such corporation has (1) agreed to make all payments due in respect of the Debt Securities or, if outstanding, the Capital Securities and Capital Securities Guarantee without withholding or deduction for, or on account of, any taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges under the laws or regulations of the jurisdiction of organization or residence (for tax purposes) of such corporation or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein unless required by applicable law, in which case such corporation shall have agreed to pay such additional amounts as shall be required so that the net amounts received and retained by the Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities, as the case may be, after payment of all taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges, will be equal to the amounts that such Securityholders or holders of Capital Securities would have received and retained had no such taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges been imposed, (2) irrevocably and unconditionally consented and submitted to the jurisdiction of any United States federal court or New York state court, in each case located in The City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, in respect of any action, suit or proceeding against it arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Debt Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantee or the Declaration and irrevocably and unconditionally waived, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the laying of venue in any such court or that any such action, suit or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum and (3) irrevocably appointed an agent in The City of New York for service of process in any action, suit or proceeding referred to in clause (2) above) and such corporation expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Company under the Debt Securities, this Indenture, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Declaration and (ii) after giving effect to any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. SECTION 11.02. Successor Entity to be Substituted. ---------------------------------- In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition contemplated in Section 11.01 and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debt Securities and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debt Securities. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Debt Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debt Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debt Securities which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debt Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. SECTION 11.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee. ----------------------------------------- The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.05, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI. ARTICLE XII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE SECTION 12.01. Discharge of Indenture. ---------------------- When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debt Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Debt Securities not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debt Securities (other than any Debt Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.04, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.05, 2.06, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04, 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 hereof, which shall survive until such Debt Securities shall mature or are redeemed, as the case may be, and are paid in full. Thereafter, Sections 6.06, 6.09 and 12.04 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debt Securities. SECTION 12.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. ----------------------------------------------- Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.01 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent), to the holders of the particular Debt Securities for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest. SECTION 12.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held. --------------------------------- Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent of the Debt Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to the Company or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys. SECTION 12.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys. -------------------------- Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debt Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Securityholders for two years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such Paying Agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debt Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Securityholder may be entitled to collect and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease. ARTICLE XIII IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS SECTION 13.01. Indenture and Debt Securities Solely Corporate -------------------------------------------------------- Obligations. - ----------- No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debt Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debt Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee or agent, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debt Securities. ARTICLE XIV MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 14.01. Successors. ---------- All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements of the Company contained in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. SECTION 14.02. Official Acts by Successor Entity. --------------------------------- Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company. SECTION 14.03. Surrender of Company Powers. --------------------------- The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any permitted successor. SECTION 14.04. Addresses for Notices, etc. --------------------------- Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on the Company may be given or served in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered by facsimile (which shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail to the Company at: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer Any notice, direction, request or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of LaSalle Bank National Association at: 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1511 Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attn: CDO Trust Services Group - First Bank Statutory Trust X Greg Myers - (312) 904-0283 greg.myers@abnamro.com SECTION 14.05. Governing Law. ------------- This Indenture and the Debt Securities shall each be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict of laws principles of said State other than Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law. SECTION 14.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. ------------------------------------------------ Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with (except that no such Opinion of Counsel is required to be furnished to the Trustee in connection with the authentication and issuance of Debt Securities issued on the date of this Indenture). Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except certificates delivered pursuant to Section 3.05) shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. SECTION 14.07. Non-Business Days. ----------------- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Interest Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day). SECTION 14.08. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. --------------------------------- The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. SECTION 14.09. Execution in Counterparts. ------------------------- This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. SECTION 14.10. Severability. ------------ In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debt Securities shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debt Securities, but this Indenture and such Debt Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein. SECTION 14.11. Assignment. ---------- Subject to Article XI, the Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture and the Debt Securities to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will - -------- ------- remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties thereto. SECTION 14.12. Acknowledgment of Rights. ------------------------ The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Debt Securities held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the Securityholder held as the assets of the Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of the Trust have so directed in writing such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may to the fullest extent permitted by law institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such Institutional Trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debt Securities on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise due and payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company acknowledges that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debt Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debt Securities. ARTICLE XV SUBORDINATION OF DEBT SECURITIES SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate. ------------------------ The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debt Securities issued hereunder and under any supplemental indenture (the "Additional Provisions") by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debt Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each Securityholder, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The payment by the Company of the payments due on all Debt Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default hereunder. SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness. ------------------------------ In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any applicable grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default, and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the payments due on the Debt Securities. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.02, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.06, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy. ------------------------------------ Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on the Debt Securities; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debt Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, that may at the time be outstanding, provided, that (a) such Senior Indebtedness -------- is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (b) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance, transfer or other disposition of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.03 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.02 or in this Section 15.03 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06 of this Indenture. SECTION 15.04. Subrogation. ----------- Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all payments due on the Debt Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Securityholders be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Securityholders, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Debt Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Securityholders, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Securityholders all payments on the Debt Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Securityholders and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debt Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV. SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. ----------------------------------- Each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company. --------------------- The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture or any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debt Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice -------- ------- provided for in this Section 15.06 at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee, Holders of Senior Indebtedness. ----------------------------------------------------- The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not owe or be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06. SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired. --------------------------------- No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the Securityholders to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (a) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (b) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (c) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (d) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person. LaSalle Bank National Association, in its capacity as Trustee, hereby accepts the trusts in this Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions herein above set forth. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written. First Banks, Inc. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------------- LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee By: /s/ Greg Myers ------------------------------------------ Name: Greg Myers ---------------------------------------- Title: Assistant Vice President --------------------------------------- EXHIBIT A FORM OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY DUE 2037 [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] ------------------------ THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL AND SECURED CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS NOT SECURED. Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security due 2037 of First Banks, Inc. First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Missouri (the "Company"), for value received promises to pay to LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust X, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Securityholder"), or registered assigns, the principal sum of Fifteen Million Four Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Dollars ($15,464,000) on September 15, 2037 and to pay interest on said principal sum from August 31, 2007, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year commencing December 15, 2007, at a variable per annum rate equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Indenture) plus 2.30% (the "Interest Rate") (provided, however, that the Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability) until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for each such Interest Payment Period compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Interest Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day). The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Securityholders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Securityholders not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of and interest on this Debt Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the - -------- ------- Company by check mailed to the registered Securityholder at such address as shall appear in the Debt Security Register or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debt Security is the Institutional Trustee, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security shall be made in immediately available funds when due at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee. All payments in respect of this Debt Security shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Upon submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture) and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right under the Indenture, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest distribution period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities; provided, however, that no Extension Period -------- ------- may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided, further, however, during any such -------- ------- Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (iii) make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank in all respects pari passu with or junior in respect to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period; provided, that no Extension -------- Period (including all previous and further consecutive extensions that are part of such Extension Period) shall exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin any Extension Period or extend an Extension Period ("Notice") not later than the related regular record date for the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Notice shall describe why the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company's understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the Placement Agent shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period and other information that such Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems relevant to the Company's election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debt Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debt Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debt Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by such holder's acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Securityholder upon said provisions. The Company waives diligence, presentment, demand for payment, notice of nonpayment, notice of protest, and all other demands and notices. This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to and shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debt Security are continued on the reverse side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. First Banks, Inc. By: ----------------------------------------- Name: --------------------------------------- Title: -------------------------------------- Dated:__________________, 2007 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This represents Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Signatory Dated:__________________, 2007 [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY] This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Debt Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of August 31, 2007, duly executed and delivered between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debt Securities (referred to herein as the "Debt Securities") of which this Debt Security is a part. The summary of the terms of this Debt Security contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each a "Special Event"), this Debt Security may become due and payable, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event (the "Special Redemption Date"), as the case may be, at the Special Redemption Price. The Company shall also have the right to redeem this Debt Security at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2012 (a "Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price. Any redemption pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs will be made, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice. If the Debt Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company, the Debt Securities will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method utilized by the -------- Trustee. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt Securities to the Redemption Date. "Special Redemption Price" means, with respect to the redemption of any Debt Security following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2008 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date: Special Redemption During the Percentage of Principal ----------------------------- ----------------------- 12-Month Period Beginning September 15 Amount -------------------------------------- ------ 2008 103.140% 2009 102.355% 2010 101.570% 2011 100.785% 2012 and thereafter 100.000% In the event of redemption of this Debt Security in part only, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Securityholder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. In certain cases where an Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be declared, and, in certain cases, shall ipso facto become, due and payable, and upon such declaration of acceleration shall become due and payable, in each case, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding affected thereby, as specified in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other - -------- ------- things, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any redemption premium thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce (other than as a result of the maturity or earlier redemption of any such Debt Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Security) or increase the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding, or change any of the redemption provisions, or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the Securityholders, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture, and its consequences, except (a) a default in payments due in respect of any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants of the Company relating to its ownership of Common Securities of the Trust. Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Securityholder and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay all payments due on this Debt Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Debt Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in Chicago, Illinois accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered holder hereof or such Securityholder's attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any transfer agent and the Debt Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released. The Debt Securities are issuable only in registered certificated form without coupons. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, Debt Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Securityholder surrendering the same. All terms used in this Debt Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBT SECURITIES, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). EX-4 7 fbstxardec.txt EXHIBIT 4.2 EXHIBIT 4.2 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X Dated as of August 31, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.1. Definitions...........................................................................1 ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION SECTION 2.1. Name..................................................................................9 SECTION 2.2. Office................................................................................9 SECTION 2.3. Purpose...............................................................................9 SECTION 2.4. Authority.............................................................................9 SECTION 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust.......................................................10 SECTION 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators.............................10 SECTION 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.................................14 SECTION 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee.......................................15 SECTION 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators...........17 SECTION 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee..............................................19 SECTION 2.11. Delaware Trustee.....................................................................21 SECTION 2.12. Execution of Documents...............................................................21 SECTION 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities...............................21 SECTION 2.14. Duration of Trust....................................................................22 SECTION 2.15. Mergers..............................................................................22 ARTICLE III SPONSOR SECTION 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities..............................................24 SECTION 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor......................................................24 ARTICLE IV TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS SECTION 4.1. Number of Trustees...................................................................24 SECTION 4.2. Delaware Trustee.....................................................................24 SECTION 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility...................................................25 SECTION 4.4. Certain Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee Generally.............................25 SECTION 4.5. Administrators.......................................................................25 SECTION 4.6. Initial Delaware Trustee.............................................................26 SECTION 4.7. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Trustees and the Administrators..........26 SECTION 4.8. Vacancies Among Trustees.............................................................28 SECTION 4.9. Effect of Vacancies..................................................................28 SECTION 4.10. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators......................................28 SECTION 4.11. Delegation of Power..................................................................28 SECTION 4.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business..........................29 ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS SECTION 5.1. Distributions........................................................................29 ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES SECTION 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities..............................................30 SECTION 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Calculation Agent and Registrar........................31 SECTION 6.3. Form and Dating......................................................................31 SECTION 6.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities........................................................32 SECTION 6.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates....................................34 SECTION 6.6. Temporary Securities.................................................................34 SECTION 6.7. Cancellation.........................................................................34 SECTION 6.8. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults..........................................35 ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST SECTION 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust.................................................36 ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS SECTION 8.1. General..............................................................................37 SECTION 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions.................................................38 SECTION 8.3. Deemed Security Holders..............................................................42 ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS SECTION 9.1. Liability............................................................................42 SECTION 9.2. Exculpation..........................................................................43 SECTION 9.3. Fiduciary Duty.......................................................................43 SECTION 9.4. Indemnification......................................................................44 SECTION 9.5. Outside Businesses...................................................................47 SECTION 9.6. Compensation; Fee....................................................................47 ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING SECTION 10.1. Fiscal Year..........................................................................48 SECTION 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters...........................................................48 SECTION 10.3. Banking..............................................................................49 SECTION 10.4. Withholding..........................................................................49 ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS SECTION 11.1. Amendments...........................................................................49 SECTION 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of the Securities; Action by Written Consent.................51 ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE SECTION 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee..............................53 SECTION 12.2. Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee...................................54 ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 13.1. Notices..............................................................................54 SECTION 13.2. Governing Law........................................................................56 SECTION 13.3. Submission to Jurisdiction...........................................................56 SECTION 13.4. Intention of the Parties.............................................................56 SECTION 13.5. Headings.............................................................................56 SECTION 13.6. Successors and Assigns...............................................................56 SECTION 13.7. Partial Enforceability...............................................................57 SECTION 13.8. Counterparts.........................................................................57
ANNEXES AND EXHIBITS ANNEX I Terms of TP Securities and Common Securities EXHIBIT A-1 Form of Capital Security Certificate EXHIBIT A-2 Form of Common Security Certificate AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X August 31, 2007 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST (this "Declaration"), dated and effective as of August 31, 2007, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration. WHEREAS, the Delaware Trustee and the Sponsor established First Bank Statutory Trust X (the "Trust"), a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein), pursuant to a Declaration of Trust, dated as of August 29, 2007 (the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 29, 2007, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in the Debentures (as defined herein) of the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein) in connection with the issuance of the Capital Securities (as defined herein); WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the assets of the Trust have been issued; and WHEREAS, all of the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration. NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory trust, and that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration, and, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound hereby, amend and restate in its entirety the Original Declaration and agree as follows: ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS SECTION 1.1. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires: ----------- (a) capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above or elsewhere herein have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1 or, if not defined in this Section 1.1 or elsewhere herein, in the Indenture; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified; (e) a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) has the same meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.06 of the Indenture. "Administrative Action" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Administrators" means each of Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Trust continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or such Administrator's successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Applicable Depositary Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Book-Entry Capital Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Book-Entry Capital Security, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time. "Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind such Person. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: (a) a court having jurisdiction in the premises enters a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appoints a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or orders the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree, appointment or order remains unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) such Person commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, consents to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator or other similar official of such Person of any substantial part of its property, or makes any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due. "Book-Entry Capital Security" means a Capital Security, the ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Depositary. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in Wilmington, Delaware or New York City or the city of the Corporate Trust Office are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Calculation Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 1.01 of the Indenture. "Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a). "Capital Securities Purchase Agreement" means the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of August 29, 2007 among the Trust, the Sponsor and PFW III, Ltd. "Capital Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate registered in the name of the Holder representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A 1. "Capital Treatment Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Certificate" means any certificate evidencing Securities. "Certificate of Trust" means the certificate of trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware with respect to the Trust, as amended and restated from time to time. "Closing Date" means the date of execution and delivery of this Declaration. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. "Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a). "Common Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate registered in the name of the Holder representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2. "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrator; (b) any Affiliate of any Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Institutional Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office shall at all times be located in the United States and at the date of execution of this Declaration is located at LaSalle Bank National Association, 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1511, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attn: CDO Trust Services Group - First Bank Statutory Trust X. "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I. "Covered Person" means: (a) any Administrator, officer, director, shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities. "Debenture Issuer" means First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Missouri, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture. "Debenture Trustee" means LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee. "Debentures" means the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2037 to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture. "Deferred Interest" means any interest on the Debentures that would have been overdue and unpaid for more than one Distribution Payment Date but for the imposition of an Extension Period, and the interest that shall accrue (to the extent that the payment of such interest is legally enforceable) on such interest at the Coupon Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date on which such Deferred Interest would otherwise have been due and payable until paid or made available for payment. "Definitive Capital Securities" means any Capital Securities in definitive form issued by the Trust. "Depositary" means an organization registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act that is designated as Depositary by the Sponsor or any successor thereto. DTC will be the initial Depositary. "Depositary Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Depositary effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Depositary. "Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2. "Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(e). "Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 5.1. "Distribution Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(e) of Annex I. "Distribution Payment Period" means the period from and including a Distribution Payment Date, or in the case of the first Distribution Payment Period, the original date of issuance of the Securities, to, but excluding, the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date or, in the case of the last Distribution Payment Period, the Redemption Date, Special Redemption Date or Maturity Date (each as defined in the Indenture), as the case may be, for the related Debentures. "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company or any successor thereto. "Event of Default" means the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(e) of Annex I. "Fiduciary Indemnified Person" shall mean each of the Institutional Trustee (including in its individual capacity), the Delaware Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, and any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee. "Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. "Global Capital Security" means a Capital Securities Certificate evidencing ownership of Book-Entry Capital Securities. "Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, of the Sponsor (the "Guarantor") in respect of the Capital Securities. "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is registered on the register maintained by or on behalf of the Registrar, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust Act. "Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary Indemnified Person. "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Indenture. "Initial Purchaser" means the Initial Purchaser of the Capital Securities. "Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set forth in Section 4.3. "Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act. "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Investment Company Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(e). "LIBOR" means the London Interbank Offered Rate for U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe as determined by the Calculation Agent according to paragraph 2(b) of Annex I. "LIBOR Banking Day" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b)(1) of Annex I. "LIBOR Business Day" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b)(1) of Annex I. "LIBOR Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b)(1) of Annex I. "Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holders of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Notice" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 of the Indenture. "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officers' Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officers' Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of Book-Entry Capital Securities as reflected in the records of the Depositary or, if a Depositary Participant is not the beneficial owner, then the beneficial owner as reflected in the records of the Depositary Participant. "Paying Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Payment Amount" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Placement Agreement" means the Placement Agreement relating to the offering and sale of Capital Securities. "PORTAL" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i)(E). "Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c). "Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I. "QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A. "Quorum" means a majority of the Administrators or, if there are only two Administrators, both of them. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(e) of Annex I. "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Relevant Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a). "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Declaration, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(c). "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act. "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act. "Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act. "Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities, as applicable. "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "Sponsor" means First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company that is a U.S. Person incorporated in Missouri, or any successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation that is a U.S. Person, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust. "Statutory Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. Code ss. 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(e). "Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). "Successor Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(b). "Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). "Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex I. "Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. "10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holders of outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time-to-time, or any successor legislation. "Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder. "Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Declaration. "U.S. Person" means a United States Person as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code. ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION SECTION 2.1. Name. The Trust is continued hereby and shall be known ---- as "First Bank Statutory Trust X," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of the Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrators. SECTION 2.2. Office. The address of the principal office of the ------ Trust, which shall be in a state of the United States or the District of Columbia, is 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd., Hazelwood, Missouri 63042. On ten Business Days' written notice to the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office, which shall be in a state of the United States or the District of Columbia. SECTION 2.3. Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of the ------- Trust are (a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (b) to invest the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust through issuance of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities and (d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities incidental thereto that are deemed necessary or advisable by the Institutional Trustee, including, without limitation, those activities specified in this Declaration. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. SECTION 2.4. Authority. Except as specifically provided in this --------- Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by a Trustee on behalf of the Trust and in accordance with such Trustee's powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration. The Administrators shall have only those ministerial duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be obligated except as provided in Section 2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators. < SECTION 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust. Except as provided in ------------------------------ Section 2.6(g) and Section 2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. SECTION 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the -------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Administrators and, at the direction of the Administrators, the Trustees, shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Administrators to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this Declaration, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: (i) Each Administrator shall have the power, duty and authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the issuance and sale of the Securities; (B) to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of the sale of the Securities; provided, however, that the Administrators shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Holders; (C) to cause the rust to enter into, and to execute, deliver and perform on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including agreements with the Paying Agent, a Debenture subscription agreement between the Trust and the Sponsor and a Common Securities subscription agreement between the Trust and the Sponsor; (D) ensuring compliance with the Securities Act and applicable state securities or blue sky laws; (E) if and at such time determined solely by the Sponsor at the request of the Holders, assisting in the designation of the Capital Securities for trading in the Private Offering, Resales and Trading through the Automatic Linkages ("PORTAL") system if available; (F) the sending of notices (other than notices of default) and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration, including notice of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period under the Indenture; (G) the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in accordance with this Declaration; (H) execution and delivery of the Securities in accordance with this Declaration; (I) execution and delivery of closing certificates pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the application for a taxpayer identification number; (J) unless otherwise determined by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrators) any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute pursuant to this Declaration; (K) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Sponsor or an Administrator may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); (L) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; (M) to duly prepare and file on behalf of the Trust all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust; (N) to negotiate the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Placement Agreement and the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement related thereto, providing for the sale of the Capital Securities; (O) to employ or otherwise engage employees, agents (who may be designated as officers with titles), managers, contractors, advisors, attorneys and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such services; (P) to incur expenses that are necessary or incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the Trust; (Q) to give the certificate required by ss. 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act to the Institutional Trustee, which certificate may be executed by an Administrator; and (R) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of each jurisdiction (other than the State of Delaware) in which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created. (ii) As among the Trustees and the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the establishment of the Property Account; (B) the receipt of the Debentures; (C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the Property Account; (D) the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of the Securities; (E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures; (F) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration; (G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Declaration; (H) to the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust; (I) after any Event of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in Section 2.10(m) hereof)) (provided, that such Event of Default is -------- not by or with respect to the Institutional Trustee), the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); (J) to take all action that may be necessary or appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which the Trust was created; and (K) to undertake any actions set forth in ss. 317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. (iii) The Institutional Trustee shall have the power and authority, and is hereby authorized, to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrators set forth in Section 2.6(a) (i)(E) and (F) herein but shall not have a duty to do any such act unless specifically requested to do so in writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in acting pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a conflict between the action of the Administrators and the action of the Institutional Trustee, the action of the Institutional Trustee shall prevail. (b) So long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the Administrators may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause (or in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer would cause) the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust Property. The Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust, defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders. (c) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) the taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the Securities Act; (ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advisement of and direction to the Trustees of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and file by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities; and (iii) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities. (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that (i) the Trust will not be deemed to be an Investment Company (in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer), and (ii) the Trust will not fail to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes (in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer) and (iii) the Trust will not take any action inconsistent with the treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes (in the case of the Institutional Trustee, to the actual knowledge of a Responsible Officer). In this connection, the Institutional Trustee, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable laws or this Declaration, as amended from time to time, that each of the Institutional Trustee, the Administrators and such Holders determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, even if such action adversely affects the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (e) All expenses incurred by the Administrators or the Trustees pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the Trustees shall have no obligations with respect to such expenses; provided, however, that this Section 2.6(e) does not obligate the Sponsor to pay any expenses of the Trustees arising on or before the Closing Date. (f) The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. (g) Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Institutional Trustee for the benefit of the Trust in accordance with this Declaration. (h) If the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Declaration and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted. SECTION 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees. ------------------------------------------------------- The Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators shall not, and the Administrators shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators shall not cause the Trust to: (a) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities; (b) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein; (c) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose; (d) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures; (e) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust Property or the terms of the Securities; (f) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; or (g) other than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I), (i) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that such amendment, modification or termination will not cause the Trust to cease to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. SECTION 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee. ---------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 4.7. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered. (b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware Trustee. (c) The Institutional Trustee shall: (i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the "Property Account") in the United States (as defined in Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7), in the name of and under the exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee, and maintained in the Institutional Trustee's trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receiptof payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutiona Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Account in accordance with Section 5.1. Funds in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration; (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (e) The Institutional Trustee may bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action with respect to, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against, the Trust (a "Legal Action") which arise out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge or the Institutional Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing - -------- ------- and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or premium, if any, on or principal of the Debentures on the date such interest, premium, if any, or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided, however, that a Holder of the Common Securities may exercise -------- ------- such right of subrogation only if no Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities has occurred and is continuing. (f) The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until either: (i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this Declaration (including Annex I) and the certificate of cancellation referenced in Section 7.1(b) has been filed; or (ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.7. (g) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration (including Annex I) and the terms of the Securities. (h) The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3. SECTION 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and -------------------------------------------------------- the Administrators. - ------------------ (a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in Section 2.10(m) hereof)) and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in Section 2.10(m) hereof)), has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.8), the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (b) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators shall be as provided by this Declaration and, in the case of the Institutional Trustee, by the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require any Trustee or Administrator to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Declaration relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees or the Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this Article. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to release a Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct or bad faith. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to release an Administrator from liability for its own gross negligent action, its own gross negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct or bad faith. To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or an Administrator has duties (including fiduciary duties) to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee's or Administrator's duties may be restricted or eliminated by provisions in this Declaration, except that this Declaration may not eliminate the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. A Trustee or Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or a Holder or another Person that is party to or is otherwise bound by the Declaration for breach of fiduciary duty for such Trustee's or Administrator's good faith reliance on the provisions of the Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict or eliminate the liabilities of the Trustees or the Administrators otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Sponsor and the Holders to replace such other liabilities of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, except that no provision of this Declaration may limit or eliminate liability for any act or omission that constitutes a bad faith violation of the implied contractual covenant of good faith and fair dealing. (c) All payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees and the Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect of any Security. This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration or, in the case of the Institutional Trustee, in the Trust Indenture Act. (d) No provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the Institutional Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to matters that are within the authority of the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration, except that: (i) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error or judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; (ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration; (iii) the Institutional Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for its own account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act; (iv) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and (v) the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor. SECTION 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee. Subject to the --------------------------------------- provisions of Section 2.9. (a) the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, written opinion of counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the Sponsor requesting the Sponsor's opinion as to the course of action to be taken and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Institutional Trustee in its sole discretion shall deem advisable and in the best interests of the Holders, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith; (c) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrators; (e) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof; (f) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction; (g) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Institutional Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be -------- taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (of which the Institutional Trustee has knowledge (as provided in Section 2.10(m) hereof)) that has not been cured or waived, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration; (h) the Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Institutional Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (i) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of, or for the supervision of, any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; (j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities, which instructions may be given only by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; (k) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; (l) when the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors rights generally; (m) the Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge of such event or the Institutional Trustee receives written notice of such event from any Holder, except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Sections 5.01(a), 5.01(b) or 5.01(c) of the Indenture (other than an Event of Default resulting from the default in the payment of Additional Interest or premium, if any, if the Institutional Trustee does not have actual knowledge or written notice that such payment is due and payable), of which the Institutional Trustee shall be deemed to have knowledge; (n) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or its agent's taking such action; and (o) no provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 2.11. Delaware Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision of ---------------- this Declaration other than Section 4.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators described in this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory Trust Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of ss. 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. SECTION 2.12. Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise determined in ---------------------- writing by the Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or more of the Administrators, as the case may be, is authorized to execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust any documents, agreements, instruments or certificates that the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6. SECTION 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. ------------------------------------------------------- The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities. SECTION 2.14. Duration of Trust. The Trust, unless dissolved pursuant ----------------- to the provisions of Article VII hereof, shall have existence for thirty-five (35) years from the Closing Date. SECTION 2.15. Mergers. ------- (a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as described in this Section 2.15 and except with respect to the distribution of Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 3 of Annex I. (b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld) and without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided, that: -------- (i) if the Trust is not the survivor, such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either: (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or (B) substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Securities (the "Successor Securities") so that the Successor Securities rank the same as the Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the Institutional Trustee; (iii) the Capital Securities or any Successor Securities (excluding any securities substituted for the Common Securities) are listed or quoted, or any Successor Securities will be listed or quoted upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or with another organization on which the Capital Securities are then listed or quoted, if any; (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause therating, if any, on the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded or withdrawn by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, if the Capital Securities are then rated; (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of such Holders' interests in the Successor Entity as a result of such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement); (vi) such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust; (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust has received a written opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that: (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the Holders' interests in the Successor Entity); (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and (C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes; (viii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor Securities to the same extent provided by the Guarantee, the Debentures and this Declaration; and (ix) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Institutional Trustee shall have received an Officers' Certificate of the Administrators and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent of this paragraph (b) to such transaction have been satisfied. (c) Notwithstanding Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to, any other Person or permit any other Person to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE III SPONSOR SECTION 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities. On the Closing --------------------------------------- Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Capital Securities are sold. SECTION 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor. In connection with the ------------------------------- issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility and sole decision to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the following activities: (a) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale of all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States; (b) to prepare for filing and request the Administrators to cause the filing by the Trust, as may be appropriate, of an application to the PORTAL system, for listing or quotation upon notice of issuance of any Capital Securities, as requested by the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities; and (c) to negotiate the terms of and/or execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust, the Placement Agreement and other related agreements providing for the sale of the Capital Securities. ARTICLE IV TRUSTEES AND ADMINISTRATORS SECTION 4.1. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees initially ------------------ shall be two, and: (a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and (b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holder of the Common Securities; provided, however, that there shall be a Delaware Trustee -------- ------- if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always be one Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements, in which case Section 2.11 shall have no application to such entity in its capacity as Institutional Trustee. SECTION 4.2. Delaware Trustee. If required by the Statutory Trust ---------------- Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be: (a) a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or (b) if not a natural person, an entity which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, including ss.3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. SECTION 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility. ---------------------------------- (a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall act as Institutional Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; (ii) not offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; and (iii) be a banking corporation or national association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or of the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.7. (c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of ss. 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Declaration. (d) The initial Institutional Trustee shall be LaSalle Bank National Association. SECTION 4.4. Certain Qualifications of the Delaware Trustee -------------------------------------------------------- Generally. The Delaware Trustee shall be a U.S. Person and either a natural - --------- person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that shall act through one or more Authorized Officers. SECTION 4.5. Administrators. Each Administrator shall be a U.S. -------------- Person. There shall at all times be at least one Administrator. Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrators is expressly set forth in this Declaration and except with respect to any action the taking of which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Administrators may be taken by, and any power of the Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrator acting alone. SECTION 4.6. Initial Delaware Trustee. The initial Delaware Trustee ------------------------ shall be LaSalle National Trust Delaware. SECTION 4.7. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Trustees and -------------------------------------------------------- the Administrators. - ------------------ (a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.7. (b) Subject to Section 4.7(a), a Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities and by appointing a successor Relevant Trustee, except in the case of the Delaware Trustee's successor which shall be appointed by Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. Upon the resignation of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the lowest reasonable expense and charges (the "Successor Institutional Trustee"). If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Relevant Trustee required by this Section 4.7 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Trust, any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of such successor pursuant to this Section 4.7. (c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of the Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.7. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed by the act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.7. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by this Section 4.7 within 30 days after delivery of an instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders and to the Sponsor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Institutional Trustee. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration, in the event a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or is adjudged by a court to have become incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the Institutional Trustee (provided the Institutional Trustee satisfies the requirements of a Delaware Trustee as set forth in Section 4.2) following the procedures in this Section 4.7 (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for a Delaware Trustee set forth in this Declaration) (the "Successor Delaware Trustee"). (f) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities and the Trust subject to the payment of all unpaid fees, expenses and indemnities of such retiring Relevant Trustee. (g) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be. (h) The Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Holders of the Common Securities. (i) Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware identifying the name and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware. SECTION 4.8. Vacancies Among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to hold ------------------------ office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 4.1, or if the number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 4.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.7. SECTION 4.9. Effect of Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, ------------------- removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Trustee in accordance with Section 4.7, the Institutional Trustee shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration. SECTION 4.10. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators. ------------------------------------------------------- Meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or Administrator, as applicable. Regular meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators, respectively, may be in person in the United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time fixed by resolution of the Trustees or the Administrators, as applicable. Notice of any in-person meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Trustees or the Administrators or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter; provided, that, in the case of the Administrators, -------- a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators together shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or Administrator. SECTION 4.11. Delegation of Power. ------------------- (a) Any Trustee or any Administrator, as the case may be, may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is a U.S. Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents, instruments or other writings contemplated in Section 2.6. (b) The Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number or to any officer of the Trust that is a U.S. Person, the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments or other writings either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Trustees or otherwise as the Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. SECTION 4.12. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to -------------------------------------------------------- Business. - -------- Any Person into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or with which either may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article and, provided, further, that such Person shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as contemplated in Section 4.7(i). ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS SECTION 5.1. Distributions. ------------- (a) Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including any Additional Interest or Deferred Interest) or premium, if any, on and/or principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee (the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Institutional Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available in the Property Account for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders. For the avoidance of doubt, funds in the Property Account shall not be distributed to Holders to the extent of any taxes payable by the Trust, in the case of withholding taxes, as determined by the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent and, in the case of taxes other than withholding tax taxes, as determined by the Administrators in a written notice to the Institutional Trustee. (b) As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on the Securities without the imposition of withholding tax, the Administrators shall require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S. federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, and any other certification acceptable to it to enable the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent to determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or other charges that they may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of such Securities. ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES SECTION 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities. --------------------------------------- (a) The Administrators shall on behalf of the Trust issue one series of capital securities, evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Capital Securities"), and one series of common securities, evidenced by a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Common Securities"). The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Capital Securities rank pari passu and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any Administrator. In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Administrator. Any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such person who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrator. A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this Declaration. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrator, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue. The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Capital Securities. A Common Security need not be so authenticated and shall be valid upon execution by one or more Administrators. (c) The Capital Securities issued pursuant to Regulation S of the Securities Act or to QIBs shall be, except as provided in Section 6.4, Book-Entry Capital Securities issued in the form of one or more Global Capital Securities registered in the name of the Depositary, or its nominee and deposited with the Depositary or a custodian for the Depositary for credit by the Depositary to the respective accounts of the Depositary Participants thereof (or such other accounts as they may direct). (d) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. (e) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and each Holder thereof shall be entitled to the benefits provided by this Declaration. (f) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration and the Guarantee. SECTION 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent, Calculation Agent and -------------------------------------------------------- Registrar. - --------- (a) The Trust shall maintain an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for payment (the "Paying Agent"), and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange (the "Transfer Agent"). The Trust hereby appoints the Institutional Trustee as Paying Agent and Transfer Agent at LaSalle Bank National Association, 135 South LaSalle Street, Suite 1511, Chicago, Illinois 60603, Attention: CDO Trust Services Group - First Bank Statutory Trust X. The Trust shall also keep or cause to be kept a register for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers and exchanges of Securities, such register to be held by a registrar (the "Registrar"). The Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent, and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents, one or more co-Registrars, or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional Paying Agent, the term "Registrar" includes any additional Registrar or co-Registrar and the term "Transfer Agent" includes any additional Transfer Agent or co-Transfer Agent. The Administrators may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice to any Holder. The Administrators shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar not a party to this Declaration. The Administrators hereby initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as Registrar for the Capital Securities and the Common Securities at its Corporate Trust Office. The Institutional Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar. (b) The Trust shall also appoint a Calculation Agent, which shall determine the Coupon Rate in accordance with the terms of the Securities. The Trust initially appoints the Institutional Trustee as Calculation Agent. SECTION 6.3. Form and Dating. --------------- (a) The Capital Securities and the Institutional Trustee's certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Declaration. Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof. The Certificates may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject, if any, or usage (provided, that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Sponsor). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Institutional Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. Capital Securities will be issued only in blocks having a stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000 and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. (b) The Capital Securities sold by the Trust to the initial purchasers pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement shall be issued in book entry form, registered in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee on behalf of the Depository Trust Company, without coupons, and held by the Institutional Trustee as custodian for the Depository Trust Company. SECTION 6.4. Book-Entry Capital Securities. ----------------------------- (a) A Global Capital Security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive Capital Securities Certificates registered in the names of Owners only if such exchange complies with Article VIII and (i) the Depositary advises the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee in writing that the Depositary is no longer willing or able properly to discharge its responsibilities with respect to the Global Capital Security, and no qualified successor is appointed by the Administrators within ninety (90) days of receipt of such notice, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and the Administrators fail to appoint a qualified successor within ninety (90) days of obtaining knowledge of such event, (iii) the Administrators at their option advise the Institutional Trustee in writing that the Trust elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Depositary or (iv) an Indenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Upon the occurrence of any event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, the Administrators shall notify the Depositary and instruct the Depositary to notify all Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities and the Institutional Trustee of the occurrence of such event and of the availability of Definitive Capital Securities Certificates to Owners of the Capital Securities requesting the same. Upon the issuance of Definitive Capital Securities Certificates, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee shall recognize the Holders of the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates as Holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security wishes at any time to transfer an interest in such Global Capital Security to a Person other than a QIB, such transfer shall be effected, subject to the Applicable Depository Procedures, in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 and Article VIII, and the transferee shall receive a Definitive Capital Securities Certificate in connection with such transfer. A holder of a Definitive Capital Securities Certificate that is a QIB may upon request, and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.4 and Article VIII, exchange such Definitive Capital Securities Certificate for a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security. (b) If any Global Capital Security is to be exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities Certificates or canceled in part, or if any Definitive Capital Securities Certificate is to be exchanged in whole or in part for any Global Capital Security, then either (i) such Global Capital Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or cancellation as provided in this Section 6.4 and Article VIII or (ii) the aggregate liquidation amount represented by such Global Capital Security shall be reduced, subject to Section 6.3, or increased by an amount equal to the liquidation amount represented by that portion of the Global Capital Security to be so exchanged or canceled, or equal to the liquidation amount represented by such Definitive Capital Securities Certificates to be so exchanged for any Global Capital Security, as the case may be, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Securities Registrar, whereupon the Institutional Trustee, in accordance with the Applicable Depositary Procedures, shall instruct the Depositary or its authorized representative to make a corresponding adjustment to its records. Upon any such surrender to the Administrators or the Registrar of any Global Capital Security or Securities by the Depositary, accompanied by registration instructions, the Administrators, or any one of them, shall execute the Definitive Capital Securities Certificates in accordance with the instructions of the Depositary. None of the Registrar, Administrators, or the Institutional Trustee shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, such instructions. (c) Every Definitive Capital Securities Certificate executed and delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Capital Security or any portion thereof shall be executed and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Capital Security, unless such Definitive Capital Securities Certificate is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Capital Security or a nominee thereof. (d) The Depositary or its nominee, as registered owner of a Global Capital Security, shall be the Holder of such Global Capital Security for all purposes under this Declaration and the Global Capital Security, and Owners with respect to a Global Capital Security shall hold such interests pursuant to the Applicable Depositary Procedures. The Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary for all purposes of this Declaration relating to the Global Capital Securities (including the payment of the liquidation amount of and Distributions on the Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and the giving of instructions or directions by Owners of Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and the giving of notices) as the sole Holder of the Book-Entry Capital Securities represented thereby and shall have no obligations to the Owners thereof. None of the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee nor the Registrar shall have any liability in respect of any transfers effected by the Depositary. (e) The rights of the Owners of the Book-Entry Capital Securities shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law, the Applicable Depositary Procedures and agreements between such Owners and the Depositary and/or the Depositary Participants; provided, -------- solely for the purpose of determining whether the Holders of the requisite amount of Capital Securities have voted on any matter provided for in this Declaration, to the extent that Capital Securities are represented by a Global Capital Security, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely on, and shall be fully protected in relying on, any written instrument (including a proxy) delivered to the Institutional Trustee by the Depositary setting forth the Owners' votes or assigning the right to vote on any matter to any other Persons either in whole or in part. To the extent that Capital Securities are represented by a Global Capital Security, the initial Depositary will make book-entry transfers among the Depositary Participants and receive and transmit payments on the Capital Securities that are represented by a Global Capital Security to such Depositary Participants, and none of the Sponsor, the Administrators or the Institutional Trustee shall have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto. (f) To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Holders is required under this Declaration, for so long as Capital Securities are represented by a Global Capital Security, the Administrator and the Institutional Trustee shall give all such notices and communications to the Depositary, and shall have no obligations to the Owners. SECTION 6.5. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. If: ------------------------------------------------- (a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar, or if the Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and (b) there shall be delivered to the Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to hold each of them harmless; then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and in the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate) and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.5, the Registrar or the Administrators may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time. SECTION 6.6. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are -------------------- ready for delivery, the Administrators may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Administrators consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Administrators shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. SECTION 6.7. Cancellation. The Administrators at any time may deliver ------------ Securities to the Registrar for cancellation. The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional Trustee any Securities surrendered to it for registration of transfer, redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall promptly cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures or otherwise as the Administrators direct. The Administrators may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or, except for Securities surrendered for purposes of transfer or exchange, that have been delivered to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation. SECTION 6.8. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults. ------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration. The Securities shall have no, and the issuance of the Securities shall not be subject to, preemptive or other similar rights and when issued and delivered to Holders against payment of the purchase price therefor, the Securities will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. (b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if, upon an Indenture Event of Default under paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee. (c) Upon an Indenture Event of Default under paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture at any time after a declaration of acceleration of maturity of the Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails to annul any such declaration and waive such default, the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, by written notice to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Sponsor has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the Debentures; (B) any accrued Deferred Interest on all of the Debentures; (C) all payments on any Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Deferred Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures; and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, documented expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and counsel; and (ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on the Debentures that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.07 of the Indenture. (d) The Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default or Event of Default, except a default or Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest (unless such default or Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default or Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon. (e) Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Capital Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Institutional Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that, unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.8. (f) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 6.8, the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST SECTION 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust. ------------------------------------ (a) The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of (i) unless earlier dissolved, on September 15, 2042, the expiration of the term of the Trust; (ii) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (iii) (other than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor or upon the revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof; (iv) the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities, upon exercise of the right of the Holders of all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I hereto; (v) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of any Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (vi) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; or (vii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Trustees and the Sponsor. (b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including Section 3808 of the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to the terms set forth in Annex I, the Delaware Trustee, when notified in writing of the completion of the winding up of the Trust in accordance with the Statutory Trust Act, shall terminate the Trust by filing, at the expense of the Sponsor, a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. (c) The provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive the termination of the Trust. ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS SECTION 8.1. General. ------- (a) Subject to Section 6.4 and Section 8.1(c), when Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different Certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if the requirements provided for herein for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall issue and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request. (b) Upon issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and, for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Sponsor under the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities. (c) Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Capital Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be of no legal effect whatsoever and any such transferee shall be deemed not to be the holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including but not limited to the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities. (d) The Registrar shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Securities, the Registrar shall cause one or more new Securities to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Any Security issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same Security and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Security surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. Every Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 6.7. A transferee of a Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Security. By acceptance of a Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration. (e) Neither the Trust nor the Registrar shall be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Securities to be redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. SECTION 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions. ------------------------------------ (a) The Capital Securities shall bear the Restricted Securities Legend (as defined below), which shall not be removed unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee, that neither the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act or that such Securities are not "restricted" within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Institutional Trustee, at the written direction of the Administrators, shall authenticate and deliver Capital Securities that do not bear the Restricted Securities Legend (other than the legend contemplated by Section 8.2(d)). (b) When Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar (x) to register the transfer of such Capital Securities, or (y) to exchange such Capital Securities for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different Certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Capital Securities surrendered for registration -------- ------- of transfer or exchange shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing. (c) Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities Legend") in substantially the following form: THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES. UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. (d) Capital Securities may only be transferred in minimum blocks of $100,000 aggregate liquidation amount (100 Capital Securities) and multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of Capital Securities in a block having an aggregate liquidation amount of less than $100,000 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a Holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including, but not limited to, the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities. (e) Each party hereto understands and hereby agrees that the initial purchaser is intended solely to be an interim holder of the Capital Securities and is purchasing such securities to facilitate consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the documents ancillary hereto. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration to the contrary, the initial purchaser shall have the right upon notice (a "Transfer Notice") to the Institutional Trustee and the Sponsor to transfer title in and to the Capital Securities; provided the initial purchaser shall take reasonable steps to ensure that such transfer is exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and rules promulgated thereunder. Any Transfer Notice delivered to the Institutional Trustee and Sponsor pursuant to the preceding sentence shall indicate the aggregate liquidation amount of Capital Securities being transferred, the name and address of the transferee thereof (the "Transferee") and the date of such transfer. Notwithstanding any provision in this Declaration to the contrary, the transfer by the initial purchaser of title in and to the Capital Securities pursuant to a Transfer Notice shall not be subject to any requirement relating to Opinions of Counsel, Certificates of Transfer or any other Opinion or Certificate applicable to transfers hereunder and relating to Capital Securities. (f) Neither the Institutional Trustee nor the Registrar shall be responsible for ascertaining whether any transfer hereunder complies with the registration provisions of or any exemptions from the Securities Act, applicable state securities laws or the applicable laws of any other jurisdiction, ERISA, the Code or the Investment Company Act. SECTION 8.3. Deemed Security Holders. ----------------------- The Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof. ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS SECTION 9.1. Liability. --------- (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Guarantee and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be: (i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; and (ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise. (b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets. (c) Except to the extent provided in Section 9.1(b), and pursuant to ss. 3803(a) of the Statutory Trust Act, the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, except as otherwise specifically set forth herein. SECTION 9.2. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person (other than an Administrator) shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to such acts or omissions and except that an Administrator shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Administrator's gross negligence or willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid. (c) It is expressly understood and agreed by the parties hereto that insofar as any document, agreement or certificate is executed on behalf of the Trust by any Trustee (i) such document, agreement or certificate is executed and delivered by such Trustee, not in its individual capacity, but solely as Trustee under this Declaration in the exercise of the powers and authority conferred and vested in it, (ii) each of the representations, undertakings and agreements made on the part of the Trust is made and intended not as representations, warranties, covenants, undertakings and agreements by any Trustee in its individual capacity, but is made and intended for the purpose of binding only the Trust and (iii) under no circumstances shall any Trustee in its individual capacity be personally liable for the payment of any indebtedness or expenses of the Trust or be liable for the breach or failure of any obligation, representation, warranty or covenant made or undertaken by the Trust under this Declaration or any other document, agreement or certificate. SECTION 9.3. Fiduciary Duty. -------------- (a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity (other than the duties imposed on the Institutional Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person. (b) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision: (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law. SECTION 9.4. Indemnification. --------------- (a) (i) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust), that arises out of or in connection with this Declaration, the Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby by reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such Person acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such conduct was unlawful. (ii) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit that arises out of or in connection with this Declaration, the Indenture or the transactions contemplated hereby by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such Person is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such Person acted in good faith and in a manner such Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except that no such indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust, unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper. (iii) To the extent that an Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such Person shall be indemnified, to the fullest extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by such Person in connection therewith. (iv) Any indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because such Person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (i) and (ii). Such determination shall be made (A) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrators who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (B) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (C) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust. (v) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 9.4(a) shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such Person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section 9.4(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (1) in the case of a Company Indemnified Person (A) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (B) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (C) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Person either believed to be opposed to or did not believe to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful, or (2) in the case of a Fiduciary Indemnified Person, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion that, based upon the facts known to the counsel at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person either believed to be opposed to or did not believe to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be made (i) to a Company Indemnified Person in instances where the Administrators, independent legal counsel or the Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such Person deliberately breached such Person's duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders or (ii) to a Fiduciary Indemnified Person in instances where independent legal counsel promptly and reasonably determines in a written opinion that such Person deliberately breached such Person's duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders. (b) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each Indemnified Person from and against any and all loss, damage, liability, tax (other than taxes based on the income of such Indemnified Person), penalty, expense or claim of any kind or nature whatsoever incurred by such Indemnified Person arising out of or in connection with or by reason of the creation, administration or termination of the Trust, or any act or omission of such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage, liability, tax, penalty, expense or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith with respect to such acts or omissions. (c) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in such Person's official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing. (d) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against such Person and incurred by such Person in any such capacity, or arising out of such Person's status as such, whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify such Person against such liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4. (e) For purposes of this Section 9.4, references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any Person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as such Person would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued. (f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person. (g) The provisions of this Section 9.4 shall survive the termination of this Declaration or the earlier resignation or removal of the Institutional Trustee. The obligations of the Sponsor under this Section 9.4 to compensate and indemnify the Trustees and to pay or reimburse the Trustees for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustees as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Capital Securities, provided, that the Sponsor is the holder of the Common -------- Securities. SECTION 9.5. Outside Businesses. Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the ------------------ Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee (subject to Section 4.3(c)) may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates. SECTION 9.6. Compensation; Fee. ----------------- (a) Subject to the provisions set forth in the Fee Agreement between the Institutional Trustee, Cohen & Company and the Company of even date herewith, the Sponsor agrees: (i) to pay to the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable, documented expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance attributable to their negligence or willful misconduct. (b) The provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any Trustee. ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING SECTION 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year (the "Fiscal Year") of the ----------- Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code. SECTION 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters. -------------------------- (a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrators shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. (b) The Sponsor shall either (i) cause each Form 10-K and Form 10-Q prepared by the Sponsor and filed with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act to be delivered directly to the Institutional Trustee to hold on behalf of each Holder of Securities, within 90 days after the filing of each Form 10-K and within 30 days after the filing of each Form 10-Q or (ii) cause to be prepared at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7, and delivered directly to the Institutional Trustee to hold on behalf of each Holder of Securities, within 90 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or loss. (c) The Sponsor shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to the Institutional Trustee to hold on behalf of each Holder of Securities Form 1099 or such other annual United States federal income tax information statement required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Sponsor shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust. (d) The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7, and filed an annual United States federal income tax return on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority. (e) The Administrators will cause the Sponsor's FR Y-9 to be delivered to the Institutional Trustee to hold on behalf of each Holder of Securities promptly following their filing with the Federal Reserve. SECTION 10.3. Banking. The Trust shall maintain one or more bank ------- accounts in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7, in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, -------- however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the - ------- Institutional Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Account. The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Property Account) shall be designated by the Institutional Trustee. SECTION 10.4. Withholding. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying ----------- Agent and the Administrators shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. As a condition to the payment of any principal of or interest on any Debt Security without the imposition of withholding tax, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent shall require the previous delivery of properly completed and signed applicable U.S. federal income tax certifications (generally, an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code or an Internal Revenue Service Form W-8 (or applicable successor form) in the case of a person that is not a "United States person" within the meaning of Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) and any other certification acceptable to it to enable the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent and the Trustee to determine their respective duties and liabilities with respect to any taxes or other charges that they may be required to pay, deduct or withhold in respect of such Debt Security or the holder of such Debt Security under any present or future law or regulation of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or taxing authority therein or to comply with any reporting or other requirements under any such law or regulation. The Administrators shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution to the Holder in the amount of the withholding. In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS SECTION 11.1. Amendments. ---------- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed by: (i) the Institutional Trustee, (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, (iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Administrators, the Administrators, and (iv) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective: (i) unless the Institutional Trustee shall have first received (A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities) and that all conditions precedent to the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied; or (ii) if the result of such amendment would be to (A) cause the Trust to cease to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; (B) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; (C) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act; or (D) cause the Debenture Issuer to be unable to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of (x) the Federal Reserve (or, if the Debenture Issuer is not a bank holding company, such guidelines or policies applied to the Debenture Issuer as if the Debenture Issuer were subject to such guidelines of policies) or of (y) any other regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Debenture Issuer. (c) Except as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (g), no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective, unless the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities shall have consented to such amendment. (d) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration, without the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or any redemption or liquidation provisions applicable to the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date. (e) Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities. (f) The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, under Article IV to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove, Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities or Common Securities, as applicable. (g) Subject to Section 11.1(a), this Declaration may be amended by the Institutional Trustee and the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to: (i) cure any ambiguity; (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration; (iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor; or (iv) modify, eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as may be necessary or desirable, including, without limitation, to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be required to register as an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act (including without limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or any other applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written change in interpretation or application thereof by any legislative body, court, government agency or regulatory authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse effect on the right, preferences or privileges of the Holders of Securities; provided, however, that no such modification, elimination or addition referred - -------- ------- to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect the powers, preferences or rights of Holders of Capital Securities. SECTION 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of the Securities; Action by -------------------------------------------------------- Written Consent. - --------------- (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or admitted for trading, if any. The Administrators shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of not less than 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrators one or more notices in a writing stating that the signing Holders of the Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities represented by such Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met. (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities: (i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or admitted or trading, if any, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The Administrators may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Administrators; (ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of the Securities executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators may designate; and iii) unless the Statutory Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are then listed for trading, if any, otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote; provided, -------- however, that each meeting shall be conducted in the United States ------- (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations ss. 301.7701-7). ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE SECTION 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee. ------------------------------------------------------- The Trustee that acts as initial Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Institutional Trustee, that: (a) the Institutional Trustee is a banking corporation or national association with trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York or the United States of America, respectively, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (b) the Institutional Trustee has a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000); (c) the Institutional Trustee is not an affiliate of the Sponsor, nor does the Institutional Trustee offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; (d) the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Institutional Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (e) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and (f) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Institutional Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration. SECTION 12.2. Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee. The -------------------------------------------------- Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that: (a) if it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware; (b) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the articles of association or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee; (d) it has trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and (f) if the Delaware Trustee is a natural person, he or she is a resident of the State of Delaware. ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 13.1. Notices. All notices provided for in this Declaration ------- shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrators at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): First Bank Statutory Trust X c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer Telecopy: (314) 592-6640 Telephone: (314) 592-6602 (b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): LaSalle National Trust Delaware 1201 N. Orange Street, Suite 1000 Wilmington, Delaware 19801 Attn: Robert W. Eaddy Telecopy: 302-427-1414 Telephone: 302-427-1401 robert.eaddy@abnamro.com (c) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): LaSalle Bank National Association 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1511 Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: CDO Trust Services Group First Bank Statutory Trust X Telecopy: 312-904-0524 Telephone: 312-904-0283 greg.myers@abnamro.com (d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer Telecopy: (314) 592-6640 Telephone: (314) 592-6602 (e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 13.2. Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights and ------------- obligations of the parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and all rights, obligations and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware. SECTION 13.3. Submission to Jurisdiction. -------------------------- (a) Each of the parties hereto agrees that any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Declaration, or the transactions contemplated hereby, may be instituted in any of the courts of the State of New York located in the Borough of Manhattan, City and State of New York, and further agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of Delaware, and to any actions that are instituted in state or Federal court in Wilmington, Delaware and any competent court in the place of its corporate domicile in respect of actions brought against it as a defendant. In addition, each such party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum and irrevocably waives any right to which it may be entitled on account of its place of corporate domicile. Each such party hereby irrevocably waives any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Declaration or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each such party agrees that final judgment in any proceedings brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon it and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which it is subject by a suit upon such judgment. (b) Each of the Sponsor, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Holder of the Common Securities irrevocably consents to the service of process on it in any such suit, action or proceeding by the mailing thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to it at its address given in or pursuant to Section 13.1 hereof. (c) To the extent permitted by law, nothing herein contained shall preclude any party from effecting service of process in any lawful manner or from bringing any suit, action or proceeding in respect of this Declaration in any other state, country or place. SECTION 13.4. Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the ------------------------ parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties. SECTION 13.5. Headings. Headings contained in this Declaration are -------- inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof. SECTION 13.6. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Declaration any ---------------------- of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed. SECTION 13.7. Partial Enforceability. If any provision of this ---------------------- Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby. SECTION 13.8. Counterparts. This Declaration may contain more than one ------------ counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees and Administrators to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Declaration to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written. LASALLE NATIONAL TRUST DELAWARE, as Delaware Trustee By: /s/ Robert Eaddy ----------------------------------------- Name: Robert Eaddy ------------------------------------ Title: First Vice President ----------------------------------- LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Greg Myers ----------------------------------------- Name: Greg Myers ------------------------------------ Title: Assistant Vice President ----------------------------------- FIRST BANKS, INC., as Sponsor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------- /s/ Peter D. Wimmer -------------------------------------------- Name: Peter D. Wimmer Administrator /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Administrator ANNEX I TERMS OF CAPITAL SECURITIES AND COMMON SECURITIES Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of August 31, 2007 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration): 1. Designation and Number. ---------------------- (a) Capital Securities. 15,000 Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust X (the "Trust"), with an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000) and a stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per Capital Security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as the "TP Securities" (the "Capital Securities"). The Capital Security Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed, if any. (b) Common Securities. 464 Common Securities of the Trust (the "Common Securities") will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. The Common Securities will have an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of Four Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Dollars ($464,000) and a stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per Common Security. 2. Distributions. ------------- (a) Distributions payable on each Security will be payable at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR, as determined on the LIBOR Determination Date for such Distribution Payment Period, plus 2.30% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security (provided, however, that the Coupon Rate for any Distribution Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability), such Coupon Rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Except as set forth below in respect of an Extension Period, Distributions in arrears for more than one quarterly period will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the applicable Coupon Rate for each such quarterly period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any Distribution Payment Period will be computed for any full quarterly Distribution Payment Period on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution period; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of a Special Event redemption pursuant to paragraph 4(a) below the amounts payable pursuant to this Declaration shall be calculated as set forth in the definition of Special Redemption Price. (b) LIBOR shall be determined by the Calculation Agent in accordance with the following provisions: (1) On the second LIBOR Business Day (provided, that on such -------- day commercial banks are open for business (including dealings in foreign currency deposits) in London (a "LIBOR Banking Day"), and otherwise the next preceding LIBOR Business Day that is also a LIBOR Banking Day) prior to March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 (or, with respect to the first Distribution Payment Period, on August 29, 2007), (each such day, a "LIBOR Determination Date") for such Distribution Payment Period), the Calculation Agent shall obtain the rate for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe, which appears on Reuters Screen LIBOR 01 Page (as defined in the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc. 2000 Interest Rate and Currency Exchange Definitions) or such other page as may replace such page, as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such LIBOR Determination Date, as reported by Bloomberg Financial Markets Commodities News or any successor service ("Reuters Screen"), and the rate so obtained shall be LIBOR for such Distribution Payment Period. "LIBOR Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banking institutions in The City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed. If such rate is superseded on Reuters Screen by a corrected rate before 12:00 noon (London time) on the same LIBOR Determination Date, the corrected rate as so substituted will be the applicable LIBOR for that Distribution Payment Period. (2) If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, such rate does not appear on Reuters Screen, the Calculation Agent shall determine the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations of the Reference Banks (as defined below) to leading banks in the London Interbank market for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent) by reference to requests for quotations as of approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date made by the Calculation Agent to the Reference Banks. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, at least two of the Reference Banks provide such quotations, LIBOR shall equal the arithmetic mean of such quotations. If, on any LIBOR Determination Date, only one or none of the Reference Banks provide such a quotation, LIBOR shall be deemed to be the arithmetic mean of the offered quotations that at least two leading banks in the City of New York (as selected by the Calculation Agent) are quoting on the relevant LIBOR Determination Date for three-month U.S. Dollar deposits in Europe at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) (in an amount determined by the Calculation Agent). As used herein, "Reference Banks" means four major banks in the London Interbank market selected by the Calculation Agent. (3) If the Calculation Agent is required but is unable to determine a rate in accordance with at least one of the procedures provided above, LIBOR for the applicable Distribution Payment Period shall be LIBOR in effect for the immediately preceding Distribution Payment Period. (c) All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward). (d) As soon as practicable following each LIBOR Determination Date, but in no event later than the 30th day following such LIBOR Determination Date, the Calculation Agent shall notify, in writing, the Sponsor and the Paying Agent of the applicable Coupon Rate in effect for the related Distribution Payment Period. The Calculation Agent shall, upon the request of the Holder of any Securities, provide the Coupon Rate then in effect. All calculations made by the Calculation Agent in the absence of manifest error shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on the Sponsor and the Holders of the Securities. Any error in a calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Calculation Agent may be corrected at any time by the delivery of notice of such corrected Coupon Rate as provided above. The Paying Agent shall be entitled to rely on information received from the Calculation Agent or the Sponsor as to the Coupon Rate. The Sponsor shall, from time to time, provide any necessary information to the Paying Agent relating to any original issue discount and interest on the Securities that is included in any payment and reportable for taxable income calculation purposes. Failure to notify the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee or the Paying Agent of the applicable Coupon Rate shall not affect the obligation of the Sponsor to make payment on the Debentures at such Coupon Rate. (e) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance, and will be payable, subject to extension of Distribution payment periods as described herein, quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing December 15, 2007 (each, a "Distribution Payment Date"). Subject to prior submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture), and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest distribution period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures; provided, -------- however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, - ------- Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided, further, that, during any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer - -------- ------- may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal or premium or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Debenture Issuer that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures or (iii) make any payment under any guarantees of the Debenture Issuer that rank in all respects pari passu with or junior in interest to the Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's indebtedness for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period; provided, -------- that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. (f) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Registrar on the relevant record dates. The relevant record dates shall be 15 days before the relevant Distribution Payment Date. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when due (taking into account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Distribution Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any Distributions payable will be paid on, and such Distribution Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional Distributions will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day). (g) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed pro rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities. 3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of the ----------------------------------------- voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each, a "Liquidation") other than in connection with a redemption of the Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of the Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer), distributions equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as, such Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with Section 3808(e) of the Statutory Trust Act, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities. The Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities, has the right at any time to, upon receipt of an opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel that Holders will not recognize any gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of the distribution of the Debentures, dissolve the Trust (including without limitation upon the occurrence of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event), subject to the receipt by the Debenture Issuer of prior approval from any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Sponsor that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of the Sponsor if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount thereof. The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of (i) September 15, 2042, the expiration of the term of the Trust, (ii) a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer, (iii) (other than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be) the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor or upon the revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof, (iv) the distribution to the Holders of the Securities of the Debentures, upon exercise of the right of the Holder of all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as described above, (v) the entry of a decree of a judicial dissolution of the Sponsor or the Trust, or (vi) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities. As soon as practicable after the dissolution of the Trust and upon completion of the winding up of the Trust, the Trust shall terminate upon the filing of a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. If a Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) in the immediately preceding paragraph, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Institutional Trustee of the Trust as expeditiously as such Trustee determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to the Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by the Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the Liquidation Distribution. An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause (iv) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall occur if the Institutional Trustee determines that such Liquidation is possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs. If, upon any such Liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on such Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to such distributions. Upon any such Liquidation of the Trust involving a distribution of the Debentures, if at the time of such Liquidation, the Capital Securities were rated by at least one nationally-recognized statistical rating organization, the Debenture Issuer will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain from at least one such or other rating organization a rating for the Debentures. After the date for any distribution of the Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be no longer outstanding, (ii) any certificates representing the Capital Securities will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and payable under the Debentures) and (iii) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, shall cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of certificates representing such Securities. 4. Redemption and Distribution. --------------------------- (a) The Debentures will mature on September 15, 2037. The Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2012 at the Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to Holders of such Debentures. In addition, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer in whole or in part, at any time within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, as the case may be (the "Special Redemption Date"), at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to Holders of the Debentures so long as such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event, as the case may be, is continuing. In each case, the right of the Debenture Issuer to redeem the Debentures is subject to the Debenture Issuer having received prior approval from any regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Debenture Issuer, if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement) (an "Administrative Action") or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) if the Debenture Issuer is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of a change in law or regulation or written change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be, considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the original issuance of the Debentures. "Capital Treatment Event" means, if the Debenture Issuer is organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of an Opinion of Counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or any rules, guidelines or policies of any applicable regulatory authority for the Debenture Issuer or (b) any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that, within 90 days of the receipt of such opinion, the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities will not be eligible to be treated by the Debenture Issuer as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve (or any successor regulatory authority with jurisdiction over bank or financial holding companies), as then in effect and applicable to the Debenture Issuer (or if the Debenture Issuer is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Debenture Issuer as if the Debenture Issuer were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the Debenture Issuer to treat all or any portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as Tier 1 Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Debenture Issuer having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the distribution of the Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust by the Debenture Issuer shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Special Event" means any of a Capital Treatment Event, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Special Redemption Price" means, with respect to the redemption of any Debentures following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2008 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date: Special Redemption During the ----------------------------- 12-Month Period Beginning September Percentage of Principal Amount ----------------------------------- ------------------------------ 15 -- 2008 103.140% 2009 102.355% 2010 101.570% 2011 100.785% 2012 and thereafter 100.000% "Redemption Date" means the date fixed for the redemption of Capital Securities, which shall be any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2012. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debentures to the Redemption Date. (b) Upon the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in whole or in part of the Debentures (other than following the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable Redemption Price, Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed; provided, -------- however, that holders of such Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor - ------- more than 60 days' notice of such redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures). (c) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section 4(e)(ii) below. (d) The Trust may notredeem fewer than all the outstanding Capital Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Capital Securities for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of redemption. (e) Redemption or Distribution Procedures. (i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of the Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this Section 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Registrar. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder. (ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital Securities. (iii) If the Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this Section 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided, that the Institutional Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee will, with respect to Book-Entry Capital Securities, on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, irrevocably deposit with the Depositary for such Book-Entry Capital Securities, to the extent available therefor, funds sufficient to pay the relevant Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, and will give such Depositary irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Owners of the Capital Securities. With respect to Capital Securities that are not Book-Entry Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee will pay, to the extent available therefor, the relevant Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the redemption date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required, then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit, Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, specified in Section 4(a). If any date fixed for redemption of Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of any such Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date fixed for redemption. If payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Debenture Issuer as guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate from the original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable. In the event of any redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection for redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part. (iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shal l be sent by the Trust (A) in respect of the Capital Securities, to the Holders thereof, and (B) in respect of the Common Securities, to the Holder thereof. (v) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), and provided, that the acquiror is not the Holder of the -------- Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and rom time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. 5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities. ---------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights. The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities if directed to do so by Holders of not less than 10% in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. (b) Subject to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by the Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture as the holder of the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent on behalf of all the Holders of the Capital Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that, where -------- ------- a consent or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a simple majority in principal amount of Debentures (a "Super Majority") affected thereby, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after the Holders of a Majority or Super Majority, as the case may be, in liquidation amount of such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or premium, if any, on or principal of the Debentures on the date such interest, premium, if any, on or principal is payable (or in the case of redemption, the redemption date), then a Holder of record of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment, on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, to such Holder directly of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice or (y) the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital Securities, except where the default relates to the payment of principal of or interest on any of the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee may request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, -------- ------- that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation amount of such Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the written directions of the Holders of the Securities unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or direction of Holders of the Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of the Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not entitle the Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were not outstanding. In no event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common Securities of the Trust. Under certain circumstances as more fully described in the Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. 6. Voting Rights - Common Securities. --------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under Sections 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting rights. (b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Administrators. (c) Subject to Section 6.8 of the Declaration and only after each Event of Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its consequences that are waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding this Section 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Declaration, to the fullest extent permitted by law any Holder of the Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person. Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrators will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. 7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture. --------------------------------------- (a) In addition to any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in Section 7.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities affected thereby; provided, however, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. (b) In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the written direction of the Holders of not less than the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Declaration, the right of any Holder of the Capital Securities to receive payment of distributions and other payments upon redemption or otherwise, on or after their respective due dates, or to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision, each and every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or equity. 8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to any --------- payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. 9. Ranking. The Capital Securities rank pari passu with, and payment ------- thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities with the result that no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price the full amount of such Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price on all outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price of, the Capital Securities then due and payable. 10. Acceptance of Guarantee and Indenture. Each Holder of the Capital ------------------------------------- Securities and the Common Securities, by the acceptance of such Securities, agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee, including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture. 11. No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall have -------------------- no, and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to, preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities. 12. Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the Declaration. ------------- The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES. UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. Certificate Number [P-001] Number of Capital Securities: 15,000 CUSIP No.____________________ Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust X TP Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust X, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co., as nominee on behalf of the Depository Trust Company (the "Holder"), is the registered owner of 15,000 capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, designated the TP Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of August 31, 2007, among Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. First Bank Statutory Trust X By: ---------------------------------------- Name: ----------------------------------- Title: Administrator Dated: ------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This represents Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee By: ---------------------------------------- Authorized Signatory Dated: ------------------------------------- [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Declaration) plus 2.30% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security (provided, however, that the Coupon Rate for any Distribution Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability), such Coupon Rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarterly period will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the then applicable Coupon Rate for each such quarterly period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall be computed for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution Payment Period. Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2007 (each, a "Distribution Payment Date"). Subject to prior submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture), and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest distribution period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the -------- ------- Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period; provided, that such period together with all such -------- previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest (except any Additional Amounts that may be due and payable) shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: - ----------------------- - ----------------------- - ----------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) - ----------------------- - ----------------------- - ----------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee), and irrevocably appoints ------------------------------------------------------- as agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for it, him or her. Date: --------------------------------------- Signature: ---------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee: 1 ------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------ 1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 8.1(b) OF THE DECLARATION (AS DEFINED BELOW), THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED. Certificate Number [C-001] Number of Common Securities: 464 Certificate Evidencing Common Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust X First Bank Statutory Trust X, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Banks, Inc. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of 464 common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security) (the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of August 31, 2007, among Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, the Holder, as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. As set forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or otherwise are subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital Securities. By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of undivided beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Common Security is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate as of this ______ day of ____________________, 2007. First Bank Statutory Trust X By: ------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------- Title: Administrator [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Common Security will be identical in amount to the Distributions payable on each Capital Security, which is at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Declaration) plus 2.30% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security (provided, however, that the Coupon Rate for any Distribution Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability), such Coupon Rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarterly period will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the then applicable Coupon Rate for each such quarterly period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall be computed for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution Payment Period. Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2007 (each, a "Distribution Payment Date"). Subject to prior submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture), and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest distribution period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided, that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable) shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds legally available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to: - ----------------------------- - ----------------------------- - ----------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) - ----------------------------- - ----------------------------- - ----------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee), and irrevocably appoints ________ as agent to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: ------------------------------ Signature: ------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 _________________ - ----------------------------------- 1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EX-4 8 fbstxguartee.txt EXHIBIT 4.3 EXHIBIT 4.3 GUARANTEE AGREEMENT FIRST BANKS, INC. Dated as of August 31, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation........................................................1 ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee............................................4 SECTION 2.2. Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee...............................................5 SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.................................7 SECTION 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver.............................................................7 SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice.............................................................8 ARTICLE III THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility....................................................8 SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee.........................9 ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE SECTION 4.1. Guarantee.............................................................................9 SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand..........................................................10 SECTION 4.3. Obligations Not Affected.............................................................10 SECTION 4.4. Rights of Holders....................................................................11 SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment.................................................................11 SECTION 4.6. Subrogation..........................................................................11 SECTION 4.7. Independent Obligations..............................................................12 SECTION 4.8. Enforcement..........................................................................12 ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions...........................................................12 SECTION 5.2. Ranking..............................................................................13 ARTICLE VI TERMINATION SECTION 6.1. Termination..........................................................................13 ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION SECTION 7.1. Exculpation..........................................................................14 SECTION 7.2. Indemnification......................................................................14 SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses..............................................15 ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns...............................................................16 SECTION 8.2. Amendments...........................................................................16 SECTION 8.3. Notices..............................................................................16 SECTION 8.4. Benefit..............................................................................17 SECTION 8.5. Governing Law........................................................................17 SECTION 8.6. Counterparts.........................................................................17
GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ------------------- This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Guarantee"), dated as of August 31, 2007, is executed and delivered by First Banks, Inc., incorporated in Missouri (the "Guarantor"), and LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of First Bank Statutory Trust X, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of August 31, 2007, among the trustees named therein of the Issuer, the administrators of the Issuer named therein, First Banks, Inc., as sponsor, and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof securities, having an aggregate liquidation amount of up to $15,000,000, designated the TP Securities (the "Capital Securities"); and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION SECTION 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation. ------------------------------ In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; (e) terms defined in the Declaration as of the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered. "Covered Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities. "Debentures" means the junior subordinated debentures of First Banks, Inc., designated the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due 2037, held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4. "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account (as defined in the Declaration) therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price (as defined in the Indenture) to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, with respect to Capital Securities called for redemption upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined in the Indenture), and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds available in the Property Account therefor at such time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Issuer as required by applicable law (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Guarantee Trustee" means LaSalle Bank National Association, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee. "Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee. "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of August 31, 2007, between the Guarantor and LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Institutional Trustee of the Issuer. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Guarantee Payments" herein. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to, but excluding, the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding. "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer, other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities. "Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Officer's Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the CDO Trust Services Group of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of any matters relating to this Guarantee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1. "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities. ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. ------------------------------------------ (a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.4(b)) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not on their face they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee, or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. SECTION 2.2. Certain Rights of the Guarantee Trustee. --------------------------------------- (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1: (i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties. (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate. (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. (iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument or other writing (or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof). (v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction. (vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a) -------- ------- (vi) shall be taken to relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee. (vii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. (viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. (ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action. (x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (A) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (B) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received and (C) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions. (xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee. (b) No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. SECTION 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. ----------------------------------------------------- The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee. SECTION 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver. ------------------------- (a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder. (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. SECTION 2.5. Events of Default; Notice. ------------------------- (a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice; provided, however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected -------- ------- in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities, or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have actual knowledge thereof. ARTICLE III THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE SECTION 3.1. The Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. ---------------------------------- (a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and (ii) be a corporation or national association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least Fifty Million U.S. Dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation or national association publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or national association shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 3.2(c). (c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to, this Guarantee. SECTION 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee. ------------------------------------------------------------- (a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee. (d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee. (e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee. (f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. (g) Any Person into which the Guarantee Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Guarantee Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Guarantee Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided, that such Person shall be otherwise eligible -------- and qualified under this Article and Guarantee Trustee shall provide reasonable notice to Guarantor informing Guarantor of such merger, consolidation or other similar transaction. ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE SECTION 4.1. Guarantee. --------- (a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except as defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. (b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the Beneficiaries who have received notice hereof. SECTION 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand. --------------------------- The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. SECTION 4.3. Obligations Not Affected. ------------------------ The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for the payment of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sums payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. SECTION 4.4. Rights of Holders. ----------------- (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to Sections 2.1 and 2.2) the Guarantee -------- ------- Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee shall determine that the actions so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction or if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by legal counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability. (b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor. SECTION 4.5. Guarantee of Payment. -------------------- This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. SECTION 4.6. Subrogation. ----------- The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that -------- ------- the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. SECTION 4.7. Independent Obligations. ----------------------- The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof. SECTION 4.8. Enforcement. ----------- A Beneficiary may enforce the Obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor, and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the -------- ------- Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by applicable provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION SECTION 5.1. Limitation of Transactions. -------------------------- So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor may not (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's capital stock or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than (i) payments under this Guarantee, (ii) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors, or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default or the applicable Extension Period, (iii) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iv) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (v) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (vi) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). SECTION 5.2. Ranking. ------- This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein. The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments thereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture or agreement that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise. ARTICLE VI TERMINATION SECTION 6.1. Termination. ----------- This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as the case may be, of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee. ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION SECTION 7.1. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission of such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid. SECTION 7.2. Indemnification. --------------- (a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including but not limited to the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. (b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be -------- ------- satisfactory to the Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel to represent the Indemnified Person in any action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel (and local counsel), if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Persons which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. SECTION 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses. --------------------------------------- Other than as provided in the Fee Agreement of even date herewith between the Guarantor, Cohen & Company and the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantor agrees: (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.1. Successors and Assigns. ---------------------- All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets or capital stock to another entity, in each case to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. SECTION 8.2. Amendments. ---------- Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof shall apply equally with respect to amendments of the Guarantee. SECTION 8.3. Notices. ------- All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities): LaSalle Bank National Association 135 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1511 Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: CDO Trust Services Group First Bank Statutory Trust X Telecopy: (312) 904-0524 Telephone: (312) 904-0283 (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer Telecopy: (314) 592-6640 Telephone: (314) 592-6602 (c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. SECTION 8.4. Benefit. ------- This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities. SECTION 8.5. Governing Law. ------------- THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). SECTION 8.6. Counterparts. ------------ This Guarantee may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Guarantee may be executed by the affixing of the signature of the Guarantor and the Guarantee Trustee to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC., as Guarantor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle --------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer -------------------------------- LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Guarantee Trustee By: /s/ Greg Myers ----------------------------------- Name: Greg Myers --------------------------------- Title: Assistant Vice President -------------------------------- EX-4 9 fbstxplace.txt EXHIBIT 4.4 EXHIBIT 4.4 PLACEMENT AGREEMENT among FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X, Issuer FIRST BANKS, INC., Sponsor and COHEN & COMPANY Placement Agent Dated as of August 29, 2007 PLACEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 29, 2007 (this "Agreement"), among First Bank Statutory Trust X, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Issuer"), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, as Sponsor under the Declaration, as defined below (the "Sponsor" and, together with the Issuer, the "Trust Parties"), and Cohen & Company, as placement agent (the "Placement Agent"). WHEREAS, the Issuer proposes to issue U.S. $15,000,000 of its Capital Securities, designated TP Securities, due September 15, 2037 (the "Securities"); WHEREAS, the Securities will be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to be dated as of August 31, 2007 (the "Declaration"), among First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrators named therein; WHEREAS, the Issuer has agreed not later than August 31, 2007 ("Closing Date"), to provide the Placement Agent with a copy of the Declaration and any other documents required to be delivered pursuant to the terms hereof or the Declaration; WHEREAS, the Issuer will use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to purchase Debentures (as defined in the Declaration); and WHEREAS, capitalized terms used herein but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Declaration; NOW IT IS HEREBY AGREED as follows: 1. PLACEMENT OF SECURITIES; COMPENSATION. ------------------------------------- (a) On the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Issuer hereby appoints the Placement Agent as placement agent to place Securities, and the Placement Agent hereby accepts such appointment. From the date hereof until any termination of the Placement Agent's obligations hereunder, the Placement Agent shall use its reasonable efforts to place Securities with investors permitted by the terms hereof. (b) The Securities shall be issued and sold free from all liens, charges and encumbrances, equities and other third party rights of any nature whatsoever, together with all rights of any nature. 2. CLOSING. On the Closing Date, delivery of and payment for ------- the Securities shall be made at the offices of LaSalle Bank National Association or such other location or locations as shall be mutually acceptable to the parties hereto. Delivery of the Securities shall be made against payment of the purchase price therefor to the order of the Issuer in same day funds by transfer to an account designated by the Sponsor or by such other means in same day funds as shall be acceptable to the Placement Agent and Sponsor. Such payment shall be made upon authorization from the Placement Agent (such authorization to be given if the conditions to the Placement Agent's obligations set forth herein are either satisfied or waived) against delivery of the Securities. The Securities will be in the form requested by the Placement Agent in accordance with the terms of the Declaration. 3. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Sponsor agrees to pay all costs ------------------- and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Sponsor and the Issuer under this Placement Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated or this Placement Agreement is terminated, including all costs and expenses incident to (i) the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in connection therewith; (ii) the fees and expenses of qualifying the Securities under the securities laws of applicable jurisdictions, and (iii) the fees and expenses of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts or advisors retained by the Sponsor or the Issuer; provided, however, that Placement Agent will provide Sponsor a $10,000 credit for such expenses concurrently with consummation of the transactions hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the sale of the Securities provided for in this Placement Agreement is not consummated because any condition set forth herein to be satisfied by either the Sponsor or the Issuer is not satisfied, because this Placement Agreement is terminated pursuant to clause (i), (iii) or (v) of Section 10 or because of any failure, refusal or inability ---------- on the part of the Sponsor or the Issuer to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder other than by a reason of a default by the Placement Agent, the Sponsor will reimburse the Placement Agent upon demand for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and all reasonable expenses of special counsel retained by the Placement Agent, which fees and expenses shall not exceed $12,500) that shall have been incurred by the Placement Agent in connection with the proposed placement of the Securities. The Sponsor shall not in any event be liable to the Placement Agent for the loss of anticipated profits from the transactions contemplated by this Placement Agreement. 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. Each Trust Party hereby ------------------------------ represents, warrants and agrees to and with the Placement Agent that, as of the Closing Date, and as to itself only and not as to the other: (a) with respect to the Issuer, it is duly formed and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware and, with respect to the Sponsor, and its significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) (the "Significant Subsidiaries"), each is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, in each case, with all requisite power and authority to own or transfer, as applicable, the Debentures, to conduct its business as required under the Declaration, this Agreement, or any other documents relating to or otherwise in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities (collectively, the "Transaction Documents") and to perform its obligations hereunder and under each Transaction Document, and is lawfully qualified to do business and is in good standing in those jurisdictions in which it conducts business and where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings or business of such Trust Party, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business or would otherwise be material in context of the issuance of the Securities ("Material Adverse Effect"); (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Trust Party and constitutes, and each of the Transaction Documents to which such Trust Party is a party has been duly authorized by such Trust Party and, when duly executed and delivered by the Placement Agent and the other parties thereto (if any), on the Closing Date, will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of such Trust Party, except as such obligations may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and the application of general equitable principles (regardless of whether the issue of enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) neither the Issuer nor the Sponsor nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of, or default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, its corporate charter, bylaws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Declaration); (d) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Sponsor has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; (e) other than as set forth in Schedule 4(e), all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable, and is owned by the Sponsor, directly or through subsidiaries, free of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equitable right; and none of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Sponsor or its Significant Subsidiaries was issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights arising by operation of law, under the charter, by-laws or code of regulations of the Sponsor or any of its Significant Subsidiaries or under any agreement to which the Sponsor or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or is otherwise bound; (f) with respect to the Issuer, on the Closing Date, the Securities will have been duly authorized by the Issuer and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the Declaration against payment therefor as contemplated herein, will be validly issued and represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, entitled to the benefits provided by the Declaration; (g) with respect to the Issuer, no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue, sale or delivery of the Securities, except for those which have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for those which have been obtained and are in full force and effect, and except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (h) the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the issue of the Securities and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (and compliance with the terms thereof) do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under the organizational documents of such Trust Party; and the execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents, the issue of the Securities and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents (and compliance with the terms thereof) do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach of any indenture, trust deed, mortgage or other agreement or instrument to which such Trust Party is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound, or infringe any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental body or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over such Trust Party or any of its properties, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or infringements that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; (i) there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting such Trust Party or any of its properties and, to the best of such Trust Party's knowledge, no such suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated that individually or in aggregate could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Issuer's issuance of the Securities; (j) no event has occurred since January 1, 2007 which, had the applicable Securities already been issued, would reasonably be expected to (whether or not with the giving of notice and/or the passage of time and/or the fulfillment of any other requirement) constitute an Event of Default under the Declaration; (k) neither the Issuer nor any affiliate of the Issuer nor any person acting on behalf thereof has made offers or sales of the Securities under circumstances that would require the registration of the Securities under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"); (l) with respect to the Issuer, any taxes, fees and other governmental charges in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and any Transaction Document or the execution, delivery and sale of the Securities have been or will be paid on or prior to the Closing Date; (m) there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between any of the Trust Parties or any affiliate thereof and any person granting such person the right to require the Issuer to file a registration statement under the Securities Act, with respect to any Securities owned or to be owned by such person; and (n) in the case of each offer or sale of Securities, no form of general solicitation or general advertising was used by the Issuer or its representatives, including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio, or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. Neither the Issuer nor any person acting on its behalf (other than the Placement Agent) has offered or sold, nor will the Issuer or any person acting on its behalf (other than the Placement Agent) offer or sell directly or indirectly, any Securities or any other security in any manner that, assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties and the performance of the covenants given by the Placement Agent, would reasonably be expected to render the issuance and sale of any of the Securities as contemplated hereby a violation of Section 5 of the Securities Act or the registration or qualification requirements of any state securities laws, nor has the Issuer authorized, nor will it authorize, any person to act in such manner. (o) The audited consolidated financial statements (including the notes thereto) and schedules of the Sponsor and its consolidated subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2006 (the "Financial Statements") and the interim unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Sponsor and its consolidated subsidiaries for the period ended June 30, 2007 (the "Interim Financial Statements") provided to the Placement Agent are the most recent available audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Sponsor and its consolidated subsidiaries, respectively, and fairly present in all material respects, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the financial position of the Sponsor and its consolidated subsidiaries, and the results of operations and changes in financial condition as of the dates and for the periods therein specified, subject, in the case of Interim Financial Statements, to year-end adjustments. There has been no material adverse change or development with respect to the Financial Statements or earnings of the Sponsor and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Such consolidated financial statements and schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The accountants of the Sponsor who certified the Financial Statements are independent public accountants of the Sponsor and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date of this Agreement. (p) The Sponsor's report on FR Y-9C and FR Y-9LP dated June 30, 2007, provided to the Placement Agent is the most recent available such report and the information therein fairly presents in all material respects the financial information of the Sponsor and its subsidiaries, required by such form. (q) Since the respective dates of the Financial Statements, the Interim Financial Statements and the FR Y-9C and FR Y-9LP, there has been no material adverse change or development with respect to the financial condition or earnings of the Sponsor and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (r) The Sponsor is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "Bank Holding Company Act"), and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve"), and the deposit accounts of the Sponsor's subsidiary depository institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceeding for the termination of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Sponsor, threatened. (s) Neither the Sponsor nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject to or party to, or has received any notice or advice that any of them may become subject to any investigation with respect to, any cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent decree, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or that in any material manner relates to their capital adequacy, their credit policies or their management or their business (each, a "Regulatory Agreement"), nor has the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries been advised by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement; and there is no unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agent with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Sponsor or any of its Significant Subsidiaries which, in the reasonable judgment of the Sponsor, is expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, the term "Regulatory Agency" means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depositary institutions or holding companies of depository institutions, or engaged in the insurance of depository institution deposits, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental agency, authority or instrumentality having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Sponsor or its Significant Subsidiaries. (t) The Sponsor has no present intention to exercise its option to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture. The Sponsor believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote. (u) The Sponsor is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases properties or conducts business, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and holds all approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities necessary for the conduct of its business, except where the failure to hold such approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, certificates and/or permits would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Significant Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases properties or conducts business, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and holds all approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities necessary for the conduct of its business, except where the failure to hold such approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, certificate and/or permits would not, singularly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5. UNDERTAKINGS BY THE ISSUER. The Issuer agrees with the -------------------------- Placement Agent as follows: (a) Neither the Issuer, nor any of its affiliates nor any person authorized to act on its behalf (other than the Placement Agent), will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities to any U.S. Person except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Terms used in this paragraph have the meanings given to them by Regulation S under the Securities Act. (b) Neither the Issuer, nor any of its affiliates nor any person authorized to act on its behalf (other than the Placement Agent), will make offers or sales of Securities under circumstances that would require the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act. (c) For so long as any of the Securities are outstanding and are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144, the Issuer will provide or cause to be provided to any holder of Securities and any prospective purchaser of the Securities designated by such a holder, upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser, the information required to be provided to such holder or prospective purchaser by Rule 144A(d)(4). (d) During the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Sponsor and the Issuer shall use their best efforts to cause their representations and warranties contained in Section 4 hereof to be true as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date. (e) The Sponsor and the Issuer will not claim and will actively resist any attempts by others to claim the benefits of any usury laws against holders of Capital Securities or the Debentures. (f) The Sponsor shall not identify the Placement Agent i n a press release or any other written public statement without the consent of such Placement Agent, except as required by applicable law. 6. SELLING RESTRICTIONS. The Placement Agent represents and -------------------- warrants to the Issuer that: (a) It understands that the Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold within the United States except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. It has not offered or sold, and will not offer or sell, the Securities within the United States except to persons whom it reasonably believes to be (a) Qualified Institutional Buyers (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (b) institutional Accredited Investors (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) or (c) a person who is not a "U.S. Person" (as such term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) that is not acquiring the Securities for the account or benefit of any U.S. Person in an offer and sale that constitutes an "offshore transaction" under Regulation S of the Securities Act. In connection with any offer or sale in the United States or to or for the benefit of a U.S. Person, it will take reasonable steps to ensure that the purchaser of such Securities is aware that such offer or sale is being made in reliance on Rule 144A or Regulation D in a manner that would not require registration of the Securities under the Securities Act or any blue sky law of any State and that future transfers of the Securities may not be made except in compliance with applicable securities laws. (b) Neither it nor any person acting on its behalf has engaged or will engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as those terms are used in Rule 502(c) of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of the Securities in the United States. (c) It will not offer or sell the Securities outside the United States, except in accordance with the representations described herein and the restrictions set forth below: It has offered and sold the Securities, and will offer and sell the Securities, during the applicable Distribution Compliance Period (as defined in Rule 902 of Regulation S), only in accordance with Rule 903 or 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act. Accordingly, it represents and agrees that neither it, nor any of its affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts with respect to the Securities, and that it and they have complied and will comply with the offering restriction requirements of Regulation S. It agrees that, at or prior to the confirmation of sale of Securities, it shall have sent to each distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other remuneration that purchases the Securities through it during the applicable Distribution Compliance Period a confirmation or notice of substantially the following effect: "The Securities offered hereby have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (i) as part of their distribution at any time or (ii) until forty calendar days after the later of the commencement of the offering of the Securities or the Closing Date, to persons other than the Placement Agent or other distributors in reliance on Regulation S and the Closing Date, except in either case in accordance with Regulation S or Regulation D or other exemptive provisions under the Securities Act. Terms used above have the meanings given to them by Regulation S." (d) It acknowledges that no action has been or will be taken by the Issuer or any other person that would permit the offer or sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction where action to implement such offer or sale of the Securities is required. The Placement Agent shall not offer or sell any Securities in any jurisdiction except in compliance with applicable law, and the Placement Agent agrees, at its own expense, to comply with all such laws. The Placement Agent shall at its own expense obtain any consent, approval or authorization required for it to offer or sell the Securities under the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction where it proposes to make offers or sales of Securities. 7. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. The obligations of the Placement --------------------- Agent hereunder shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each Trust Party contained herein as of the date hereof, and, as of the Closing Date (as if made on the Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of each Trust Party made in any certificates delivered pursuant hereto on such date, to the performance by each Trust Party of its obligations hereunder, and to the following additional conditions: (a) The Issuer shall have obtained all governmental authorizations required, if any, in connection with the issue and sale of the Securities and the performance of its obligations hereunder and under the Transaction Documents to which it is a party. (b) Each Trust Party shall have furnished to the Placement Agent a certificate of such Trust Party signed by, in the case of the Issuer, an Administrator and, in the case of the Sponsor, the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Issuer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that such signatory has examined this Agreement and that the representations and warranties of such party in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date, and such party has performed all its obligations and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date. (c) The Placement Agent, the Trustees and the Purchaser (as defined below) shall have been furnished with the opinion of counsel for the Trust Parties substantially in the form set out in Annex A dated on the date hereof and in a form reasonably acceptable to the Placement Agent. (d) The conditions precedent to the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the Declaration shall have been satisfied or waived. (e) Prior to the Closing Date, the Issuer shall furnish to the Placement Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Placement Agent may reasonably request. If any of the conditions specified in this Section 7 shall not have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates referred to in or contemplated by this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agent and its counsel, this Agreement and all obligations of the Placement Agent hereunder may be canceled by the Placement Agent at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Issuer in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing. 8. INDEMNIFICATION. --------------- (a) Each Trust Party agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agent and each person, if any, who controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of the Securities Act, or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees of the Placement Agent and each such person (and each and all referred to in Section 8(b) as an "indemnified party"), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Placement Agent or such controlling person and the respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees of the Placement Agent and each such person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are connected with the execution and delivery by such Trust Party, and the consummation by such Trust Party of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement or any other Transaction Document; provided, however that each Trust Party will not be liable to an indemnified party if and to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability was the result of negligence or willful misconduct of such indemnified party. Each Trust Party agrees, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Placement Agent and each such affiliate, officer, director, employee or controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Placement Agent and each such affiliate, officer, director, employee or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or being connected with the execution and delivery by such Trust Party, and the consummation by such Trust Party of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement or the other Transaction Documents. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that any of the Trust Parties may otherwise have. (b) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission and/or delay to so notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party unless such omission and/or delay caused actual prejudice to the indemnifying party; in case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notified the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may elect by written notice, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. Counsel provided by the indemnifying party may represent the indemnifying party as well as all indemnified parties hereunder subject to the following provisions. If the defendants in any action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties that are different from or additional to or in conflict with those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assert such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. The reasonable fees and expenses of such separate counsel for the indemnified party shall be paid by the indemnifying party. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, such indemnified party may continue any such action on its own at its own expense. The indemnifying party may avoid its duty to indemnify under this Section 8 if the indemnified party, without the prior written consent of the indemnifying party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), effects any settlement or compromise of, or consents to the entry of any judgment in, any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnifying party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnifying party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim effected without its consent. 9. CONTRIBUTION. ------------ (a) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances under which the indemnification provided for in Section 8 hereof is for any reason held to be unenforceable for the benefit of an Indemnified Party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Sponsor and the Trust, on the one hand, and the Placement Agent, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above, but also the relative fault of the Sponsor and the Trust, on the one hand, and the Placement Agent, on the other hand, in connection with the statements, omissions or breaches, which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. (b) The Sponsor and the Trust and the Placement Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 9. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an Indemnified Party and referred to above in this Section 9 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission or breach or alleged breach. (c) No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. (d) For purposes of this Section 9, the Placement Agent, each person, if any, who controls the Placement Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the respective partners, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Placement Agent or any such controlling person shall have the same rights to contribution as the Placement Agent, while each officer and director of the Sponsor, each trustee of the Trust and each person, if any, who controls the Sponsor within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Sponsor and the Trust. 10. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination ----------- in the absolute discretion of the Placement Agent, by written notice given to the Sponsor and the Issuer prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to such time (i) a downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Sponsor's debt securities or preferred stock, if any, by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that term is used by the Commission in Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, or such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of the Sponsor's debt securities or preferred stock, if any, (ii) the Issuer shall be unable to sell and deliver to PFW III, Ltd. or such other purchaser(s) of the Securities acceptable to the Placement Agent (the "Purchaser") at least $15,000,000 stated liquidation value of Securities, (iii) the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries that is an insured depository institution shall cease to be "adequately-capitalized" within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. ss.1831 and applicable regulations adopted thereunder, or any formal administrative or judicial action is taken by any appropriate federal banking agency against the Sponsor or any such insured subsidiary for unsafe and unsound banking practices, or violations of law, (iv) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally shall have occurred on the New York Stock Exchange, (v) a suspension or material limitation in trading in any of the Sponsor's securities shall have occurred on the exchange or quotation system upon which the Sponsor's securities are traded, if any, (vi) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared either by federal or Delaware authorities or (vii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis, including acts of terrorism, the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the Placement Agent's judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities. 11. SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND OBLIGATIONS. The --------------------------------------------------- representations, warranties, agreements and undertakings in this Agreement shall continue in full force and effect despite completion of the arrangements for the issue and placement of the Securities or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Placement Agent. 12. NOTICES. ------- (a) Any communication shall be given by letter or facsimile, in the case of notices to the Issuer, to it at: First Bank Statutory Trust X c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Facsimile: (314) 592-6640 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer in the case of notices to the Sponsor, to it at: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Facsimile: (314) 592-6640 Attention: Peter D. Wimmer and in the case of notices to the Placement Agent, to it at: Cohen & Company 2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104 Facsimile: (215) 701-8282 Attention: Asset Backed Securities (b) Any such communication shall take effect, in the case of a letter, at the time of delivery and in the case of facsimile, at the time of dispatch. (c) Any communication not by facsimile shall be confirmed by letter but failure to send or receive the letter of confirmation shall not invalidate the original communication. 13. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and -------------- construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflict of laws provisions. 14. JURISDICTION. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably ------------ submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States federal court sitting in The City and County of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which is brought by the Placement Agent, the Issuer or the Sponsor and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding. 15. NO BANKRUPTCY PETITION. The Placement Agent covenants and ----------------------- agrees that, prior to the date which is one year and one day after the payment in full of all Securities issued by the Issuer, it will not institute against, or join any other Person in instituting against, the Issuer any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings or other proceedings under any federal or state bankruptcy or similar law. The provisions of this Section shall survive termination of this Agreement for any reason whatsoever. 16. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and ---------- be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, and no other person will have any right or obligations hereunder. 17. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number ------------- of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been entered into as of the date hereinabove set forth. First Banks, Inc. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------- First Bank Statutory Trust X By: First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------- Cohen & Company, as Placement Agent By: /s/ E. Robert Kent III ------------------------------------ Name: E. Robert Kent III ---------------------------------- Title: Director --------------------------------- ANNEX A Pursuant to Section 7(c) of the Placement Agreement, special counsel for the Offerors shall deliver an opinion in substantially the following form: August 31, 2007 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special counsel for First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), First Bank Statutory Trust X, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust," and together with the Company, the "Offerors"), in connection with the issue and sale by the Trust of 15,000 Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Capital Securities"), the subsequent purchase by the Trust from the Company of $15,464,000 in aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debt Securities") and the guarantee by the Company of the Capital Securities pursuant to a Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement"). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Placement Agreement effective as of August 29, 2007, by and among the Company, the Trust and Cohen & Company (the "Placement Agreement"). This opinion letter is furnished pursuant to the Placement Agreement. We have examined originals or copies of (i) the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, together with all amendments thereto ("Articles of Incorporation"), (ii) the Bylaws of the Company, as amended ("Bylaws"), (iii) certain resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, (iv) the Certificate of Trust of the Trust as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 29, 2007, (v) the Declaration of Trust of the Trust effective as of August 29, 2007 between the Company and LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as trustee ("Delaware Trustee"), (vi) the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") effective as of August 31, 2007 among the Company, the Delaware Trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, as trustee ("Institutional Trustee") and administrators of the Trust (the "Administrators"), (vii) the Guarantee Agreement effective as of August 31, 2007 between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Guarantee Trustee, (viii) the Indenture effective as of August 31, 2007 between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Debenture Trustee (the "Indenture"), and (ix) such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary and relevant for purposes hereof. In addition, we have relied on certificates of public officials, officers and employees of the Offerors and significant subsidiaries, if any, (each a "Significant Subsidiary" and collectively, the "Significant Subsidiaries") as to certain matters of fact relating to this opinion and have made such investigations of law as we have deemed necessary and relevant as a basis hereof. We have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents and records submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents and records of all documents and records submitted to us as copies, and the truthfulness of all statements of fact contained therein. Based on the foregoing and subject to the limitations and assumptions set forth herein, and having due regard for such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri, and is duly registered as a holding company under applicable rules and regulations. To the best of our knowledge, each of the Significant Subsidiaries is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as such business is currently conducted in all material respects. To the best of our knowledge, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. 2. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities and Debt Securities in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and the Operative Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of the Offeror's Board of Directors (the "Board"). All of the Capital Securities have been duly and validly authorized by the Board and, when delivered in accordance with the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will conform to the description thereof in the Declaration. There are no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase any shares of capital stock or equity securities of the Offerors or, to the best of our knowledge, without a duty of inquiry, the Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to the corporate Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Declaration) or, to the best of our knowledge, any agreement or other instrument to which either Offeror or any of the Significant Subsidiaries may be bound. 3. The Offerors have all requisite corporate and trust power to enter into and perform their obligations under the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, and the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreements have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Offerors and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Offerors enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, and except as the indemnification and contribution provisions thereof may be limited under applicable laws and certain remedies may not be available in the case of a non-material breach. 4. Each of the Indenture, the Declaration and the Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and (in the case of the Indenture and the Guarantee, respectively, assuming it is duly authorized, executed and delivered by the respective trustees) constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to general principles of equity. 5. The Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and when authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Trust, will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and to general principles of equity. 6. Neither of the Offerors nor any of the Significant Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of, or default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, its corporate charter, bylaws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Declaration). The execution, delivery and performance of the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement and the Subscription Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities Purchase Agreement, the Subscription Agreement and the Declaration do not and will not conflict with, result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, claim, charge, encumbrance or restriction upon any property or assets of the Offerors or, to the best of our knowledge, the Significant Subsidiaries or constitute a material breach or violation of, or constitute a material default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of the articles of incorporation or charter, bylaws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Declaration) of the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries or to the best of our knowledge, without a duty of inquiry, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, franchise, license or any other agreement or instrument to which the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or any order, decree, judgment, franchise, license, permit, rule or regulation of any court, arbitrator, government, or governmental agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties which, in each case, is material to (i) the Offerors and the Significant Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis and (ii) the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement in connection with the offer and sale of the Capital Securities. 7. Except for filings, registrations, or qualifications that may be required by securities laws, no authorization, approval, consent or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any person (including, without limitation, any court, governmental body or authority) is required under the laws of the State of Missouri in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement in connection with the offer and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated by the Placement Agreement. 8. No action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity is pending or threatened to which the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries is or may be a party, and no action, suit or proceeding is pending or threatened against or affecting the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries or any of their properties, before or by any court or governmental official, commission, board or other administrative agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consummation of the Placement Agreement or the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated therein or the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, or results of operations of the Offerors and the Significant Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 9. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and warranties and compliance with the agreements contained herein, it is not necessary in connection with the offering, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities, the Debt Securities and the Guarantee Agreement to register the same under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the circumstances contemplated in the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, and the Indenture, Declaration and Guarantee Agreement are not required to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. 10. Neither the Company nor the Trust is an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company", in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The foregoing opinion is, with your concurrence, predicated upon and qualified in its entirety by the following: (a) The foregoing opinion is based on and is limited to the law of the State of New York, the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the relevant law of the United States of America. (b) Whenever our opinion is based on circumstances "to the best of our knowledge," "known to us," or similar expressions, we have relied exclusively on certificates of officers or representatives of the Offerors or the Significant Subsidiaries, as applicable (after discussing the contents thereof with such officers), as to the existence or nonexistence of the circumstances upon which our opinion is predicated. We have no reason to believe, however, that any such certificate is untrue or inaccurate in any material respect. This opinion is delivered solely to you (except that a subsequent purchaser may also rely on this opinion) and may not be used for any other purpose and may not be quoted, circulated or published, in whole or in part, or otherwise referred to or furnished to any other person other than your counsel, without our express prior written authorization. EX-4 10 fbstxjrsub.txt EXHIBIT 4.5 EXHIBIT 4.5 JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITY DUE 2037 THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY WILL DELIVER TO THE COMPANY AND TRUSTEE SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. THIS OBLIGATION IS NOT A DEPOSIT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS OBLIGATION IS SUBORDINATED TO THE CLAIMS OF DEPOSITORS AND THE CLAIMS OF GENERAL AND SECURED CREDITORS OF THE COMPANY, IS INELIGIBLE AS COLLATERAL FOR A LOAN BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND IS NOT SECURED. Junior Subordinated Debt Security due 2037 of First Banks, Inc. First Banks, Inc., a bank holding company incorporated in Missouri (the "Company"), for value received promises to pay to LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust X, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Securityholder"), or registered assigns, the principal sum of Fifteen Million Four Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Dollars ($15,464,000) on September 15, 2037 and to pay interest on said principal sum from August 31, 2007, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year commencing December 15, 2007, at a variable per annum rate equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Indenture) plus 2.30% (the "Interest Rate") (provided, however, that the Interest Rate for any Interest Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability) until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for each such Interest Payment Period compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant interest period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Interest Payment Date, other than on the Maturity Date, any Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or the Special Redemption Date, falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then any interest payable will be paid on, and such Interest Payment Date will be moved to, the next succeeding Business Day, and additional interest will accrue for each day that such payment is delayed as a result thereof. If the Maturity Date, Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, then the principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day, and no additional interest will accrue (except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day). The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, except that interest and any Deferred Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Securityholders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Securityholders not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of and interest on this Debt Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other Paying Agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the - -------- ------- Company by check mailed to the registered Securityholder at such address as shall appear in the Debt Security Register or by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debt Security is the Institutional Trustee, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security shall be made in immediately available funds when due at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee. All payments in respect of this Debt Security shall be payable in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Upon submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture) and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right under the Indenture, from time to time and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debt Securities by extending the interest distribution period on the Debt Securities at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debt Securities, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest distribution period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debt Securities, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate applicable during such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debt Securities; provided, however, that no Extension Period -------- ------- may extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date; and provided, further, however, during any such -------- ------- Extension Period, the Company may not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (ii) make any payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debt Securities or (iii) make any payment under any guarantees of the Company that rank in all respects pari passu with or junior in respect to the Capital Securities Guarantee (other than (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company (A) in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, (B) in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or (C) in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock), as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange, reclassification, combination or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholder's rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, or (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period; provided, that no Extension -------- Period (including all previous and further consecutive extensions that are part of such Extension Period) shall exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin any Extension Period or extend an Extension Period ("Notice") not later than the related regular record date for the relevant Interest Payment Date. The Notice shall describe why the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period. The Notice shall acknowledge and affirm the Company's understanding that it is prohibited from issuing dividends and other distributions during the Extension Period. Upon receipt of the Notice, the Placement Agent shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to disclose the name of the Company, the fact that the Company has elected to begin an Extension Period and other information that such Placement Agent, at its sole discretion, deems relevant to the Company's election to begin an Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debt Security is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debt Security is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debt Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by such holder's acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Securityholder upon said provisions. The Company waives diligence, presentment, demand for payment, notice of nonpayment, notice of protest, and all other demands and notices. This Debt Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to and shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debt Security are continued on the reverse side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. First Banks, Inc. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------- Dated: August 31, 2007 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This represents Debt Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. LaSalle Bank National Association, not in its individual capacity but solely as Trustee By: /s/ Greg Myers ------------------------------------ Authorized Signatory Dated: August 31, 2007 REVERSE OF SECURITY This Debt Security is one of a duly authorized series of Debt Securities of the Company, all issued or to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture"), dated as of August 31, 2007, duly executed and delivered between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debt Securities (referred to herein as the "Debt Securities") of which this Debt Security is a part. The summary of the terms of this Debt Security contained herein does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each a "Special Event"), this Debt Security may become due and payable, in whole or in part, at any time, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event, Investment Company Event or Capital Treatment Event (the "Special Redemption Date"), as the case may be, at the Special Redemption Price. The Company shall also have the right to redeem this Debt Security at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on any March 15, June 15, September 15 or December 15 on or after September 15, 2012 (a "Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price. Any redemption pursuant to either of the two preceding paragraphs will be made, subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval from any regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company if such approval is then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of such regulatory authority, upon not less than 30 days' nor more than 60 days' notice. If the Debt Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company, the Debt Securities will be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by any other method utilized by the -------- Trustee. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debt Securities being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest on such Debt Securities to the Redemption Date. "Special Redemption Price" means, with respect to the redemption of any Debt Security following a Special Event, an amount in cash equal to 103.525% of the principal amount of Debt Securities to be redeemed prior to September 15, 2008 and thereafter equal to the percentage of the principal amount of the Debt Securities that is specified below for the Special Redemption Date plus, in each case, unpaid interest accrued thereon to the Special Redemption Date: Special Redemption During the Percentage of Principal ----------------------------- ----------------------- 12-Month Period Beginning September 15 Amount -------------------------------------- ------ 2008 103.140% 2009 102.355% 2010 101.570% 2011 100.785% 2012 and thereafter 100.000% In the event of redemption of this Debt Security in part only, a new Debt Security or Debt Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Securityholder hereof upon the cancellation hereof. In certain cases where an Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debt Securities may be declared, and, in certain cases, shall ipso facto become, due and payable, and upon such declaration of acceleration shall become due and payable, in each case, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding affected thereby, as specified in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other - -------- ------- things, without the consent of the holders of each Debt Security then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the Maturity Date of any Debt Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any redemption premium thereon, or reduce the rate (or manner of calculation of the rate) or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce (other than as a result of the maturity or earlier redemption of any such Debt Security in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Security) or increase the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding, or change any of the redemption provisions, or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than United States Dollars, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debt Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the Securityholders, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture, and its consequences, except (a) a default in payments due in respect of any of the Debt Securities, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants of the Company relating to its ownership of Common Securities of the Trust. Any such consent or waiver by the registered holder of this Debt Security (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Securityholder and upon all future holders and owners of this Debt Security and of any Debt Security issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debt Security. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debt Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay all payments due on this Debt Security at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, this Debt Security is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Debt Security Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Debt Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in Chicago, Illinois accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered holder hereof or such Securityholder's attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debt Securities of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such registration of transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debt Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any transfer agent and the Debt Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debt Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on this Debt Security and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any Paying Agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debt Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debt Security, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released. The Debt Securities are issuable only in registered certificated form without coupons. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations herein and therein set forth, Debt Securities are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Securityholder surrendering the same. All terms used in this Debt Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture. THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBT SECURITIES, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). EX-4 11 fbstxdebt.txt EXHIBIT 4.6 EXHIBIT 4.6 DEBENTURE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT DEBENTURE SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of August 31, 2007 (this "Agreement"), between First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and First Bank Statutory Trust X, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), relating to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities due September 15, 2037 (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures"), issuable pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of August 31, 2007 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and LaSalle Bank National Association, as Trustee. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Purchase Agreement (as defined below). WHEREAS, the Company, the Trust and the Purchaser named therein have entered into a Capital Securities Purchase Agreement, dated August 29, 2007 (the "Purchase Agreement"), in connection with the issuance and sale of trust preferred securities (liquidation amount of $1,000 per security) (the "Capital Securities") by the Trust; and WHEREAS, the Company and the Trust have entered into a Common Securities Subscription Agreement, dated August 31, 2007 (the "Common Securities Subscription Agreement"), in connection with the issuance and sale of Common Securities (liquidation amount of $1,000 per security) (the "Common Securities") by the Trust; and WHEREAS, in connection with the Purchase Agreement and the Common Securities Subscription Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities and Common Securities pursuant thereto, the Trust desires to purchase from the Company, and the Company desires to sell to the Trust, all of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the conditions and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: 1. The Trust hereby subscribes for and offers to purchase from the Company, and the Company hereby accepts such offer and agrees to issue and sell to the Trust, contemporaneous with the Closing Date, Fifteen Million Four Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Dollars ($15,464,000) aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures, in consideration of the payment on or before the date hereof of Fifteen Million Four Hundred Sixty Four Thousand Dollars ($15,464,000) in immediately available funds. 2. The Company represents and warrants that the Junior Subordinated Debentures have been duly authorized and executed by the Company, and, when duly authenticated and delivered to the Trust in accordance with the terms hereof and the Indenture, will constitute the valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). 3. This Agreement shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of law principles. 4. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Debenture Subscription Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first written above. First Banks, Inc. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle --------------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer -------------------------------------- First Bank Statutory Trust X By: /s/ Peter D. Wimmer ----------------------------------------- Name: Peter D. Wimmer Title: Administrator By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: Administrator EX-4 12 fbstxcapsec.txt EXHIBIT 4.7 EXHIBIT 4.7 CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES. UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC TO FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST X OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER SUCH SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON THE HOLDER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A 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 A "NON U.S. PERSON" IN AN "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION" PURSUANT TO REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (D) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT TO AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (a) (1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THE SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN "ACCREDITED INVESTOR," FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (E) PURSUANT TO ANOTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE DEBENTURE ISSUER'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER PURSUANT TO CLAUSES (D) OR (E) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEBENTURE ISSUER OR THE TRUST. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTIONS ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE"), (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER OF THE CERTIFICATE WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. ANY SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED NOT TO BE THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ANY PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE RECEIPT OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THIS SECURITY, AND SUCH PURPORTED TRANSFEREE SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE NO INTEREST WHATSOEVER IN THIS SECURITY. Certificate Number [P-001] Number of Capital Securities: 15,000 CUSIP No. 31927T AA 9 Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust X TP Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust X, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co., as nominee on behalf of the Depository Trust Company (the "Holder"), is the registered owner of 15,000 capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, designated the TP Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of August 31, 2007, among Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, LaSalle National Trust Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, LaSalle Bank National Association, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. First Bank Statutory Trust X By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------- Title: Administrator Dated: August 31, 2007 ------------------------------------- CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION This represents Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. LASALLE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Greg Myers ---------------------------------------- Authorized Signatory Dated: August 31, 2007 ------------------------------------- REVERSE OF SECURITY Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at a variable per annum rate of interest, reset quarterly, equal to LIBOR (as defined in the Declaration) plus 2.30% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Capital Security (provided, however, that the Coupon Rate for any Distribution Payment Period may not exceed the highest rate permitted by New York law, as the same may be modified by United States law of general applicability), such Coupon Rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears for more than one quarterly period will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the then applicable Coupon Rate for each such quarterly period (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions, any such compounded distributions and any Additional Interest payable on the Debentures unless otherwise stated. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds legally available in the Property Account therefor. The amount of Distributions payable for any period shall be computed for any full quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year and the actual number of days elapsed in the relevant Distribution Payment Period. Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2007 (each, a "Distribution Payment Date"). Subject to prior submission of Notice (as defined in the Indenture), and so long as no Event of Default pursuant to paragraphs (c), (e), (f) or (g) of Section 5.01 of the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest distribution period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each, an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable (except any Additional Interest that may be due and payable). During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest (such accrued interest and interest thereon referred to herein as "Deferred Interest") will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Coupon Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such Deferred Interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law. No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all Deferred Interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures; provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the -------- ------- Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period; provided, that such period together with all such -------- previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date, Redemption Date (to the extent redeemed) or Special Redemption Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Deferred Interest (except any Additional Amounts that may be due and payable) shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but Deferred Interest shall accrue upon each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period until such installment is paid. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds legally available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: - ----------------------- - ----------------------- - ----------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) - ----------------------- - ----------------------- - ----------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee), and irrevocably appoints ------------------------------------------------------- as agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for it, him or her. Date: ----------------------------------- Signature: ------------------------------ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 ----------------------------- - --------------------- 1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings an loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EX-4 13 fbstixindent.txt EXHIBIT 4.8 EXHIBIT 4.8 =============================================== FIRST BANKS, INC., as Issuer INDENTURE Dated as of September 20, 2007 WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES DUE 2037 ===============================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Page ---- ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS........................................................................................1 Section 1.1. Definitions............................................................................1 ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES........................................................................................8 Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating..............................................................8 Section 2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication........................................8 Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures....................................................9 Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures................................................................9 Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures....................................9 Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.......................................11 Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures..................................................................12 Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest...........................................12 Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc..................................................13 Section 2.10. Computation of Interest...............................................................14 Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period..................................................15 Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers.........................................................................15 ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.............................................................16 Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures........16 Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.................................................17 Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office....................................17 Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent..........................................................18 Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee................................................................18 Section 3.6. Additional Sums.......................................................................19 Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions..............................................19 Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends...............................................................19 Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust.............................................................19 Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness........................................................20 Section 3.11. Subsidiary; Insured Depository Institution............................................20 ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE................................20 Section 4.1. Securityholders' Lists................................................................20 Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists..................................................20 Section 4.3. Reports by the Company................................................................21 ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT..............................22 Section 5.1. Events of Default.....................................................................22 Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.......................................23 Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee............................................25 Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders........................................................25 Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee................................................................26 Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver....................26 Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders........26 Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults....................................................................27 Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs..............................................................27 ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE...........................................................................27 Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee................................................27 Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc..................................................28 Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc...................................................29 Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures..........................................................29 Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust............................................................29 Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee..................................................29 Section 6.7. Officers' Certificate as Evidence.....................................................30 Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee................................................................30 Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.....................................................31 Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.......................................................32 Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc.............................................................32 Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents.................................................................33 ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS..................................................................34 Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders.............................................................34 Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.................................................34 Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners........................................................34 Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding....................................35 Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound..........................................35 ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS......................................................................35 Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings..................................................................35 Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee...........................................................36 Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders........................................36 Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting.............................................................36 Section 8.5. Regulations...........................................................................36 Section 8.6. Voting................................................................................36 Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions.......................................................................37 ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES..........................................................................37 Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders............................37 Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders...............................39 Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.....................................................39 Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures................................................................40 Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee...........40 ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES..........................................................................40 Section 10.1. Optional Redemption...................................................................40 Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption..............................................................40 Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.........................................40 Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption...........................................41 ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE................................................41 Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.......................................41 Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted....................................................42 Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.............................................42 ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.........................................................42 Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture................................................................42 Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.......................................43 Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.....................................................43 Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys............................................................43 ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS................................43 Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.................................43 ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS........................................................................44 Section 14.1. Successors............................................................................44 Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity.....................................................44 Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers...........................................................44 Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc............................................................44 Section 14.5. Governing Law.........................................................................44 Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......................................44 Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc......................................................45 Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts.............................................................45 Section 14.9. Separability..........................................................................45 Section 14.10. Assignment............................................................................45 Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights..............................................................45 ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES......................................................................45 Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate..............................................................45 Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness........................................................46 Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy..................................................46 Section 15.4. Subrogation...........................................................................47 Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination...................................................48 Section 15.6. Notice by the Company.................................................................48 Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.................................49 Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.....................................................49 Exhibit A Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Exhibit B Form of Certificate to Trustee Exhibit C Form of Quarterly Report
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of September 20, 2007, between First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a ------- Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the "Trustee"). ------- WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037 (the "Debentures") under this Indenture to provide, ---------- among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed; NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth: In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS ----------- Section 1.1. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.1 ----------- (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Acceleration Event of Default" means an Event of Default under Section ------------------------------ 5.1(a), (d), (e) or (f), whatever the reason for such Acceleration Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body. "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. ------------------- "Additional Junior Indebtedness" means, without duplication and other ------------------------------- than the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability -------- ------- of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines. "Additional Sums" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6. --------------- "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Authenticating Agent" means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at -------------------- the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12. "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or -------------- state law for the relief of debtors. "Board of Directors" means the board of directors or the executive -------------------- committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the ----------------- Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other ------------ day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Capital Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets ------------------- of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of - -------- ------- Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. "Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement that the ------------------------------ Company enters into with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust. "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust ----------------------- of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital adequacy guidelines, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the -------- ------- Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the -------- ------- ------- distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Certificate" means a certificate signed by any one of the principal ----------- executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets ----------------- of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of - -------- ------- Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. "Company" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and, subject ------- to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns. "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8. ----------- "Debenture" or "Debentures" has the meaning stated in the first recital --------- of this Indenture. "Debenture Register" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5. ------------------ "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the ----------- Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time. "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of ------- time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8. ------------------ "Distribution Period" means (i) with respect to interest paid on the -------------------- first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date. "Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. ------------------ "Event of Default" means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued ---------------- for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. ---------------- "Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve ---------------- System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding companies. "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended --------- or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both. "Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration. --------------------- "Interest Payment Date" means March 15, June 15, September 15 and ----------------------- December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing in December 2007. "Interest Rate" means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and -------------- including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 the rate per annum of 7.94438%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Company and the -------------------------- Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures. "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust ------------------- Security. "Maturity Date" means December 15, 2037. ------------- "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of ---------------------- the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal -------------------- counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal --- agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies. The term "outstanding," when used with reference to Debentures, means, ----------- subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except: (a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; (b) Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that, if such Debentures, or portions -------- ------- thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course. "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, ------ partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Predecessor Security" of any particular Debenture means every previous --------------------- Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture. "Principal Office of the Trustee," or other similar term, means the --------------------------------- office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. --------------- "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures ----------------- being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer -------------------- within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Reuters Page LIBOR01" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. -------------------- "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time --------------- to time or any successor legislation. "Securityholder," "holder of Debentures," or other similar terms, means -------------- any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof. "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the -------------------- principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker's acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness. "Special Event" means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment -------------- Company Event or a Tax Event. "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2. ----------------------- "Special Redemption Price" means the price set forth in the following -------------------------- table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed: - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Month in which Special Special Redemption Price ---------------------- ------------------------ Redemption Date Occurs ---------------------- - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2007 104.625% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2008 104.300% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2008 104.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2008 103.650% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2008 103.350% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2009 103.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2009 102.700% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2009 102.350% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2009 102.050% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2010 101.700% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2010 101.400% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2010 101.050% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2010 100.750% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2011 100.450% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2011 100.200% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2011 and thereafter 100.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date. "Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at ---------- least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion --------- of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an "Administrative Action") or judicial decision ---------------------- interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. "3-Month LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. ------------- "Trust" shall mean First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a Delaware statutory ----- trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor. "Trust Securities" means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the ---------------- Trust. "Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the provisions ------- of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES ---------- Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating. Upon the execution and -------------------------- delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $25,774,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon: (a) a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and (b) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state: (1) that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and (2) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture. The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders. The definitive Debentures shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their execution of such Debentures. Section 2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. The ------------------------------------------------- Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form: This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By --------------------------------------------------- Authorized Signer Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures. The Debentures ------------------------------------- shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures. The Debentures shall be signed ----------------------- in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer. Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication. Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures. ------------------------------------------------------ The Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the "Debenture Register") for the Debentures issued hereunder in ------------------- which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law: THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures. In --------------------------------------------------- case any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof. Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender. Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures. Pending the preparation of ---------------------- definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder. Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest. Interest -------------------------------------------- at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum of 7.94438%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal ----------- thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007. Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be ------------------- payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable. The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided, however, the Trustee in its sole -------- ------- discretion deems such payment method to be practical. Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debentures. The term "regular record date" as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 15th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture. Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc. All Debentures ------------------------------------- surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Section 2.10. Computation of Interest. The amount of interest payable ----------------------- for each Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). (a) "3-Month LIBOR" means the London interbank offered interest rate ------------- for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). "Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits; (2) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (3) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. (b) The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. (c) "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking ------------------- Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined. (d) The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period. (e) Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion. Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period. So long as no --------------------------------------- Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period ----------------- no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of -------------------- any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, -------- however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided - ------- -------- further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not - ------- ------- and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's or such Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (f) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (g) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders. Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debentures ------------- may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shalluse CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no -------- ------- representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers. ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY ----------------------------------- Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed ------------------------------------------------------- Treatment of the Debentures. - --------------------------- (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee. (b) The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income tax purposes. (c) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period. (d) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company's ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures. Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. So long as any --------------------------------------- of the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee. In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in -------- ------- any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof. Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office. The -------------------------------------------------- Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder. Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent. ---------------------------- (a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4, (1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures; (2) that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and (3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent. (b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act. (c) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained. (d) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4. Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee. The Company will deliver to the ---------------------- Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof. A form of this Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit B. --------- Section 3.6. Additional Sums. If and for so long as the Trust is ---------------- the holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts ("Additional Sums") on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net ---------------- amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however, -------- ------- that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable. Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions. The Company ----------------------------------------- will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with. Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends. If Debentures are initially ----------------------- issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust. For so long as the Trust --------------------------- Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the -------- ------- Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures. Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness. The Company shall not, ------------------------------ and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company. Section 3.11. Subsidiary; Insured Depository Institution. So long as ------------------------------------------ any of the Debentures remain outstanding, at least one operating Subsidiary of the Company shall be an insured depository institution, as such term is defined in Section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended. ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS ---------------------------------- BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE ------------------------------ Section 4.1. Securityholders' Lists. The Company covenants and ----------------------- agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee: (a) on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar. Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. ------------------------------------ (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. (b) In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either: (1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application. If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application. (c) Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b). Section 4.3. Reports by the Company. ---------------------- (a) The Company shall furnish to the holders of the Capital Securities and to prospective purchasers of the Capital Securities, upon their request, the information required to be furnished pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. (b) The Company shall furnish to (i) Wilmington Trust Company, with a copy to FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and (ii) any beneficial owner of the Capital Securities reasonably identified to the Company upon their request, a completed quarterly report in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, which report shall be so furnished by the Company not later --------- than 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company and not later than 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company along with a copy of the Company's most recently filed (1) FR Y-9C filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a bank holding company, (2) FR Y-9SP filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a small bank holding company or (3) H-(b)11 filed with the OTS if the Company is a savings and loan holding company. ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ------------------------------------------- UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT ------------------------ Section 5.1. Events of Default. "Event of Default," wherever used ----------------- herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (a) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or (b) the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or (c) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (d) a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (e) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or (f) the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration. If an Acceleration Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise. The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein -- then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken. Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor. The ------------------------------------------------- Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable. In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, (i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures, (ii) in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, (iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and (iv) to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses. Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding. All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings. Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys ------------------------------------------- collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6; Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV; Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and Fourth: The balance, if any, to the Company. Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders. No holder of any -------------------------------- Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity. Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default ---------------------- hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission ------------------------------------------------------- not a Waiver. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and - ----------- remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders. Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by ------------------------------------------------------- Majority of Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal - ---------------------------- amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debentures; provided, -------- however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have - ------- the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided, however, that if the -------- ------- Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days ------------------ after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment -------- ------- of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders. Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture ------------------------ agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of -------- ------- this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable. ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE ---------------------- Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. With respect to -------------------------------------- the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: (a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred (1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and (2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; (b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture. None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it. Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Except as otherwise ------------------------------------- provided in Section 6.1: (a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; (c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel; (d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; (e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs; (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided, however, that if the payment -------- ------- within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding; (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care; and (h) with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or (b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures. Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals -------------------------------------- contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer ------------------------------------------------------- Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent - -------------------------------------- or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar. Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions -------------------------- of Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company ---------------------------------------- covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee's counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), (e) or (f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company. Section 6.7. Officers' Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise --------------------------------- provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof. Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at ---------------------- all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of ss. 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture. Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee --------------------------------- (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company's expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee. (b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur -- (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee. (c) Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor. (d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10. Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee ------------------------------- appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6. If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8. In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder. Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company. Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. Any corporation into which ------------------------- the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such -------- corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the -------- ------- right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation. Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents. There may be one or more ----------------------- Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the -------- ------- Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section. Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein. The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee. ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS ------------------------------ Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture ------------------------- it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory. If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement -------- ------- or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date. Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the --------------------------------------- provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary. The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6. Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. Prior to due ----------------------------------- presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding. In --------------------------------------------------- determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided, however, that for the purposes of -------- ------- determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any --------------------------------------------- time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor. ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS ------------------------- Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders may -------------------- be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes: (a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V; (b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI; (c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or (d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law. Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any --------------------------- time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. In case ---------------------------------------------- at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2. Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at ------------------------- any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel. Section 8.5. Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of ----------- this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit. The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or -------- ------- counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice. Section 8.6. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any ------ meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated. Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions. The Persons entitled to vote a ---------------- majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided, however, that if any action -------- ------- is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided, however, that, except as limited by the provisos in the -------- ------- first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting. ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES ----------------------- Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of ------------------------------------------------------- Securityholders. The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the - --------------- Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes: (a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI hereof; (b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, -------- however, that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or - ------- condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default; (c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially -------- adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures; (d) to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided, -------- however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the - ------- holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures); (e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; (f) to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or (g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures. The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2. Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of ------------------------------------------------------- Securityholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the - --------------- holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental -------- ------- indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided -------- further, however, that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of - ------- ------- such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the consent of -------- ------- ------- the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution ---------------------------------- of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes. Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures. Debentures authenticated and ---------------------- delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding. Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be ------------------------------------------------------- Furnished to Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and - -------------------- 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof. ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES ------------------------ Section 10.1. Optional Redemption. The Company shall have the right ------------------- (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012 (the "Redemption Date"), at the Redemption Price. Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption. If a Special Event shall ------------------------ occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "Special Redemption Date") ------------------------- at the Special Redemption Price. Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures. In case --------------------------------------------- the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture. Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption. If notice ------------------------------------------- of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented. ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE ------------------------------------------------- Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. ------------------------------------------------------ Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the Company hereby covenants and -------- ------- agrees that, upon any such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property. Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted. In case of any such ---------------------------------- consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee. The Trustee, ----------------------------------------- subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI. ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE --------------------------------------- Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture. When ---------------------- (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or b) all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures. Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. ------------------------------------------------------ Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest. Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held. Upon the ------------------------------------------- satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys. Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited with --------------------------- or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease. ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, ---------------------------------------- OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ---------------------- Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations. ------------------------------------------------------ No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ------------------------ Section 14.1. Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises ---------- and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity. Any act or ---------------------------------------- proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company. Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers. The Company by instrument --------------------------- in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor. Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc. Any notice, consent, ----------------------------- direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042, Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register. Section 14.5. Governing Law. This Indenture and each Debenture shall ------------- be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof. Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Upon ------------------------------------------------ any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents -------------------------------- and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be -------------------------- executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 14.9. Separability. In case any one or more of the ------------ provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein. Section 14.10. Assignment. The Company will have the right at all ---------- times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto. Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights. The Company agrees that, with ------------------------ respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES --------------------------- Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and ------------------------ agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided, however, that the -------- ------- Debentures shall rank pari passu in all material respects with any current indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) issued to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company. No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder. Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness. In the event and -------------------------------- during the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment ------------------------------------- by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture. Section 15.4. Subrogation. Subject to the payment in full of all ----------- Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV. Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each ------------------------------------------------ Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Section 15.6. Notice by the Company. The Company shall give prompt --------------------- written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice -------- ------- provided for in this Section at least 2 Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness. ------------------------------------------------------ The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6. Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired. No right of any ------------------------------------- present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC. By /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By /s/ Christopher J. Monigle ------------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Monigle Title: Vice President EXHIBIT A FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc. September 20, 2007 First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company" which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Holder") or registered assigns, the principal sum of twenty-five million seven hundred seventy-four thousand dollars ($25,774,000.00) on December 15, 2037, and to pay interest on said principal sum from September 20, 2007, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made by check -------- ------- mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee. So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no -------- ------- Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, -------- ------- ------- that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANKS, INC. By ------------------------------------- Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Officer [FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE] This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 20, 2007 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price. In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals. In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall -------- ------- without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, -------- ------- that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company. THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. EXHIBIT B FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between First Banks, Inc., as the Company (the "Company"), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 20, 2007 (the "Indenture"), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows: 1. In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture. 2. [To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture. or, alternatively: I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.] Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate. Date: ------------------------------ Name: Title: EXHIBIT C FORM OF QUARTERLY REPORT Wilmington Trust Company 1100 N. Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration - PreTSL e-mail: cslaybaugh@wilmingtontrust.com BANK HOLDING COMPANY As of [March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31], 20__ Tier 1 to Risk Weighted Assets _________% Ratio of Double Leverage _________% Non-Performing Assets to Loans and OREO _________% Ratio of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans _________% Ratio of Net Charge-Offs to Loans _________% Return on Average Assets (annualized)** _________% Net Interest Margin (annualized)** _________% Efficiency Ratio _________% Ratio of Loans to Assets _________% Ratio of Loans to Deposits _________% Total Assets $__________ Year to Date Income $__________ - ------------------- *A table describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page C-2 ** To annualize Return on Average Assets and Net Interest Margin do the following: 1st Quarter-multiply income statement item by 4, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 2nd Quarter-multiply income statement item by 2, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 3rd Quarter-divide income statement item by 3, then multiply by 4, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 4th Quarter-should already be an annual number NO ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO BALANCE SHEET ITEMS cc: FTN Financial Capital Markets Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor Memphis, Tennessee 38117 New York, New York 10019 Attention: Structured Finance Group Attention: Mitchell Kleinman, e-mail: jenny.pembroke@ftnfinancial.com General Counsel e-mail: mkleinman@kbw.com Financial Definitions - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Report Item Description of Calculation - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- "Tier 1 Capital" to Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/ Risk Weighted Assets Risk-Adjusted Assets - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Double Total equity investments in subsidiaries divided Leverage by the total equity capital. This field is calculated at the parent company level. "Subsidiaries" include bank, bank holding company, and nonbank subsidiaries. - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Non-Performing Assets Total Nonperforming Assets (NPLs+Foreclosed Real to Loans and OREO Estate+Other Nonaccrual & Repossessed Assets)/ Total Loans + Foreclosed Real Estate - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Reserves to Total Loan Loss and Allocated Transfer Risk Non-Performing Loans Reserves/ Total Nonperforming Loans (Nonaccrual + Restructured) - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Net Charge- Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of Offs to Loans average loans. - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Return on Assets Net Income as a percentage of Assets. - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Net Interest Margin (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available / Average Earning Assets) - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Efficiency Ratio (Noninterest Expense)/ (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available, plus Noninterest Income) - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Loans to Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Assets Gross of Reserve)/ Total Assets - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Loans to Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Deposits Gross of Reserve)/ Total Deposits (Includes Domestic and Foreign Deposits) - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Total Assets The sum of total assets. Includes cash and balances due from depository institutions; securities; federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell; loans and lease financing receivables; trading assets; premises and fixed assets; other real estate owned; investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies; customer's liability on acceptances outstanding; intangible assets ; and other assets. - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- Net Income The sum of income (loss) before extraordinary items and other adjustments and extraordinary items; and other adjustments, net of income taxes. - ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------------- EX-4 14 fbstixamend.txt EXHIBIT 4.9 EXHIBIT 4.9 ===================================== AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST by and among WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Delaware Trustee, WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Institutional Trustee, FIRST BANKS, INC., as Sponsor, and TERRANCE M. MCCARTHY, PETER D. WIMMER and LISA K. VANSICKLE, as Administrators, Dated as of September 20, 2007 =====================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Page ---- ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS......................................................................1 Section 1.1. Definitions............................................................................1 ----------- ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION.......................................................................................7 Section 2.1. Name...................................................................................7 ---- Section 2.2. Office.................................................................................7 ------ Section 2.3. Purpose................................................................................7 ------- Section 2.4. Authority..............................................................................8 --------- Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust.........................................................8 ------------------------------ Section 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators...............................8 -------------------------------------------------------- Section 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.....................11 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee........................................12 ---------------------------------------------- Section 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and Administrators................13 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee...............................................14 --------------------------------------- Section 2.11. Delaware Trustee......................................................................16 ---------------- Section 2.12. Execution of Documents................................................................17 ---------------------- Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................17 ------------------------------------------------------ Section 2.14. Duration of Trust.....................................................................17 ----------------- Section 2.15. Mergers...............................................................................17 ------- ARTICLE III SPONSOR..........................................................................................18 Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities...............................................18 --------------------------------------- Section 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor.......................................................18 ------------------------------- Section 3.3. Expenses..............................................................................19 -------- Section 3.4. Right to Proceed......................................................................19 ---------------- ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS..........................................................19 Section 4.1. Number of Trustees....................................................................19 ------------------ Section 4.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility.........................................................20 ----------------------------- Section 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility....................................................20 ---------------------------------- Section 4.4. Administrators........................................................................20 -------------- Section 4.5. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators...................21 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 4.6. Vacancies Among Trustees..............................................................22 ------------------------ Section 4.7. Effect of Vacancies...................................................................22 ------------------- Section 4.8. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators.......................................22 ----------------------------------------------- Section 4.9. Delegation of Power...................................................................23 ------------------- Section 4.10. Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business...................................23 --------------------------------------------------- ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS......................................................................................23 Section 5.1. Distributions.........................................................................23 ------------- ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES............................................................................23 Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities...............................................23 --------------------------------------- Section 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................24 ------------------------------------------ Section 6.3. Form and Dating.......................................................................25 --------------- Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.....................................25 ------------------------------------------------- Section 6.5. Temporary Securities..................................................................25 -------------------- Section 6.6. Cancellation..........................................................................25 ------------ Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults...........................................26 ------------------------------------------- ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST.............................................................27 Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust..................................................27 ------------------------------------ ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTEREST............................................................................28 Section 8.1. General...............................................................................28 ------- Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions..................................................29 ------------------------------------ Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders...............................................................31 ----------------------- ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS.................31 Section 9.1. Liability.............................................................................31 --------- Section 9.2. Exculpation...........................................................................31 ----------- Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty........................................................................32 -------------- Section 9.4. Indemnification.......................................................................32 --------------- Section 9.5. Outside Businesses....................................................................34 ------------------ Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee.....................................................................34 ----------------- ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING.........................................................................................35 Section 10.1. Fiscal Year...........................................................................35 ----------- Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters............................................................35 -------------------------- Section 10.3. Banking...............................................................................36 ------- Section 10.4. Withholding...........................................................................36 ----------- ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS...........................................................................36 Section 11.1. Amendments............................................................................36 ---------- Section 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent......................38 ---------------------------------------------------------------- ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE................................39 Section 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee...............................39 ------------------------------------------------------- Section 12.2. Representations of the Delaware Trustee...............................................39 --------------------------------------- ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS...................................................................................40 Section 13.1. Notices...............................................................................40 ------- Section 13.2. Governing Law.........................................................................41 ------------- Section 13.3. Intention of the Parties..............................................................41 ------------------------ Section 13.4. Headings..............................................................................41 -------- Section 13.5. Successors and Assigns................................................................41 ---------------------- Section 13.6. Partial Enforceability................................................................41 ---------------------- Section 13.7. Counterparts..........................................................................42 ------------ Annex I................Terms of Securities Exhibit A-1............Form of Capital Security Certificate Exhibit A-2............Form of Capital Security Certificate Exhibit A-3............Form of Common Security Certificate Exhibit B..............Specimen of Initial Debenture Exhibit C..............Placement Agreement
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX September 20, 2007 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and ----------- effective as of September 20, 2007, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust (as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration; WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor established First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), a statutory trust under the ----- Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein) pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of August 20, 2007 (the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust --------------------- filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on August 20, 2007, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain debentures of the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein); WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; and WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration; NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration. The parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.1. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires: ----------- (a) Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified; and (e) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Acceleration Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in the -------------------------------- Indenture. "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------- "Administrative Action" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ---------------------- Annex I. "Administrators" means each of Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and -------------- Lisa K. Vansickle, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Trust created and continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or such Administrator's successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to ------------------- bind such Person. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: ---------------- (a) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) such Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other ------------- day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(a) of ------------------- Annex I. "Capital Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate in fully ----------------------------- registered form representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2. "Capital Treatment Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ----------------------- Annex I. "Certificate" means any certificate evidencing Securities. ----------- "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Placement Agreement. ------------ "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to ---- time, or any successor legislation. "Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(b) of Annex ----------------- I. "Common Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate in fully ---------------------------- registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3. "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrator; (b) any ---------------------------- Affiliate of any Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Institutional Trustee ---------------------- at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Declaration is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration. "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I. ----------- "Covered Person" means: (a) any Administrator, officer, director, --------------- shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) any of the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities. "Creditor" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3. -------- "Debenture Issuer" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, ----------------- in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture. "Debenture Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under the ----------------- Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee. "Debentures" means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable ---------- Interest Debentures due 2037 to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------ "Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2. ---------------- "Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ------------------- Annex I. "Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(d). ------------- "Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in ------------ accordance with Section 5.1. "Distribution Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) -------------------------- of Annex I. "Distribution Period" means (i) with respect to the Distribution paid on ------------------- the first Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to a Distribution paid on each successive Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Distribution Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Distribution Payment Date. "Distribution Rate" means, for the Distribution Period beginning on ----------------- (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, the rate per annum of 7.94438%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the ---------------- reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (a) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or (b) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of any Security when it becomes due and payable; or (c) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Institutional Trustee in this Declaration (other than those specified in clause (a) or (b) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail to the Institutional Trustee and to the Sponsor by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (d) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Institutional Trustee if a successor Institutional Trustee has not been appointed within 90 days thereof. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) of Annex ----------------- I. "Federal Reserve" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. --------------- "Fiduciary Indemnified Person" shall mean each of the Institutional ------------------------------ Trustee (including in its individual capacity), the Delaware Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee and any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee. "Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. ----------- "Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of the Closing --------- Date, of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities. "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a ------ Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust Act. "Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary ------------------- Indemnified Person. "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date, between --------- the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture and any supplemental indenture may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in --------------------------- the Indenture. "Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility ---------------------- requirements set forth in Section 4.3. "Interest" means any interest due on the Debentures including any -------- Additional Interest and Defaulted Interest. "Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the ------------------- Investment Company Act. "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as ----------------------- amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Investment Company Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) -------------------------- of Annex I. "Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. ----------- "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of ------------------------- Annex I. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holder(s) of --------------------------------------------------- outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Officers' Certificates" means, with respect to any Person, a ------------------------ certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant providing for it in this Declaration shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "OTS" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. --- "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2. ------------ "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, ------ estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Placement Agreement" means the Placement Agreement relating to the -------------------- offering and sale of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C. "Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c). ---------------- "Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I. -------- "Quorum" means a majority of the Administrators or, if there are only ------ two Administrators, both of them. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex ---------------- I. "Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning set forth in paragraph ------------------------------- 4(e) of Annex I. "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex ----------------- I. "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. --------- "Relevant Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a). ---------------- "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, ------------------- any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in Section ------------------------------ 8.2(b). "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act. --------- "Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act. --------- "Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities. ---------- "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time --------------- to time, or any successor legislation. "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ----------------------- Annex I. "Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) -------------------------- of Annex I. "Sponsor" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, or any ------- successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust. "Statutory Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, ------------------- 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq. as may be amended from time to time. "Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). ---------------- "Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section ---------------------------- 4.5(e). "Successor Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section --------------------------------- 4.5(b). "Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). -------------------- "Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex I. -------------- "Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. --------- "10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holder(s) of ------------------------------------------------ outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "3-Month LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. -------------- "Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including --------------------- temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations). "Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, --------------- or owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Declaration. "Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this ------- -- -------- Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder. "U.S. Person" means a United States Person as defined in Section ------------ 7701(a)(30) of the Code. ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION Section 2.1. Name. The Trust is named "First Bank Statutory Trust ---- IX," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the Holders of the Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrators. Section 2.2. Office. The address of the principal office of the ------ Trust is c/o Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600. On at least 10 Business Days written notice to the Holders of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office, which shall be in a state of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Section 2.3. Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of the ------- Trust are (a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (b) to invest the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust through issuance of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities and (d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. Section 2.4. Authority. Except as specifically provided in this --------- Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration. The Administrators shall have only those ministerial duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be obligated except as provided in Section 2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators. Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust. Except as provided in -------------------------------- Section 2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. Section 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the ------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees and the Administrators shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Institutional Trustee to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this Declaration, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: (i) Each Administrator shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the issuance and sale of the Securities; (B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including agreements with the Paying Agent; (C) ensuring compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws; (D) the sending of notices (other than notices of default), and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration; (E) the consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in accordance with this Declaration, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; (F) execution and delivery of the Securities in accordance with this Declaration; (G) execution and delivery of closing certificates pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the application for a taxpayer identification number; (H) unless otherwise determined by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrators) any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute pursuant to this Declaration; (I) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); (J) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; and (K) to duly prepare and file all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust on behalf of the Trust. (ii) As among the Trustees and the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the establishment of the Property Account; (B) the receipt of the Debentures; (C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the Property Account; (D) the distribution through the Paying Agentof amounts owed to the Holders in respect of the Securities; (E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures; (F) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration; (G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Declaration; (H) to the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (I) after any Event of Default (provided that such -------- Event of Default is not by or with respect to the Institutional Trustee) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); and (J) to take all action that may be necessary for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. (iii) The Institutional Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrators set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i)(D), (E) and (F) herein but shall not have a duty to do any such act unless specifically requested to do so in writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in acting pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a conflict between the action of the Administrators and the action of the Institutional Trustee, the action of the Institutional Trustee shall prevail. (b) So long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the Administrators may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected (x) to cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes or (y) to require the trust to register as an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust Property. The Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust, defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders. (c) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) the taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the Securities Act; (ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Administrators of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities; (iii) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Placement Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities; and (iv) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities. (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not (i) be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, and (ii) fail to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes. The Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities shall not take any action inconsistent with the treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable laws, the Certificate of Trust or this Declaration, as amended from time to time, that each of the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes. (e) All expenses incurred by the Administrators or the Trustees pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the Trustees and the Administrators shall have no obligations with respect to such expenses (for purposes of clarification, this Section 2.6(e) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration). (f) The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. (g) Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators for the benefit of the Trust in accordance with this Declaration. (h) If the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Declaration and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted. Section 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the ------------------------------------------------------- Institutional Trustee. - --------------------- (a) The Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to: (i) invest any proceeds received by the Trus from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities; (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein; (iii) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose; (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures; (v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever other than as expressly provided herein; (vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of , or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; (vii) carry on any "trade or business" as that phrase is used in the Code; or (viii) other than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I), (A) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel to the effect that such modification will not cause the Trust to cease to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes. Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee. ---------------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered. (b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware Trustee. (c) The Institutional Trustee shall: (i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the "Property Account") in the name of and under ----------------- under the exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee, and maintained in the Institutional Trustee's trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments, or cause the Paying Agent to make payments, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Account in accordance with Section 5.1. Funds in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration; (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (d) The InstitutionalTrustee may bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action with respect to, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against, the Trust which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge or arises out of the Institutional Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration; provided, however, that -------- ------- if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due -------------- date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided, however, that no Holder of the Common Securities may exercise -------- ------- such right of subrogation so long as an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities has occurred and is continuing. (e) The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until either: (i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this Declaration; or (ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.5. (f) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a Holder of the Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration (including Annex I) and the terms of the Securities. The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3. Section 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and ------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - --------------- (a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (b) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators shall be as provided by this Declaration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require any Trustee or Administrator to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate protection against such risk of liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Declaration relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees or Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this Article. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to relieve an Administrator or a Trustee from liability for its own negligent act, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or an Administrator has duties and liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee or such Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such Trustee's or such Administrator's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Sponsor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustees. (c) All payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees and the Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect of any Security. This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for its own acts or omissions hereunder except as a result of its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; (ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration; (iii) the Institutional Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for its fiduciary accounts generally, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration; (iv) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and (v) the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor. Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee. Subject to ---------------------------------------- the provisions of Section 2.9: (a) the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, opinion of counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the Sponsor requesting the Sponsor's written instructions as to the course of action to be taken and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Institutional Trustee shall be instructed in writing, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence or willful misconduct; (c) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate as to factual matters which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrators; (e) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof; (f) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction; (g) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Institutional Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be -------- taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, subject to Section 2.9(b), upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs; (h) the Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Institutional Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (i) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of, any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; (j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Capital Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Capital Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; (k) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; (l) when the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors rights generally; (m) the Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such event or the Institutional Trustee receives written notice of such event from any Holder, the Sponsor or the Debenture Trustee; (n) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or its agent's taking such action; and (o) no provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. Section 2.11 Delaware Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision ---------------- of this Declaration other than Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators described in this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory Trust Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of ss. 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. Section 2.12. Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise determined in ----------------------- writing by the Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or more of the Administrators, as the case may be, is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6. Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of ------------------------------------------------------- Securities. The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall - ---------- be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities. Section 2.14. Duration of Trust. The Trust, unless earlier dissolved ----------------- pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof, shall be in existence for 35 years from the Closing Date. Section 2.15. Mergers. ------- (a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described in Section 2.15(b) and (c) and except in connection with the liquidation of the Trust and the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 4 of Annex I. (b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Institutional Trustee and without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided that: (i) if the Trust is not the surviving entity, such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either: ---------------- (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or (B) substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Securities (the "Successor Securities") so that the Successor Securities rank -------------------- the same as the Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesse substantially the same powers and duties as the Institutional Trustee as the Holder of the Debentures; (iii) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (iv) the Institutional Trustee receives written confirmation from Moody's Investor Services, Inc. and any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization that rates securities issued by the initial purchaser of the Capital Securities that it will not reduce or withdraw the rating of any such securities because of such merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement; (v) such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust; (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust has received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that: (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and (C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes; (vii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee; (viii) the Sponsor owns 100% of the common securities of any Successor Entity; and (ix) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Institutional Trustee shall have received an Officers' Certificate of the Administrators and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent under this Section 2.15(b) to such transaction have been satisfied. (c) Notwithstanding Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE III SPONSOR Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities. On the ------------------------------------------- Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Capital Securities are sold. Section 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor. In connection with ------------------------------- the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the following activities: (a) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify the Trust or to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States, to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which it was created; and (b) to negotiate the terms of and/or execute on behalf of the Trust, the Placement Agreement and other related agreements providing for the sale of the Capital Securities. Section 3.3. Expenses. In connection with the offering, sale and -------- issuance of the Debentures to the Trust and in connection with the sale of the Securities by the Trust, the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, shall: (a) pay all reasonable costs and expenses owing to the Debenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Indenture; (b) be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than with respect to the Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities (including fees to the placement agents in connection therewith), the costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust, including, without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, Paying Agents, Registrars, Transfer Agents, duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets and the enforcement by the Institutional Trustee of the rights of the Holders (for purposes of clarification, this Section 3.3(b) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration); and (c) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust. The Sponsor's obligations under this Section 3.3 shall be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any Person to whom such debts, obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not -------- such Creditor has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may enforce the Sponsor's obligations under this Section 3.3 directly against the Sponsor and the Sponsor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Sponsor. The Sponsor agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 3.3. Section 3.4. Right to Proceed. The Sponsor acknowledges the rights ------------------ of Holders to institute a Direct Action as set forth in Section 2.8(d) hereto. ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS Section 4.1. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall ------------------ initially be two, and; (a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and (b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holder of the Common Securities; provided, however, that there shall be a Delaware Trustee -------- ------- if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always be one Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements, in which case Section 2.11 shall have no application to such entity in its capacity as Institutional Trustee. Section 4.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility -----------------------------. (a) If required by the Statutory Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be: (i) a natural person at least 21 years of age who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or (ii) if not a natural person, an entity which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, including ss. 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. (b) The initial Delaware Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company. Section 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility. ---------------------------------- (a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; (ii) not offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; and (iii) be a banking corporation or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.5. (c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Declaration. (d) The initial Institutional Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company. Section 4.4. Administrators. Each Administrator shall be a U.S. -------------- Person, 21 years of age or older and authorized to bind the Sponsor. The initial Administrators shall be Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle. There shall at all times be at least one Administrator. Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrators is expressly set forth in this Declaration and except with respect to any action the taking of which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Administrators may be taken by, and any power of the Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrator. Section 4.5. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and ------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant -------- Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article - ------- shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. (b) Subject to Section 4.5(a), a Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities and by appointing a successor Relevant Trustee. Upon the resignation of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the lowest expense and charges (the "Successor Institutional Trustee"). If the --------------------------------- instrument of acceptance by the successor Relevant Trustee required by this Section 4.5 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Trust, any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of such successor pursuant to this Section 4.5. (c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of the Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed by the act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by this Section 4.5 within 30 days after delivery of an instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders and to the Sponsor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Institutional Trustee. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration, in the event a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or is adjudged by a court to have become incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the Institutional Trustee following the procedures in this Section 4.5 (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for a Delaware Trustee set forth in this Declaration) (the "Successor Delaware ------------------- Trustee"). - ------- (f) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities and the Trust subject to the payment of all unpaid fees, expenses and indemnities of such retiring Relevant Trustee. (g) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be. (h) The Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Holders of the Common Securities. (i) Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware identifying the name and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware. Section 4.6. Vacancies Among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to hold ------------------------ office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 4.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.5. Section 4.7. Effect of Vacancies. The death, resignation, --------------------- retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5, the Institutional Trustee shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration. Section 4.8. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators. ------------------------------------------------------ Meetings of the Administrators shall be held from time to time upon the call of an Administrator. Regular meetings of the Administrators may be held in person in the United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time fixed by resolution of the Administrators. Notice of any in-person meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where the Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the grounds that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Trustees or the Administrators. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators together shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or an Administrator. Section 4.9. Delegation of Power. ------------------- (a) Any Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is a U.S. Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.6; and (b) the Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrators or otherwise as the Administrators may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 4.10. Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. ------------------------------------------------------ Any Person into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article and, provided --------, further, that such Person shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust - ------- with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as contemplated in Section 4.5(i). ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS Section 5.1. Distributions. Holders shall receive Distributions in ------------ accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of Interest or any principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of such amounts to Holders. ------------ ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities. --------------------------------------- (a) The Administrators shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one series of capital securities substantially in the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2 representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I and one series of common securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I. The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Capital Securities rank pari passu to, and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I. (b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any Administrator. In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Administrator, and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrator. A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the facsimile or manual signature of an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this Declaration. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrator, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue. The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Capital Securities. A Common Security need not be so authenticated. (c) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. (d) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and, except as provided in Section 9.1(b) with respect to the Common Securities, non-assessable. (e) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration and the Guarantee. Section 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trust ------------------------------------------- shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Capital Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"), and an office or ------------ agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange (the "Transfer Agent"). The Trust shall keep or cause to be kept at --------------- such office or agency a register for the purpose of registering Securities, transfers and exchanges of Securities, such register to be held by a registrar (the "Registrar"). The Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the Registrar and the Transfer Agent and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents or one or more co-Registrars, or one or more co Transfer Agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent, the term "Registrar" includes any additional registrar --------- or co Registrar and the term "Transfer Agent" includes any additional transfer agent. The Administrators may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice to any Holder. The Administrators shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar not a party to this Declaration. The Administrators hereby initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Institutional Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar. Section 6.3. Form and Dating. The Capital Securities and the --------------- Institutional Trustee's certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2, and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Declaration. Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof. The Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Sponsor). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 to the Institutional Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security shall be dated on or before the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1, A-2 and A-3 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. Capital Securities will be issued only in blocks having a stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. The Capital Securities are being offered and sold by the Trust pursuant to the Placement Agreement in definitive, registered form without coupons and with the Restricted Securities Legend. Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. ------------------------------------------------- If: (a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar, or if the Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and (b) there shall be delivered to the Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them harmless; then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and in the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate) and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.4, the Registrar or the Administrators may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 6.5. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are -------------------- ready for delivery, the Administrators may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Administrators consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Administrators shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Section 6.6. Cancellation. The Administrators at any time may ------------ deliver Securities to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional Trustee any Securities surrendered to it for registration of transfer, redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall promptly cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities as the Administrators direct. The Administrators may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation. Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults. ------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration. The Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights. (b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if upon an Acceleration Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails to annul any such declaration and waive such default, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, by written notice to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Debenture Issuer has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the Debentures, (B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Debentures, (C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and counsel; and (ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.7 of the Indenture. The Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture or any Indenture Event of Default, except a default or Indenture Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on the Debentures (unless such default or Indenture Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default under the Indenture or an Indenture Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon. Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Capital Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Institutional Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.7. (c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.7, the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust. ----------------------------------- (a) The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of: (i) unless earlier dissolved, on December 15, 2042, the expiration of the term of the Trust; (ii) upon a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (iii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor (other than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be) or upon the revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof; (iv) upon the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities, upon exercise of the right of the Holder of all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I hereto; (v) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (vi) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; or (vii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Trustees and the Sponsor. (b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including of the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to the terms set forth in Annex I, the Institutional Trustee shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. (c) The provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive the termination of the Trust. ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS Section 8.1. General. ------- (a) Subject to Section 8.1(c), where Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Trust shall issue and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request. (b) Upon issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the -------- ------- Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, under the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities. (c) Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be of no legal effect whatsoever and any such transferee shall be deemed not to be the holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including but not limited to the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities. (d) The Registrar shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Securities, the Registrar shall cause one or more new Securities of the same tenor to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Every Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6. A transferee of a Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Security. By acceptance of a Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration. (e) The Trust shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Securities to be redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions. ------------------------------------ (a) The Capital Securities shall bear the Restricted Securities Legend, which shall not be removed unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Institutional Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Institutional Trustee, at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver Capital Securities that do not bear the legend. (b) Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities Legend") in substantially the ------------------------------ following form and a Capital Security shall not be transferred except in compliance with such legend, unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law: THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. (c) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request. (d) Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be effected without charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar or the Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to it. (e) All Capital Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders. The Trust, the Administrators, ----------------------- the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof. ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS Section 9.1. Liability. --------- (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Guarantee and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be: (i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; or (ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise. (b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets. (c) Pursuant to the Statutory Trust Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Section 9.2. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid. Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty. -------------- (a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person. (b) Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision: (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law. Section 9.4. Indemnification. --------------- (a) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. (b) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; provided, however, that no such indemnification -------- ------- shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. (c) To the extent that an Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. (d) Any indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b). Such determination shall be made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrators who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust. (e) To the fulles extent permitted by law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section 9.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person did not believe to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be made in instances where the Administrators, independent legal counsel or the Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such Indemnified Person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders. (f) The Trustees, at the sole cost and expense of the Sponsor, retain the right to representation by counsel of their own choosing in any action, suit or any other proceeding for which they are indemnified under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, without affecting their right to indemnification hereunder or waiving any rights afforded to it under this Declaration or applicable law. (g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing. (h) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4. (i) For purposes of this Section 9.4, references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any Person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued. (j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, (i) continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person; and (ii) survive the termination or expiration of this Declaration or the earlier removal or resignation of an Indemnified Person. Section 9.5. Outside Businesses. Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, ------------------- the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates. Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee. The Sponsor agrees: ----------------- (a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 9.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration. The provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any Trustee. No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any property of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.6. ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the ----------- ----------- Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code. Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters. -------------------------- (a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrators shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained, at the Sponsor's expense, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon (either separately or as part of the Sponsor's regularly prepared consolidated financial report) as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Administrators. (b) The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities Form 1099 or such other annual United States federal income tax information statement required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust. (c) The Administrators, at the Sponsor's expense, shall cause to be duly prepared at the principal office of the Sponsor in the United States, as `United States' is defined in Section 7701(a)(9) of the Code (or at the principal office of the Trust if the Sponsor has no such principal office in the United States), and filed an annual United States federal income tax return on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority. Section 10.3. Banking. The Trust shall maintain in the United States, ------- as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, one or more bank accounts in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, -------- however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the - ------- Institutional Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Account. The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Property Account) shall be designated by the Institutional Trustee. Section 10.4. Withholding. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying ----------- Agent and the Administrators shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent shall request, and each Holder shall provide to the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to the Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Administrators shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS Section 11.1. Amendments. ---------- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed (i) by the Institutional Trustee, or (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, by the Delaware Trustee. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, an amendment may be made, and any such purported amendment shall be valid and effective only if: (i) the Institutional Trustee shall have first received (A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (ii) the result of such amendment would not be to (A) cause the Trust to cease to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; or (B) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (c) Except as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (h), no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective, unless the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities shall have consented to such amendment. (d) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration, without the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or change any conversion or exchange provisions or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date. (e) Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities. (f) Article III shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. (g) The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities under Article IV to appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. (h) This Declaration may be amended by the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to: (i) cure any ambiguity; (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration; (iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor; or (iv) modify, eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as may be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be required to register as an Investment Company (including without limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or any other applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written change in interpretation or application thereof by any legislative body, court, government agency or regulatory authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or privileges of the Holders of Securities; provided, however, that no such modification, elimination or addition -------- ------- referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of Holders of Capital Securities. Section 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent. --------------------------------------------------- - --------------- (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration or the terms of the Securities. The Administrators shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrators one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing Holders of the Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities represented by such Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met. (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities: (i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The Administrators may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Administrators; (ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to actfor it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of the Securities executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators may designate; and (iii) unless the Statutory Trust Act, this Declaration, or the terms of the Securities otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote; provided, however, -------- ------- that each meeting shall be conducted in the United States (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7). ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE Section 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional ------------------------------------------------------- Trustee. The initial Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust - ------- and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Institutional Trustee, that: (a) the Institutional Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Institutional Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and it constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and (d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration. Section 12.2. Representations of the Delaware Trustee. The Trustee ------------------------------------------ that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that: (a) if it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee; (d) it has trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and (f) the Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, it is an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and, in either case, a Person that satisfies for the Trust the requirements of Section 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.1. Notices. All notices provided for in this Declaration ------- shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrators at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): First Bank Statutory Trust IX c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6603 (b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the Delaware Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (c) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6603 (e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. Section 13.2. Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights of the -------------- parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; provided, however, -------- ------- that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration any provision of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate, in a manner inconsistent with the terms hereof (a) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (c) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (d) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, or (f) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing trust assets. Section 13.3. Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the ------------------------- parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties. Section 13.4. Headings. Headings contained in this Declaration are -------- inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof. Section 13.5. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Declaration ---------------------- any of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed. Section 13.6. Partial Enforceability. If any provision of this ----------------------- Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby. Section 13.7. Counterparts. This Declaration may contain more than ------------ one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees and Administrators to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Delaware Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle --------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Monigle Title: Vice President WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle --------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Monigle Title: Vice President FIRST BANKS, INC., as Sponsor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle --------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ADMINISTRATORS OF FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle --------------------------------------- Administrator By: /s/ Peter D. Wimmer --------------------------------------- Administrator By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy --------------------------------------- Administrator ANNEX I TERMS OF SECURITIES Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of September 20, 2007 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration): 1. Designation and Number. ---------------------- (a) 25,000 Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), with an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) and a stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as the "Capital Securities". The Capital ------------------- Security Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. (b) 774 Floating Rate Common Securities of the Trust (the "Common Securities") will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates ------------------- substantially in the form of Exhibit A-3 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. 2. Distributions. ------------- (a) Distributions will be payable on each Security for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum of 7.94438% and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount thereof, such rate ----------- being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the applicable Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by law). Distributions, as used herein, include cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). (b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance, and will be payable, subject to extension of distribution payment periods as described herein, quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any -------------------------- such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 when, as and if available for payment. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time, subject to the ----------------- conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may -------------------- end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, -------- however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date and - ------- provided further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Debenture - -------- ------- ------- Issuer and its Affiliates shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Debenture Issuer's or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Debenture Issuer or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Debenture Issuer to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Debenture Issuer) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Debenture Issuer or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's indebtedness for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (f) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (g) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. (c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates. The relevant record dates shall be fifteen days before the relevant Distribution Payment Date. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when due (taking into account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. (d) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities. 3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of the ----------------------------------------- voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a "Liquidation") other than in connection with a redemption ----------- of the Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of the Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer), distributions equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless in connection with such -------------------------- Liquidation, the Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as, such Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with the Statutory Trust Act, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities. The Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities, has the right at any time to dissolve the Trust (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of a Special Event), subject to the receipt by the Debenture Issuer of prior approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of the Sponsor (the "Federal Reserve"), if the Sponsor is a bank holding company, or from the Office --------------- of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of Sponsor, (the "OTS") if the Sponsor --- is a savings and loan holding company, in either case if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount thereof. If a Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) in Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Institutional Trustee as expeditiously as it determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by the Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors of the Trust to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the Liquidation Distribution. An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration shall occur if the Institutional Trustee determines that such Liquidation is possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs. If, upon any such Liquidation the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on such Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of the Trust Securities on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to such distributions. After the date for any distribution of the Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust (i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be no longer outstanding, (ii) upon surrender of a Holder's Securities certificate, such Holder of the Securities will receive a certificate representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution, (iii) any certificates representing the Securities still outstanding will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount with an interest rate identical to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and payable under the Debentures; provided, however that such failure to pay shall -------- ------- not be deemed to be an Event of Default and shall not entitle the Holder to the benefits of the Guarantee), and (iv) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Declaration shall cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of certificates representing such Securities. 4. Redemption and Distribution. --------------------------- (a) The Debentures will mature on December 15, 2037. The Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, at any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. In addition, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer at the Special Redemption Price, in whole but not in part, at any Distribution Payment Date, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to holders of such Debentures so long as such Special Event is continuing. In each case, the right of the Debenture Issuer to redeem the Debentures is subject to the Debenture Issuer having received prior approval from the Federal Reserve (if the Debenture Issuer is a bank holding company) or prior approval from the OTS (if the Debenture Issuer is a savings and loan holding company), in each case if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the applicable federal agency. "3-Month LIBOR" means the London interbank offered interest rate for ------------- three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). "Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits; (2) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (3) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer ----------------------- and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Sponsor will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Sponsor (or if the Sponsor is not a bank holding company or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital adequacy guidelines, such guidelines applied to the Sponsor as if the Sponsor were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the -------- ------- Sponsor to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Sponsor having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the -------- ------- ------- distribution of Debentures in connection with the Liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such Liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days ------------------- (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer ------------------------- and the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will be considered an Investment Company that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures. "Maturity Date" means December 15, 2037. ------------- "Redemption Date" shall mean the date fixed for the redemption of ---------------- Capital Securities, which shall be any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2012. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the ---------------- Debentures being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Redemption Date. "Special Event" means a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a -------------- Capital Treatment Event. "Special Redemption Date" means a date on which a Special Event ------------------------- redemption occurs, which shall be a Distribution Payment Date. "Special Redemption Price" means the price set forth in the following -------------------------- table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed: - -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ Month in which Special Special Redemption Price ---------------------- ------------------------------------ Redemption Date Occurs ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2007 104.625% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2008 104.300% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2008 104.000% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2008 103.650% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2008 103.350% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2009 103.000% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2009 102.700% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2009 102.350% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2009 102.050% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2010 101.700% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2010 101.400% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2010 101.050% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2010 100.750% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2011 100.450% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2011 100.200% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2011 and thereafter 100.000% ------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of --------- an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an "Administrative Action") or judicial decision ---------------------- interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. (b) Upon the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in whole or in part of the Debentures (other than following the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed; provided, however, that holders of such --------- ------- Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of such redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures). (c) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital Securities. (d) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Capital Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Capital Securities for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of redemption. (e) Redemption or Distribution Procedures. ------------------------------------- (i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of the Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/ ----------- Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each ------------------- Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this paragraph 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder. (ii) If the Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/ Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this paragraph 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided that the Institutional -------- Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the Redemption Date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price specified in paragraph 4(a), but without interest on such Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price in respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Debenture Issuer as guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue at the Distribution Rate from the original Redemption Date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. In the event of any redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before any selection for redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part. (iii) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Capital Securities, the Holders thereof and (B) in respect of the Common Securities, the Holder thereof. (iv) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), and provided that the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. 5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities. ---------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under paragraphs 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights. The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities if directed to do so by Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. (b) Subject to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by the Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture as the holder of the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent on behalf of all the Holders of the Capital Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that, where a consent or action under the Indenture would - -------- ------- require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a simple majority in aggregate principal amount of Debentures (a "Super Majority") affected thereby, -------------- the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date the interest or principal is payable (or in the case of redemption, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable), then a Holder of record of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment, on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, to such Holder directly of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice or (y) the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital Securities, except where the default relates to the payment of principal of or interest on any of the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee shall request the direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the - -------- ------- consent of a Super-Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities outstanding which the relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or direction of Holders of the Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of the Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not entitle the Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were not outstanding. In no event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common Securities of the Trust. Under certain circumstances as more fully described in the Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. 6. Voting Rights - Common Securities. --------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under paragraphs 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting rights. (b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Administrators. (c) Subject to Section 6.7 of the Declaration and only after each Event of Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable; provided, however, that, where a -------- ------- consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding this paragraph 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights, to the fullest extent permitted by law, under the Declaration, any Holder of the Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person. Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrators will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. 7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture. --------------------------------------- (a) In addition to any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees, Sponsor or Administrators otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in Section 7.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities, affected thereby; provided, however, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause -------- ------- (i) above would adversely affect only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. (b) In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require -------- ------- a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an Investment Company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Declaration, the right of any Holder of the Capital Securities to receive payment of distributions and other payments upon redemption or otherwise, on or after their respective due dates, or to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision, each and every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or equity. 8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to any -------- payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to -------- each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities then outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. 9. Ranking. The Capital Securities rank pari passu with and payment ------- thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities with the result that no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) the full amount of such Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) on all outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, the Capital Securities then due and payable. 10. Acceptance of Guarantee and Indenture. Each Holder of the Capital ------------------------------------- Securities and the Common Securities, by the acceptance of such Securities, agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee, including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture. 11. No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall have no -------------------- preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities. 12. Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the Declaration. ------------- The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Certificate Number P-1 8,000 Capital Securities [CUSIP NO. [_______] **To be inserted at the request of the Holder] September 20, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Mertz & Moyer (the "Holder"), as the nominee of Wilmington Trust Company, as securities intermediary under the Securities Account Control Agreement dated as of September 20, 2007 among Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd., as issuer and Wilmington Trust Company, as indenture trustee and securities intermediary, is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 20, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signatures appear on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: --------------------------------------- Name: Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: --------------------------------------- Authorized Officer [FORM OF REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) ----- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints --------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: --------------------------------------- Signature: ---------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 - ---------------------------------- 1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Certificate Number P-2 17,000 Capital Securities [CUSIP NO. [_______] **To be inserted at the request of a subsequent transferee] September 20, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Tennessee Bank National Association is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 20, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signatures appear on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: --------------------------------------- Name: Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: --------------------------------------- Authorized Officer [FORM OF REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) ---- -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints -------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: ----------------------------------- Signature: ------------------------------ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:2 - ----------------------------------- (2) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EXHIBIT A-3 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 8.1 OF THE DECLARATION. Certificate Number C-1 774 Common Securities September 20, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Common Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Banks, Inc. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 20, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. As set forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or otherwise are subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital Securities. Upon receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of undivided beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Common Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: --------------------------------------- Name: Title: Administrator [FORM OF REVERSE OF COMMON SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Common Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Common Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Common Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to: (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) ----- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints agent ------------------------------------------------- to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: -------------------------------- Signature: ---------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature: --------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee 3 - ----------------------------------- (3) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EXHIBIT B SPECIMEN OF INITIAL DEBENTURE (See Document No. 16) EXHIBIT C PLACEMENT AGREEMENT (See Document No. 1) EX-4 15 fbstixguatee.txt EXHIBIT 4.10 EXHIBIT 4.10 ------------------------------------------------- GUARANTEE AGREEMENT by and between FIRST BANKS, INC. and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY Dated as of September 20, 2007 ------------------------------------------------- GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ------------------- This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of September 20, 2007, is executed and delivered by First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the administrators of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $25,000,000.00 (the "Capital Securities"); and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION Section 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation. In this Guarantee, -------------------------------- unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee to "Articles" or "Sections" are to Articles or Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; (e) terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder. "Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter ------------- becomes indebted or liable. "Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this ------------------- Guarantee. "Common Securities" means the common securities issued by the Issuer to ----------------- the Guarantor pursuant to the Declaration. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at ----------------------- which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. "Covered Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities. -------------- "Debentures" means the debt securities of the Guarantor designated the ---------- Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037 held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. "Declaration Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined ----------------------------- in the Declaration. "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a). ---------------- "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, ------------------- without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to Capital Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special Event, and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor ------------------ Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee. "Guarantor" means First Banks, Inc. and each of its successors and --------- assigns. "Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of ------ the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining -------- ------- whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the ------------------- Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee. "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the --------- Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the institutional trustee of the Issuer. "Issuer" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this ------ Guarantee. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition ------------------------- of "Guarantee Payments" herein. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means -------------------------------------------------------------- Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding. "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not ----------- including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities. "Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a ----------------------- certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include: (a) a statement that the officer signing the Officer's Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate; (c) a statement that the officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, ------ estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ---------------- "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any ------------------- officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------- "Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------------ "Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee ----------------------------- possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1. "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital ---------------- Securities. ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE Section 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. ------------------------------------------ (a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after curing all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been waived pursuant to Section 2.4) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good f aith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Section 2.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. ----------------------------------- (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1: (i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties. (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate. (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. (iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or re-registration thereof). (v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction. (vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing -------- ------- contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee. (vii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. (viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. (ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action. (x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions. (xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee. (b) No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. Section 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. ------------------------------------------------------- The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee. Section 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver. ------------------------- (a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder. (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Section 2.5. Events of Default; Notice. ------------------------- (a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, -------- however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such - ------- notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof. ARTICLE III GUARANTEE TRUSTEE Section 3.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. ------------------------------ (a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 3.2(c). (c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Guarantee. Section 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee -------------------------------------------------------- Trustee. - ------- (a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee. (d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee. (e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee. (f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE Section 4.1. Guarantee. --------- (a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except the defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. (b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 4.2. Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives --------------------------- notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. Section 4.3. Obligations Not Affected. The obligations, covenants, ------------------------ agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. Section 4.4. Rights of Holders. ----------------- (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to -------- ------- Section 2.1) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability. (b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor. Section 4.5. Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee creates a guarantee -------------------- of payment and not of collection. Section 4.6. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all ----------- (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent -------- ------- required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. Section 4.7. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that ----------------------- its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof. Section 4.8. Enforcement by a Beneficiary. A Beneficiary may enforce ---------------------------- the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, -------- however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by - ------- mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment, and after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION Section 5.1. Limitation of Transactions. So long as any Capital ---------------------------- Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's or such Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Guarantor or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Guarantor to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension Period, as applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (vi) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Guarantor (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (vii) payments under this Guarantee). Section 5.2. Ranking. This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured ------- obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein. The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise. ARTICLE VI TERMINATION Section 6.1. Termination. This Guarantee shall terminate as to the ----------- Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee. ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION Section 7.1. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid. Section 7.2. Indemnification. --------------- (a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. (b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the - -------- ------- Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel to represent the Guarantor in an action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. Section 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses. The Guarantor ---------------------------------------- agrees: (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 7.3 does not contemplate the payment by the Guarantor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Guarantee Trustee for services to be provided by the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee or the fees and expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee. The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements ---------------------- contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, in each case, to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. Section 8.2. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes that do ---------- not adversely affect the rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of such approval. Section 8.3. Notices. All notices provided for in this Guarantee ------- shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6603 (c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. Section 8.4. Benefit. This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the ------- Beneficiaries and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities. Section 8.5. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND ------------- CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). Section 8.6. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in one or ------------ more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Section 8.7. Separability. In case one or more of the provisions ------------ contained in this Guarantee shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. Signatures appear on the following page THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC., as Guarantor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Guarantee Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle ---------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Monigle Title: Vice President EX-4 16 fbstixplac.txt EXHIBIT 4.11 EXHIBIT 4.11 FIRST BANKS, INC. 25,000 Capital Securities Floating Rate Capital Securities (Liquidation Amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security) PLACEMENT AGREEMENT ------------------- September 13, 2007 FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 787 7th Avenue 4th Floor New York, New York 10019 Ladies and Gentlemen: First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and its financing subsidiary, First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust," and hereinafter together with the Company, the "Offerors"), hereby confirm their agreement (this "Agreement") with you as placement agents (the "Placement Agents"), as follows: Section 1. Issuance and Sale of Securities. ------------------------------- 1.1. Introduction. The Offerors propose to issue and sell at the ------------ Closing (as defined in Section 2.3.1 hereof) 25,000 of the Trust's Floating Rate Capital Securities, with a liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per capital security (the "Capital Securities"), to First Tennessee Bank National Association, a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of America and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd., a company with limited liability established under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the "Purchasers") pursuant to the terms of Subscription Agreements entered into, or to be entered into on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2.3.1 hereof), between the Offerors and the Purchasers (the "Subscription Agreements"), the forms of which are attached hereto as Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 and ------------ ------------ incorporated herein by this reference. 1.2. Operative Agreements. The Capital Securities shall be fully and -------------------- unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment (the "Guarantee") pursuant and subject to the Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement"), to be dated as of the Closing Date and executed and delivered by the Company and Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit from time to time of the holders of the Capital Securities. The entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the holders of the Capital Securities shall be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities"), and shall be used by the Trust to purchase $25,774,000.00 in principal amount of the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") of the Company. The Capital Securities and the Common Securities for the Trust shall be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust among WTC, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), WTC, as institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), the Administrators named therein, and the Company, to be dated as of the Closing Date and in substantially the form heretofore delivered to the Placement Agents (the "Trust Agreement"). The Debentures shall be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture"), to be dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and WTC, as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"). The documents identified in this Section 1.2 and in Section 1.1 are referred to herein as the "Operative Documents." 1.3. Rights of Purchasers. The Capital Securities shall be offered -------------------- and sold by the Trust directly to the Purchasers without registration of any of the Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities laws in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws. The Offerors agree that this Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the Subscription Agreements and the Purchasers shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchasers under this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement as fully as if the Purchasers were parties to this Agreement. The Offerors and the Placement Agents have entered into this Agreement to set forth their understanding as to their relationship and their respective rights, duties and obligations. 1.4. Legends. Upon original issuance thereof, and until such time as ------- the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Capital Securities and Debentures certificates shall each contain a legend as required pursuant to any of the Operative Documents. Section 2. Purchase of Capital Securities. ------------------------------ 2.1. Exclusive Rights; Purchase Price. From the date hereof until the -------------------------------- Closing Date (which date may be extended by mutual agreement of the Offerors and the Placement Agents), the Offerors hereby grant to the Placement Agents the exclusive right to arrange for the sale of the Capital Securities to the Purchasers at a purchase price of $1,000.00 per Capital Security. 2.2. Subscription Agreements. The Offerors hereby agree to evidence ----------------------- their acceptance of the subscription by countersigning a copy of each of the Subscription Agreements and returning the same to the Placement Agents. 2.3. Closing and Delivery of Payment. ------------------------------- 2.3.1. Closing; Closing Date. The sale and purchase of the --------------------- Capital Securities by the Offerors to the Purchasers shall take place at a closing (the "Closing") at the offices of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., at 10:00 a.m. (St. Louis time) on September 20, 2007, or such other business day as may be agreed upon by the Offerors and the Placement Agents (the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that in no event shall the Closing Date occur later than - -------- ------- September 28, 2007 unless consented to by the Purchasers. Payment by the Purchasers shall be payable in the manner set forth in the Subscription Agreements and shall be made prior to or on the Closing Date. 2.3.2. Delivery. The certificates for the Capital Securities -------- shall be in definitive form, each registered in the name of the applicable Purchaser, or Purchaser designee, and in the aggregate amount of the Capital Securities purchased by the Purchaser. 2.3.3. Transfer Agent. The Offerors shall deposit the -------------- certificates representing the Capital Securities with the Institutional Trustee or other appropriate party prior to the Closing Date. 2.4. Costs and Expenses. Whether or not this Agreement is terminated ------------------ or the sale of the Capital Securities is consummated, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that it shall pay or cause to be paid (directly or by reimbursement) all reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement, including all fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Offerors; all reasonable expenses incurred by the Offerors incident to the preparation, execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement, the Indenture, and the Guarantee; and all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the Trust Agreement. 2.5. Failure to Close. If any of the conditions to the Closing ---------------- specified in this Agreement shall not have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Placement Agents or if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 10:00 a.m. (St. Louis time) on September 28, 2007, then each party hereto, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement without thereby waiving any rights it may have by reason of such nonfulfillment or failure; provided, however, that -------- ------- the obligations of the parties under Sections 2.4, 7.5 and 9 shall not be so relieved and shall continue in full force and effect. Section 3. Closing Conditions. The obligations of the Purchasers and the ------------------ Placement Agents on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Offerors contained in this Agreement, to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the statements of the Offerors made in any certificates pursuant to this Agreement, to the performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under this Agreement, to compliance, at and as of the Closing Date, by the Offerors with their respective agreements herein contained, and to the following further conditions: 3.1. Opinions of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Placement Agents ------------------- shall have received the following favorable opinions, each dated as of the Closing Date: (a) from Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, counsel for the Offerors and addressed to the Purchasers, the Placement Agents and WTC in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit B-1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this ----------- reference, (b) from Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to the Offerors and addressed to the Purchasers, the Placement Agents and the Offerors, in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit B-2 attached hereto and ----------- incorporated herein by this reference and (c) from Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., special tax counsel to the Offerors, and addressed to the Placement Agents and the Offerors, addressing the items set forth on Exhibit B-3 attached hereto and ----------- incorporated herein by this reference, subject to the receipt by Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. of a representation letter from the Company in the form set forth in Exhibit B-3 completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Lewis, Rice & ----------- Fingersh, L.C. (collectively, the "Offerors' Counsel Opinions"). In rendering the Offerors' Counsel Opinions, counsel to the Offerors may rely as to factual matters upon certificates or other documents furnished by officers, directors and trustees of the Offerors (copies of which shall be delivered to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers) and by government officials, and upon such other documents as counsel to the Offerors may, in their reasonable opinion, deem appropriate as a basis for the Offerors' Counsel Opinions. Counsel to the Offerors may specify the jurisdictions in which they are admitted to practice and that they are not admitted to practice in any other jurisdiction and are not experts in the law of any other jurisdiction. If the Offerors' counsel is not admitted to practice in the State of New York, the opinion of Offerors' counsel may assume, for purposes of the opinion, that the laws of the State of New York are substantively identical, in all respects material to the opinion, to the internal laws of the state in which such counsel is admitted to practice. Such Offerors' Counsel Opinions shall not state that they are to be governed or qualified by, or that they are otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991). 3.2. Officer's Certificate. At the Closing Date, the Purchasers and --------------------- the Placement Agents shall have received certificates from an authorized officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that (i) the representations and warranties of the Offerors set forth in Section 5 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Offerors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) since the date of this Agreement the Offerors have not incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Offerors, and (iii) covering such other matters as the Placement Agents may reasonably request. 3.3. Administrator's Certificate. At the Closing Date, the Purchasers --------------------------- and the Placement Agents shall have received a certificate of one or more Administrators of the Trust, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the representations and warranties of the Trust set forth in Section 5 are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Trust has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date. 3.4. Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws; Legal Investment. The ---------------------------------------------------------- purchase of and payment for the Capital Securities as described in this Agreement and pursuant to the Subscription Agreements shall (a) not be prohibited by any applicable law or governmental regulation, (b) not subject the Purchasers or the Placement Agents to any penalty or, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchasers and the Placement Agents, other onerous conditions under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and (c) be permitted by the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions to which the Purchasers and the Placement Agents are subject. 3.5. Consents and Permits. The Company and the Trust shall have -------------------- received all consents, permits and other authorizations, and made all such filings and declarations, as may be required from any person or entity pursuant to any law, statute, regulation or rule (federal, state, local and foreign), or pursuant to any agreement, order or decree to which the Company or the Trust is a party or to which either is subject, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 3.6. Sale of Purchaser Securities. Preferred Term Securities XXVII, ----------------------------- Ltd. shall have sold securities issued by it in an amount such that the net proceeds of such sale shall be (i) available on the Closing Date and (ii) in an amount sufficient to purchase that portion of the Capital Securities Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. agrees to purchase pursuant to the Subscription Agreement to be entered into by it and all other capital or similar securities contemplated to be purchased by Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. in agreements similar to this Agreement and the Subscription Agreement to be entered into by it. 3.7. Information. Prior to or on the Closing Date, the Offerors ----------- shall have furnished to the Placement Agents such further information, certificates, opinions and documents addressed to the Purchasers and the Placement Agents, which the Placement Agents may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a complete set of the Operative Documents or any other documents or certificates required by this Section 3; and all proceedings taken by the Offerors in connection with the issuance, offer and sale of the Capital Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agents. If any condition specified in this Section 3 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions or certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agents, this Agreement may be terminated by the Placement Agents by notice to the Offerors at any time at or prior to the Closing Date. Notice of such termination shall be given to the Offerors in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing. Section 4. Conditions to the Offerors' Obligations. The obligations of the --------------------------------------- Offerors to sell the Capital Securities to the Purchasers and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Placement Agents contained in this Agreement and to the following further conditions: 4.1. Executed Agreement. The Offerors shall have received from the ------------------ Placement Agents an executed copy of this Agreement. 4.2. Fulfillment of Other Obligations. The Placement Agents shall -------------------------------- have fulfilled all of their other obligations and duties required to be fulfilled under this Agreement prior to or at the Closing. Section 5. Representations and Warranties of the Offerors. Except as set ---------------------------------------------- forth on the Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Section 11.1) attached hereto, if any, the Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Placement Agents and the Purchasers as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows: 5.1. Securities Law Matters. ---------------------- (a) Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their "Affiliates" (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("Regulation D")), nor any person acting on any of their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require the registration under the Securities Act of any of the Capital Securities, the Guarantee or the Debentures (collectively, the "Securities") or any other securities to be issued, or which may be issued, by Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. (b) Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their Affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has (i) other than the Placement Agents, offered for sale or solicited offers to purchase the Securities, (ii) engaged in any form of offering, general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of any of the Securities, or (iii) engaged or will engage in any "directed selling efforts" within the meaning of Regulation S of the Securities Act ("Regulation S") with respect to the Securities. (c) The Securities satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act. (d) Neither the Company nor the Trust is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the transactions described in this Agreement, will be an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case within the meaning of Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), without regard to Section 3(c) of the Investment Company Act. (e) Neither the Company nor the Trust has paid or agreed to pay to any person or entity (other than the Placement Agents) any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any of the Securities. 5.2. Organization, Standing and Qualification of the Trust. The Trust ----------------------------------------------------- has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the "Statutory Trust Act") with the power and authority to own property and to conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Operative Documents. The Trust is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust. The Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than the Operative Documents. The Trust is and will, under current law, be classified for federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation. 5.3. Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by --------------- the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Administrators of the Trust, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and such Administrators, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law) ("Bankruptcy and Equity"). Each of the Administrators of the Trust is an employee or a director of the Company or of a financial institution subsidiary of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and deliver the Trust Agreement. 5.4. Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture. Each of the Guarantee and ------------------------------------- the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Guarantee, and by the Indenture Trustee, in the case of the Indenture, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.5. Capital Securities and Common Securities. The Capital Securities ---------------------------------------- and the Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor on the Closing Date to the Purchasers, in the case of the Capital Securities, and to the Company, in the case of the Common Securities, will be validly issued and represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. None of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities is subject to preemptive or other similar rights. On the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities will be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any pledge, security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance. 5.6. Debentures. The Debentures have been duly authorized by the ---------- Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee for authentication in accordance with the Indenture, and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor by the Trust, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.7. Power and Authority. This Agreement has been duly authorized, ------------------- executed and delivered by the Company and the Trust and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Trust, enforceable against the Company and the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.8. No Defaults. The Trustis not in violation of the Trust Agreement ----------- or, to the knowledge of the Administrators, any provision of the Statutory Trust Act. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company or the Trust of this Agreement or the Operative Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein and the use of the proceeds therefrom, will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or other encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Trust, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 5.11 hereof) pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Trust, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of any of them is subject, except for a conflict, breach, default, lien, charge or encumbrance which could not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect nor will such action result in any violation of the Trust Agreement or the Statutory Trust Act or require the consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body. As used herein, the term "Material Adverse Effect" means any one or more effects that individually or in the aggregate are material and adverse to the Offerors' ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein or in the Operative Documents or any one or more effects that individually or in the aggregate are material and adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business. 5.9. Organization, Standing and Qualification of the Company. The ---------------------------------------------------------- Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Missouri, with all requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of the Company to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.10. Subsidiaries of the Company. Each of the Company's significant --------------------------- subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the "Significant Subsidiaries")) is listed in Exhibit C attached hereto and --------- incorporated herein by this reference. Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with all requisite power and authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where the nature of its activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of any such Significant Subsidiary to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries (a) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, (b) are fully paid and nonassessable, and (c) are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, restriction upon voting or transfer, preemptive rights, claim, equity or other defect. 5.11. Permits. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (as defined in ------- Section 1-02(x) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act) (the "Subsidiaries") have all requisite power and authority, and all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from regulatory or governmental officials, bodies and tribunals, to own or lease their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as now being conducted, except such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits which, if not obtained and maintained, would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates or permits which, singly or in the aggregate, if the failure to be so licensed or approved is the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders and consents, the violation of which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.12. Conflicts, Authorizations and Approvals. Neither the Company nor --------------------------------------- any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective articles or certificate of incorporation, charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, the effect of which violation or default in performance or observance would have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. 5.13. Holding Company Registration and Deposit Insurance. The Company -------------------------------------------------- is duly registered (i) as a bank holding company or financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") or (ii) as a savings and loan holding company under the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS"), and the deposit accounts of the Company's Subsidiary depository institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for the termination of such insurance are pending or threatened. 5.14. Financial Statements. -------------------- (a) The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and related consolidated income statements and statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the three years ended December 31, 2006 together with the notes thereto, and the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2007 and the related consolidated income statements and statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the six months then ended, copies of each of which have been provided to the Placement Agents (together, the "Financial Statements"), have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be disclosed therein) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and changes in shareholders' equity of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated (subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal recurring year-end adjustments, none of which shall be material). The books and records of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions. (b) The information in the Company's most recently filed (i) FR Y-9C filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a bank holding company, (ii) FR Y-9SP filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a small bank holding company or (iii) H-(b)11 filed with the OTS if the Company is a savings and loan holding company (the "Regulatory Report"), previously provided to the Placement Agents fairly presents in all material respects the financial position of the Company and, where applicable, all of its Subsidiaries as of the end of the period represented by such Regulatory Report. (c) Since the respective dates of the Financial Statements and the Regulatory Report, there has been no material adverse change or development with respect to the financial condition or earnings of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (d) The accountants of the Company who certified the year-end Financial Statements are independent public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. 5.15. Exchange Act Reporting. The reports filed with the Securities ---------------------- and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the regulations thereunder at the time they were filed with the Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and such reports did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading (except to the extent superseded by a subsequent report filed by the Company with the Commission). 5.16. Regulatory Enforcement Matters. Neither the Company nor any of ------------------------------- its Subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any notice or advice that any of them may become subject or party to, any investigation with respect to, any cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent agreement, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been since January 1, 2004, a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or since January 1, 2004, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or that in any material manner relates to their capital adequacy, their credit policies, their ability or authority to pay dividends or make distributions to their shareholders or make payments of principal or interest on their debt obligations, their management or their business (each, a "Regulatory Agreement"), nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 2004, by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement. There is no material unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As used herein, the term "Regulatory Agency" means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depository institutions, bank, financial or savings and loan holding companies, or engaged in the insurance of depository institution deposits, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental agency, authority or instrumentality having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is currently unable to pay dividends or make distributions to its shareholders with respect to any class of its equity securities, or prohibited from paying principal or interest on its debt obligations, due to a restriction or limitation, whether by statute, contract or otherwise, and, in the reasonable judgment of the Company's management, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries will be unable in the foreseeable future to pay dividends or make distributions with respect to any class of equity securities, or be prohibited from paying principal or interest on its debt obligations, due to a restriction or limitation, whether by statute, contract or otherwise. 5.17. No Material Change. Since December 31, 2006, there has been no ------------------- material adverse change or development with respect to the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, prospects or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. 5.18. No Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its --------------------------- Subsidiaries has any material liability, whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including any liability for taxes (and there is no past or present fact, situation, circumstance, condition or other basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, charge, complaint, claim or demand against the Company or its Subsidiaries giving rise to any such liability), except (i) for liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements and (ii) normal fluctuation in the amount of the liabilities referred to in clause (i) above occurring in the ordinary course of business of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements. 5.19. Litigation. No charge, investigation, action, suit or proceeding ---------- is pending or, to the knowledge of the Offerors, threatened, against or affecting the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before or by any courts or any regulatory, administrative or governmental official, commission, board, agency or other authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. 5.20. Deferral of Interest Payments on Debentures. The Company has no ------------------------------------------- present intention to exercise its option to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture. The Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock and on the Company's ability to make any payments of principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with, or junior in interest to, the Debentures. Section 6. Representations and Warranties of the Placement Agents. Each ---------------------------------------------------------- Placement Agent represents and warrants to the Offerors as to itself (but not as to the other Placement Agent) as follows: 6.1. Organization, Standing and Qualification. ---------------------------------------- (a) FTN Financial Capital Markets is a division of First Tennessee Bank National Association, a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted. FTN Financial Capital Markets is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts its business so as to require such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, prospects or results of operations of FTN Financial Capital Markets. (b) Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts its business so as to require such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, prospects or results of operations of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 6.2. Power and Authority. The Placement Agent has all requisite power ------------------- and authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Placement Agent and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Placement Agent, enforceable against the Placement Agent in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity and except as any indemnification or contribution provisions thereof may be limited under applicable securities laws. 6.3. General Solicitation. In the case of the offer and sale of the -------------------- Capital Securities, no form of general solicitation or general advertising was used by the Placement Agent or its representatives including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. Neither the Placement Agent nor its representatives have engaged or will engage in any "directed selling efforts" within the meaning of Regulation S with respect to the Capital Securities. 6.4. Purchaser. The Placement Agent has made such reasonable inquiry --------- as is necessary to determine that the Purchaser is acquiring the Capital Securities for its own account, that the Purchaser does not intend to distribute the Capital Securities in contravention of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, and that the Purchaser is not a "U.S. person" as that term is defined under Rule 902 of the Securities Act. 6.5. Qualified Purchasers. The Placement Agent has not offered or -------------------- sold and will not arrange for the offer or sale of the Capital Securities except (i) in an offshore transaction complying with Rule 903 of Regulation S, or (ii) to those the Placement Agent reasonably believes are "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D), or (iii) in any other manner that does not require registration of the Capital Securities under the Securities Act. In connection with each such sale, the Placement Agent has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the Purchaser is aware that (a) such sale is being made in reliance on an exemption under the Securities Act and (b) future transfers of the Capital Securities will not be made except in compliance with applicable securities laws. 6.6. Offering Circulars. Neither the Placement Agent nor its ------------------- representatives will include any non-public information about the Company, the Trust or any of their Affiliates in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or private placement memorandum used in connection with any purchase of Capital Securities without the prior written consent of the Trust and the Company. Section 7. Covenants of the Offerors. The Offerors covenant and agree with ------------------------- the Placement Agents and the Purchasers as follows: 7.1. Compliance with Representations and Warranties. During the -------------------------------------------------- period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Offerors shall use their best efforts and take all action necessary or appropriate to cause their representations and warranties contained in Section 5 hereof to be true as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date. 7.2. Sale and Registration of Securities. The Offerors and their ------------------------------------- Affiliates shall not nor shall any of them permit any person acting on their behalf (other than the Placement Agents), to directly or indirectly (i) sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would or could be integrated with the sale of the Capital Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities or (ii) make offers or sales of any such Security, or solicit offers to buy any such Security, under circumstances that would require the registration of any of such Securities under the Securities Act. 7.3. Use of Proceeds. The Trust shall use the proceeds from the sale --------------- of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to purchase the Debentures from the Company. 7.4. Investment Company. The Offerors shall not engage, or permit any ------------------ Subsidiary to engage, in any activity which would cause it or any Subsidiary to be an "investment company" under the provisions of the Investment Company Act. 7.5. Reimbursement of Expenses. If the sale of the Capital ------------------------- Securities provided for herein is not consummated (i) because any condition set forth in Section 3 hereof is not satisfied, or (ii) because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Trust to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a breach by the Placement Agents, the Company shall reimburse the Placement Agents upon demand for all of their pro rata share of out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to reimburse the Placement Agents for their out-of-pocket expenses if the sale of the Capital Securities fails to occur because the Placement Agents fail to fulfill a condition set forth in Section 4 or the Purchaser fails to purchase the Capital Securities. 7.6. Directed Selling Efforts, Solicitation and Advertising. In ---------------------------------------------------------- connection with any offer or sale of any of the Securities, the Offerors shall not, nor shall either of them permit any of their Affiliates or any person acting on their behalf, other than the Placement Agents, to (i) engage in any "directed selling efforts" within the meaning of Regulation S, or (ii) engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as defined in Regulation D). 7.7. Compliance with Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. So --------------------------------------------------------- long as any of the Securities are outstanding and are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Offerors will, during any period in which they are not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or the Offerors are not exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, provide to each holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser in connection with any proposed transfer, any information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, if applicable. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders, from time to time of such restricted securities. The information provided by the Offerors pursuant to this Section 7.7 will not, at the date thereof, contain any 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. 7.8. Transfer Notice. The Offerors acknowledge that First Tennessee --------------- Bank National Association ("First Tennessee") may transfer the Capital Securities that it is purchasing, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time following the Closing Date by delivering the notice (the "Transfer Notice") attached as Exhibit B to the Master Custodian Agreement, dated May 27, --------- 2004, as amended, and attached as Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement to --------- which First Tennessee is a party. In order to facilitate such transfer, the Company shall execute in blank five additional Capital Securities certificates, to be delivered at Closing, such certificates to be completed with the name of the transferee(s) to which the Capital Securities, in whole or in part, will be transferred upon the receipt of a Transfer Notice and authenticated by the Institutional Trustee at the time of each such transfer. Section 8. Covenants of the Placement Agents. The Placement Agents covenant --------------------------------- and agree with the Offerors that, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Placement Agents shall use their best efforts and take all action necessary or appropriate to cause their representations and warranties contained in Section 6 to be true as of Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date. The Placement Agents further covenant and agree not to engage in hedging transactions with respect to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act. Section 9. Indemnification. --------------- 9.1. Indemnification Obligation. The Offerors shall jointly and -------------------------- severally indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agents and the Purchasers and each of their respective agents, employees, officers and directors and each person that controls either of the Placement Agents or the Purchasers within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and agents, employees, officers and directors or any such controlling person of either of the Placement Agents or the Purchasers (each such person or entity, an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Offerors), insofar as such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, or relate to, in whole or in part, (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any information (whether written or oral) or documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the Placement Agents or the Purchasers by the Offerors, or (b) any omission or alleged omission to state in any information (whether written or oral) or documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the Placement Agents or the Purchasers by the Offerors a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal and other expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, judgments, liability, expense or action described in this Section 9.1. In addition to their other obligations under this Section 9, the Offerors hereby agree that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of, or based upon, or related to the matters described above in this Section 9.1, they shall reimburse each Indemnified Party on a quarterly basis for all reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, each Indemnified Party shall promptly return such amounts to the Offerors together with interest, determined on the basis of the prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest credit standing) announced from time to time by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made to an Indemnified Party within 30 days of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of such request. 9.2. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt --------------------------------------- by an Indemnified Party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Offerors under this Section 9, notify the Offerors in writing of the commencement thereof; but, subject to Section 9.4, the omission to so notify the Offerors shall not relieve them from any liability pursuant to Section 9.1 which the Offerors may have to any Indemnified Party unless and to the extent that the Offerors did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure by the Indemnified Party results in the forfeiture by the Offerors of substantial rights and defenses. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party and such Indemnified Party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from the Offerors, the Offerors shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that they may wish, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, if the defendants in -------- ------- any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Offerors and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict between the positions of the Offerors and the Indemnified Party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to those available to the Offerors, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Upon receipt of notice from the Offerors to such Indemnified Party of their election to so assume the defense of such action and approval by the Indemnified Party of counsel, the Offerors shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the Indemnified Party shall have employed such counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso in the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the Offerors shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel representing the Indemnified Parties who are parties to such action), or (ii) the Offerors shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel of such Indemnified Party shall be at the expense of the Offerors. 9.3. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this ------------ Section 9 is required by its terms, but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under Section 9.1 in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein or therein, then the Offerors shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of any losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to herein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, from the offering of such Capital Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein or other breaches which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The respective relative benefits received by the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion, in the case of the Offerors, as the total price paid to the Offerors for the Capital Securities sold by the Offerors to the Purchasers (net of the compensation paid to the Placement Agents hereunder, but before deducting expenses), and in the case of the Placement Agents, as the compensation received by them, bears to the total of such amounts paid to the Offerors and received by the Placement Agents as compensation. The relative fault of the Offerors and the Placement Agents shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact or the inaccurate or the alleged inaccurate representation and/or warranty relates to information supplied by the Offerors or the Placement Agents and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The provisions set forth in Section 9.2 with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is made under this Section 9.3; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect -------- ------- to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9.2 for purposes of indemnification. The Offerors and the Placement Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9.3 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 this Section 9.3. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Section 9.3 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. In no event shall the liability of the Placement Agents hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the compensation (net of payment of all expenses) received by the Placement Agents upon the sale of the Capital Securities giving rise to such obligation. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 9.4. Additional Remedies. The indemnity and contribution agreements ------------------- contained in this Section 9 are in addition to any liability that the Offerors may otherwise have to any Indemnified Party. 9.5. Additional Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and hold -------------------------- harmless the Trust against all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as due from the Trust under Sections 9.1 through 9.4 hereof. Section 10. Rights and Responsibilities of Placement Agents. ----------------------------------------------- 10.1. Reliance. In performing their duties under this Agreement, the -------- Placement Agents shall be entitled to rely upon any notice, signature or writing which they shall in good faith believe to be genuine and to be signed or presented by a proper party or parties. The Placement Agents may rely upon any opinions or certificates or other documents delivered by the Offerors or their counsel or designees to either the Placement Agents or the Purchasers. 10.2. Rights of Placement Agents. In connection with the performance -------------------------- of their duties under this Agreement, the Placement Agents shall not be liable for any error of judgment or any action taken or omitted to be taken unless the Placement Agents were grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct in connection with such performance or non-performance. No provision of this Agreement shall require the Placement Agents to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability on behalf of the Purchasers in connection with the performance of any of their duties hereunder. The Placement Agents shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in them by this Agreement. Section 11. Miscellaneous. ------------- 11.1. Disclosure Schedule. The term "Disclosure Schedule," as used ------------------- herein, means the schedule, if any, attached to this Agreement that sets forth items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof; provided, -------- that any item set forth in the Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall be deemed an admission by the Offerors that such item represents an exception, fact, event or circumstance that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the section numbers contained in Section 5. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless the Disclosure Schedule identifies the exception with reasonable particularity and describes the relevant facts in reasonable detail. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item in the Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless the representation or warranty has to do with the existence of the document or other item itself. Information provided by the Company in response to any due diligence questionnaire shall not be deemed part of the Disclosure Schedule and shall not be deemed to be an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof unless such information is specifically included on the Disclosure Schedule in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.1. 11.2. Legal Expenses. At Closing, the Placement Agents shall provide a -------------- credit for the Offerors' transaction-related legal expenses in the amount of $10,000.00. 11.3. Non-Disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, including -------------- without limitation securities laws and regulations promulgated thereunder, (i) the Offerors shall not, and will cause their advisors and representatives not to, issue any press release or other public statement regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Documents prior to or on the Closing Date and (ii) following the Closing Date, the Offerors shall not include in any press release, other public statement or other communication regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Documents, any reference to the Placement Agents, WTC, the Purchasers, the term "PreTS" or any derivations thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Offerors may (1) consult any tax advisor regarding U.S. federal income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement and the Operative Documents and (2) disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. Federal income tax structure (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation ss. 1.6011-4) of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement and the Operative Documents and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to you relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For this purpose, "tax structure" is limited to any facts relevant to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the transaction and does not include information relating to identity of the parties. 11.4. Notices. Prior to the Closing, and thereafter with respect to ------- matters pertaining to this Agreement only, all notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery: if to the Placement Agents, to: FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Telecopier: 901-435-4706 Telephone: 800-456-5460 Attention: James D. Wingett and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 787 7th Avenue 4th Floor New York, New York 10019 Telecopier: 212-403-2000 Telephone: 212-403-1004 Attention: Mitchell Kleinman, General Counsel with a copy to: Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. 500 North Broadway, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Telecopier: 314-241-6056 Telephone: 314-444-7600 Attention: Thomas C. Erb, Esq. and Sidley Austin LLP 787 7th Avenue New York, New York 10019 Telecopier: 212-839-5599 Telephone: 212-839-5300 Attention: Renwick Martin, Esq. if to the Offerors, to: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Telecopier: 314-592-6603 Telephone: 314-592-6621 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle with a copy to: Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP 1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2900 Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Telecopier: 816-412-8117 Telephone: 816-691-3351 Attention: C. Robert Monroe, Esq. All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, (iii) when answered back, if telexed, (iv) the next business day after being telecopied, or (v) the next business day after timely delivery to a courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. From and after the Closing, the foregoing notice provisions shall be superseded by any notice provisions of the Operative Documents under which notice is given. The Placement Agents, the Offerors, and their respective counsel, may change their respective notice addresses from time to time by written notice to all of the foregoing persons. 11.5. Parties in Interest, Successors and Assigns. Except as expressly ------------------------------------------- set forth herein, this Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the Placement Agents, the Purchasers and the Offerors and any person controlling the Placement Agents, the Purchasers or the Offerors and their respective successors and assigns; and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties. 11.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties ------------ hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 11.7. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of -------- reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. 11.8. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED ------------- IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAWS PERTAINING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 11.9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Operative ---------------- Documents and the other documents delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, together with the Operative Documents and the other documents delivered in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter. 11.10. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the ------------ provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Placement Agents' and the Purchasers' rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 11.11. Survival. The Placement Agents and the Offerors, respectively, -------- agree that the representations, warranties and agreements made by each of them in this Agreement and in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the delivery of, and payment for, the Capital Securities. Signatures appear on the following page If this Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so indicate by signing the acceptance of this Agreement and deliver such counterpart to the Offerors whereupon this Agreement will become binding between us in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ------------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Title: Administrator CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first set forth above FTN FINANCIAL CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of First Tennessee Bank National Association, as a Placement Agent By: /s/ James D. Wingett -------------------------------------------------------- Name: James D. Wingett ------------------------------------------------------ Title: Senior Vice President ----------------------------------------------------- KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC., a New York corporation, as a Placement Agent By: /s/ Peter J. Wirth -------------------------------------------------------- Name: Peter J. Wirth ------------------------------------------------------ Title: Managing Director ----------------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT A-1 ----------- FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ------------------------------ FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 20, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 25,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 17,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 20, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than September 28, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 3 days prior to the Closing Date. 1.2. As a condition to its purchase of the Capital Securities, Purchaser shall enter into the Joinder Agreement to the Master Custodian Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Custodian Agreement") and, in accordance therewith, the certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the custodian in accordance with the Custodian Agreement. Purchaser shall not transfer the Capital Securities to any person or entity except in accordance with the terms of the Custodian Agreement. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the placement agents identified therein (the "Placement Agents") includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. 1.4. Anything herein or in the Placement Agreement notwithstanding, the Offerors acknowledge and agree that, so long as Purchaser holds some or all of the Capital Securities, the Purchaser may in its discretion from time to time transfer or sell, or sell or grant participation interests in, some or all of such Capital Securities to one or more parties, provided that any such transaction complies, as applicable, with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and any other applicable securities laws, is pursuant to an exemption therefrom, or is otherwise not subject thereto. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that none of the Capital Securities, the Debentures nor the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents and warrants that, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that neither the Offerors nor the Placement Agents are acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser for the Purchaser. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon any advice, counsel or representations (whether written or oral) of the Offerors or of the Placement Agents. 2.5. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (a) it has consulted with its own legal, regulatory, tax, business, investment, financial and accounting advisers in connection herewith to the extent it has deemed necessary, (b) it has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from officers and representatives of the Offerors concerning their respective financial condition and results of operations and the purchase of the Capital Securities, and any such questions have been answered to its satisfaction, (c) it has had the opportunity to review all publicly available records and filings concerning the Offerors and it has carefully reviewed such records and filings that it considers relevant to making an investment decision, and (d) it has made its own investment decisions based upon its own judgment, due diligence and advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary and not upon any view expressed by the Offerors or the Placement Agents. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. If the Purchaser is a dealer of the type described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, it owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than U.S. $25,000,000.00 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with it. The Purchaser is not a participant-directed employee plan, such as a 401(k) plan, or any other type of plan referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(D) or (a)(1)(i)(E) of Rule 144A, or a trust fund referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(F) of Rule 144A that holds the assets of such a plan, unless investment decisions with respect to the plan are made solely by the fiduciary, trustee or sponsor of such plan. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that on each day from the date on which it acquires the Capital Securities through and including the date on which it disposes of its interests in the Capital Securities, either (i) it is not (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) ----- which is subject to the provisions of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (an "ERISA Plan"), (b) any other "plan" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the - ------------ United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) which is ---- subject to the provisions of Section 4975 of the Code or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (a "Plan"), (c) an entity ---- whose underlying assets include the assets of any such ERISA Plan or other Plan by reason of Department of Labor regulation section 2510.3-101 or otherwise, or (d) a governmental or church plan that is subject to any federal, state or local law which is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (a "Similar Law"); or (ii) the purchase, holding and ------------ disposition of the Capital Securities by it will satisfy the requirements for exemptive relief under Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14, ---- PTCE 90-1, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23 or a similar exemption, or, in the case of a plan subject to a Similar Law, will not result in a non-exempt violation of such Similar Law. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is acquiring the Capital Securities as principal for its own account for investment and, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, not for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. It was not formed solely for the purpose of investing in the Capital Securities, and additional capital or similar contributions were not specifically solicited from any person owning a beneficial interest in it for the purpose of enabling it to purchase any Capital Securities. The Purchaser is not a (i) partnership, (ii) common trust fund or (iii) special trust, pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust fund or plan in which the partners, beneficiaries or participants, as applicable, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation of any investment among such partners, beneficiaries or participants, and except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it agrees that it shall not hold the Capital Securities for the benefit of any other person and shall be the sole beneficial owner thereof for all purposes and that it shall not sell participation interests in the Capital Securities or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person shall be entitled to a beneficial interest in the distribution on the Capital Securities. The Capital Securities purchased directly or indirectly by the Purchaser constitute an investment of no more than 40% of its assets. The Purchaser understands and agrees that any purported transfer of the Capital Securities to a purchaser which would cause the representations and warranties of Section 2.6 and this Section 2.8 to be inaccurate shall be null and void ab initio and the Offerors retain the right to resell any Capital Securities sold to non-permitted transferees. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.11. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.12. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.13. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6603 To the Purchaser: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work Fax: 901-435-7983 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7 . In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------- Print Name: ------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ FIRST BANKS, INC. By: ------------------------------------ Name: ---------------------------------- Title: --------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: ------------------------------------ Name: ---------------------------------- Title: Administrator EXHIBIT A TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ----------------------------------- MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT This Master Custodian Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of May 27, 2004 by and among each purchaser (each a "Purchaser" and collectively the "Purchasers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Joinder Agreement"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation (the "Custodian") and each financial institution (each an "Issuer" and collectively the "Issuers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement. The Purchasers and the Issuers are sometimes referred to herein as the "Interested Parties". RECITALS A. The Purchasers intend to purchase from the Issuers or their respective statutory business trust subsidiaries Securities issued by such Issuers (the "Securities"). B. In order to facilitate any future transfer of all or any portion of the Securities by the Purchasers, the Interested Parties intend to provide for the custody of the Securities and certain other securities on the terms set forth herein. C. The Custodian is willing to hold and administer such securities and to distribute the securities held by it in accordance with the agreement of the Interested Parties and/or arbitral or judicial orders and decrees as set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties by their execution hereof), the parties agree as follows: 1. Joinder Agreement. On or before the delivery to the Custodian of any ----------------- Securities issued by an Issuer, such Issuer and the applicable Purchaser or Purchasers shall enter into a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with such additional provisions as the Interested Parties may wish to add from time to time. An executed copy of each such Joinder Agreement shall be delivered to the Custodian on or before the date on which such Issuer's Securities are issued. This Agreement and each Joinder Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the Purchasers, Issuers and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. 2. Delivery of Securities. On or before each date on which an Issuer enters ---------------------- into a Joinder Agreement: (a) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian a signed, authenticated certificate representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities, with the Purchaser designated as owner thereof (the "Original Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Original Securities. (b) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian five signed, unauthenticated and undated certificates with no holder designated, each of which when completed representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities (the "Replacement Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Replacement Securities. 3. Timing of Release from Custody. Upon receipt of a signed transfer notice in ------------------------------ the form of Exhibit B to be delivered in connection with the Purchaser's transfer of all or any portion of an Issuer's Securities, on the effective date set forth in such transfer notice, the Custodian shall: (a) Deliver the Original Securities certificate corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, among the Institutional Trustee, the Company and the administrators named therein (the "Declaration") or as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, between the Company and the Trustee (the "Indenture"), as applicable, for the purpose of canceling the applicable Original Securities certificate in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or Indenture, as applicable; and (b) Deliver the Replacement Securities certificate(s) corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice in the amount designated in and in accordance with the transfer notice for the purpose of completing and authenticating the applicable Replacement Securities certificate(s) in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Declaration or Indenture, as applicable. The initial term of this Agreement shall be one year (the "Initial Term"). Unless FTN Financial Capital Markets or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. shall otherwise notify the Custodian in writing, upon expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for an additional one-year term and shall continue to automatically renew for succeeding one-year terms until terminated. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Interested Parties shall be released from all obligations hereunder, except for the indemnification obligations set forth in paragraphs 5(b) and 5(c) hereof. 4. Concerning the Custodian. ------------------------ (a) Each Interested Party acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian (i) shall not be responsible for any of the agreements referred to or described herein (including without limitation any Issuer's Declaration or Indenture relating to such Issuer's Securities), or for determining or compelling compliance therewith, and shall not otherwise be bound thereby, (ii) shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement on its part to be performed, each of which are ministerial (and shall not be construed to be fiduciary) in nature, and no implied duties or obligations of any kind shall be read into this Agreement against or on the part of the Custodian, (iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might in its judgment involve or cause it to incur any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with acceptable indemnification, (iv) may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, instrument, statement, certificate, request or other document furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof, and (v) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, including in-house counsel, and the opinion or advice of such counsel in any instance shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel. (b) The Custodian shall not be liable to anyone for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder except in the case of the Custodian's negligence or willful misconduct in breach of the terms of this Agreement. In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if the Custodian has been informed of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. (c) The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability on account of any action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian employed by the Custodian than any such book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian has to the Custodian, except to the extent that such action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian was caused by the Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in breach of this Agreement. (d) The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of each of the Issuers and the Purchaser, and the Custodian assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Custodian makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Securities. The Custodian shall not be accountable for the use or application by any of the Issuers or the Purchaser of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities. 5. Compensation, Expense Reimbursement and Indemnification. ------------------------------------------------------- (a) The Custodian shall be compensated pursuant to a separate fee agreement. (b) Each of the Interested Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Custodian on demand for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this Agreement or the performance or observance of its duties hereunder which are in excess of its customary compensation for normal services hereunder, including without limitation, payment of any legal fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with resolution of any claim by any party hereunder. (c) Each of the Interested Parties covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Custodian (and its directors, officers and employees) and hold it (and such directors, officers and employees) harmless from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense of any nature incurred by the Custodian arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or with the administration of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to attorney's fees and other costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim of liability unless and except to the extent such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense shall be caused by the Custodian's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The provisions in this paragraph 5 shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Custodian. 6. Voting Rights. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to preserve, -------------- protect or exercise rights in the Original Securities, and shall be responsible only for reasonable measures to maintain the physical safekeeping thereof, and otherwise to perform and observe such duties on its part as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be responsible for forwarding to any Interested Party, notifying any Interested Party with respect to, or taking any action with respect to, any notice, solicitation or other document or information, written or otherwise, received from an issuer or other person with respect to the Original Securities, including but not limited to, proxy material, tenders, options, the pendency of calls and maturities and expiration of rights. 7. Resignation. The Custodian may at any time resign as Custodian hereunder by ----------- giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice of resignation to each of the Interested Parties. Prior to the effective date of the resignation as specified in such notice, the Interested Parties will issue to the Custodian a written instruction authorizing redelivery of the Original Securities and the Replacement Securities to a bank or trust company that they select as successor to the Custodian hereunder. If, however, the Interested Parties shall fail to name such a successor custodian within twenty days after the notice of resignation from the Custodian, the Purchasers shall be entitled to name such successor custodian. If no successor custodian is named by the Interested Parties or the Purchasers, the Custodian may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor custodian. 8. Dispute Resolution. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise ------------------ with respect to the delivery, ownership, right of possession, and/or disposition of the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities, or should any claim be made upon the Custodian, the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities by a third party, the Custodian upon receipt of notice of such dispute or claim is authorized and shall be entitled (at its sole option and election) to retain in its possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Original Securities and Replacement Securities until such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court in the United States of America, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order, decree or judgment having expired. The Custodian may, but shall be under no duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings which relate to the Original Securities and Replacement Securities. 9. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service. Each of the Interested Parties hereby ------------------------------------ absolutely and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts in the State of Delaware and of any Federal court located in said State in connection with any actions or proceedings brought against any of the Interested Parties (or each of them) by the Custodian arising out of or relating to this Agreement. In any such action or proceeding, the Interested Parties each hereby absolutely and irrevocably (i) waives any objection to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waives personal service of any summons, complaint, declaration or other process, and (iii) agrees that the service thereof may be made by certified or registered first-class mail directed to such party, as the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with paragraph 10 hereof. 10. Force Majeure. The Custodian shall not be responsible for delays or failures ------------- in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. 11. Notices. (a) Any notice permitted or required hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent by personal delivery, overnight delivery by a recognized courier or delivery service, mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by confirmed facsimile accompanied by mailing of the original on the same day by first class mail, postage prepaid, in each case the parties at their address set forth below (or to such other address as any such party may hereafter designate by written notice to the other parties). If to an Issuer, to the address appearing on such Issuer's Joinder Agreement If to the Purchaser, to the address appearing on such Purchaser's Joinder Agreement If to the Custodian: Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Chris Slaybaugh - Corporate Trust Administration Fax: 302-636-4140 12. Miscellaneous. ------------- (a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the respective --------------- parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns. (b) Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered or modified without ------------- the express written consent of the parties hereto. No course of conduct shall constitute a waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless such waiver is specified in writing, and then only to the extent so specified. A waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement on one occasion shall not constitute a waiver of the other terms of this Agreement, or of such terms and conditions on any other occasion. (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in -------------- accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware. (d) Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents relating ------------------------- limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts, ------------ each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ---------------------------- Print Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------ Title: Financial Services Officer -------------------------- EXHIBIT A TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT ------------------------- September 20, 2007 This Joinder Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of September 20, 2007 by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser") and First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Issuer"). RECITALS A. Wilmington Trust Company (the "Custodian") is party to that certain Master Custodian Agreement dated as of May 27, 2004, as amended (the "Custodian Agreement"). B. The Custodian Agreement provides that certain financial institutions that have issued securities (or whose statutory trust subsidiaries have issued securities) and the Purchaser of such securities will join into the Custodian Agreement pursuant to the terms of a joinder agreement. C. On the date hereof, Issuer is issuing securities to the Purchaser and the Issuer and the Purchaser desire to enter into this Agreement to facilitate the subsequent transfer of the Issuer's securities by the Custodian. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Issuer by its execution hereof), the Issuer agrees as follows: 1. Joinder. The Issuer and Purchaser hereby join in the Custodian ------- Agreement and agree to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions of the Custodian Agreement that are ascribed to "Issuers" and "Purchasers" respectively therein to the same extent as if the Issuer and Purchaser had signed the Custodian Agreement as an original party thereto. 2. Notice. Any notice permitted or required to be sent to an Issuer ------ under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Bank Statutory Trust IX c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Any notice permitted or required to be sent to a Purchaser under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work 3. Termination. This Agreement and the Purchaser's and Issuer's ----------- respective rights and obligations under the Custodian Agreement shall terminate upon the transfer of all of Issuer's securities pursuant to the Custodian Agreement. 4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Custodian Agreement ---------------- constitute the entire agreement among the Purchaser, Issuer and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and Purchaser have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ EXHIBIT B TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE [DATE] Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Dear Sir or Madam: The undersigned hereby notifies you of the transfer of [________] of the Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX, such transfer to be effective on [DATE OF TRANSFER]. Capitalized terms used in this notice and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Placement Agreement dated September 13, 2007 between the Offerors and the placement agents named therein. The undersigned hereby instructs you as Custodian to deliver the Original Securities certificate to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee (the "Trustee") under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated September 20, 2007 among the Trustee, First Banks, Inc. and the administrative trustees named therein (the "Trust Agreement") for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and to deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. By copy of this notice, the Institutional Trustee is hereby instructed to make the Replacement Securities certificate registered to [NAME, ADDRESS AND IDENTITY OF TRANSFEREE] in the liquidation amount of [_________] and bearing the identification number "CUSIP NO. [__________]" and to authenticate and deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to [_____________]. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: ------------------------------------------- Name: ----------------------------------------- Title: ---------------------------------------- cc: First Banks, Inc. Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 20, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 25,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon theexecution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 8,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 20, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than September 28, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 3 days prior to the Closing Date. 1.2. The certificatefor the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the Purchaser or its designee. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the Placement Agents identified therein includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that neither the Capital Securities, the Debentures nor the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents, warrants and certifies that (i) it is not a "U.S. person" as such term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, (ii) it is not acquiring the Capital Securities for the account or benefit of any such U.S. person, (iii) the offer and sale of Capital Securities to the Purchaser constitutes an "offshore transaction" under Regulation S of the Securities Act, and (iv) it will not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act and the Purchaser agrees to the legends and transfer restrictions set forth on the Capital Securities certificate. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable Securities law. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.5. The Purchaser, a Cayman Islands Company whose business includes issuance of certain notes and acquiring the Capital Securities and other similar securities, represents and warrants that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing the Capital Securities, has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers and request additional information from, the Offerors and is aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Capital Securities. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (i) the Purchaser is not in violation or default of any term of its Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association, of any provision of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument or contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or of any judgment, decree, order, writ or, to its knowledge, any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligation set forth in this Agreement; and (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not, with or without the passage of time or giving of notice, result in any such material violation, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any such term, or the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to the Purchaser, its business or operations or any of its assets or properties which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligations set forth in this Agreement. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that the Purchaser is an exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction where it is organized, with full power and authority to perform its obligations under this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.11. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6603 To the Purchaser: Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. c/o Wilmington Trust (Cayman), Ltd. 4th Floor, Century Yard Cricket Square, Elgin Avenue Grand Cayman KY1-1209 Cayman Islands Attention: The Directors Fax: 345-946-4090 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand the day and year first written above. PREFERRED TERM SECURITIES XXVII, LTD. By: -------------------------------------- Print Name: ------------------------------ Title: ----------------------------------- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Subscription Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST BANKS, INC. By: ------------------------------------- Name: ----------------------------------- Title: ---------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: ------------------------------------- Name: ----------------------------------- Title: Administrator EXHIBIT B-1 ----------- FORM OF COMPANY COUNSEL OPINION ------------------------------- September 20, 2007 First Tennessee Bank National Association FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. c/o Wilmington Trust SP Services 787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor (Cayman), Ltd. New York, New York 10019 4th Floor, Century Yard Cricket Square, Elgin Avenue George Town Wilmington Trust Company Grand Cayman KY1-1209 Rodney Square North Cayman Islands BV1 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), a Missouri corporation in connection with a certain Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007, (the "Placement Agreement"), between the Company and First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), on one hand, and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (the "Placement Agents"), on the other hand. Pursuant to the Placement Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions stated therein, the Trust will issue and sell to First Tennessee Bank National Association and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. (the "Purchasers"), $25,000,000.00 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Placement Agreement. The law covered by the opinions expressed herein is limited to the law of the United States of America and of the State of Missouri. We have made such investigations of law as, in our judgment, were necessary to render the following opinions. We have also reviewed (a) the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and its By-Laws, as amended; and (b) such corporate documents, records, information and certificates of the Company and the Subsidiaries, certificates of public officials or government authorities and other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. As to certain facts material to our opinions, we have relied, with your permission, upon statements, certificates or representations, including those delivered or made in connection with the above-referenced transaction, of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Subsidiaries and the Trust. As used herein, the phrases "to the best of our knowledge" or "known to us" or other similar phrases mean the actual knowledge of the attorneys who have had active involvement in the transactions described above or who have prepared or signed this opinion letter, or who otherwise have devoted substantial attention to legal matters for the Company. Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion as of the date hereof that: 1. The Company is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri and is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Each of the Significant Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as such business is currently conducted in all material respects. To the best of our knowledge, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent such shares may be deemed assessable under 12 U.S.C. Section 1831o or 12 U.S.C. Section 55, and are owned of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, by the Company. 2. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Debentures in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of the Company. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Debentures by the Company and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities by the Trust do not give rise to any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase any shares of capital stock or equity securities of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to the corporate Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries, or, to the best of our knowledge, any agreement or other instrument to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries may be bound. 3. The Company has all requisite corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreements, and the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreements have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally, and except as the indemnification and contribution provisions thereof may be limited under applicable laws and certain remedies may not be available in the case of a non-material breach. 4. Each of the Indenture, the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of general principles of equity. 5. The Debentures have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of general principles of equity. 6. To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company, the Trust, nor any of the Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of, or default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, its Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Trust Agreement). The execution, delivery and performance of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents do not and will not (i) result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, claim, charge, encumbrance or restriction upon any property or assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (ii) conflict with, constitute a material breach or violation of, or constitute a material default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of (A) the Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (B) to the best of our knowledge, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, franchise, license or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or (C) any order, decree, judgment, franchise, license, permit, rule or regulation of any court, arbitrator, government, or governmental agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, known to us having jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties which, in the case of each of (i) or (ii) above, is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 7. Except for filings, registrations or qualifications that may be required by applicable securities laws, no authorization, approval, consent or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any person (including, without limitation, any court, governmental body or authority) is required under the laws of the State of Missouri in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents in connection with the offer and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents. 8. To the best of our knowledge (i) no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity is pending or threatened to which the Company, the Trust or the Subsidiaries are or may be a party, and (ii) no action, suit or proceeding is pending or threatened against or affecting the Company, the Trust or the Subsidiaries or any of their properties, before or by any court or governmental official, commission, board or other administrative agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents or the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated therein or the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, or results of operations of the Company, the Trust and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 9. Assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Placement Agents in the Placement Agreement and the Purchasers in the Subscription Agreements, it is not necessary in connection with the offering, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities, the Debentures and the Guarantee Agreement (or the Guarantee) to register the same under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the circumstances contemplated in the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreements. 10. Neither the Company nor the Trust is or after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the transactions described in the Placement Agreement will be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, without regard to Section 3(c) of such Act. The opinion expressed in the first two sentences of numbered paragraph 1 of this opinion is based solely upon certain certificates and confirmations issued by the applicable governmental officer or authority with respect to each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries. With respect to the foregoing opinions, since no member of this firm is actively engaged in the practice of law in the States of Delaware or New York, we do not express any opinions as to the laws of such states and have (i) relied, with your approval, upon the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. with respect to matters of Delaware law and (ii) assumed, with your approval and without rendering any opinion to such effect, that the laws of the State of New York, in all respects material to this opinion, are substantively identical to the laws of the State of Missouri, without regard to conflict of law provisions. The opinions expressed herein are rendered to you solely pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Placement Agreement. As such, they may be relied upon by you only and may not be used or relied upon by any other person for any purpose whatsoever without our prior written consent. Very truly yours, EXHIBIT B-2 ----------- FORM OF DELAWARE COUNSEL OPINION -------------------------------- To Each of the Persons Listed on Schedule A Hereto Re: First Bank Statutory Trust IX ----------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special Delaware counsel for First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following: (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate of Trust"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on August 20, 2007; (b) The Declaration of Trust, dated as of August 20, 2007, among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation ("WTC"), as trustee and the administrators named therein (the "Administrators"); (c) The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of September 20, 2007 (including the form of Capital Securities Certificate attached thereto as Exhibits A-1 and A-2 and the terms of the Capital Securities attached as Annex I) (the "Declaration of Trust"), among the Company, as sponsor, WTC, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") and institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), the Administrators and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; (d) The Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Company, the Trust, and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as placement agents; (e) The Subscription Agreements, dated September 20, 2007 (the "Subscription Agreement"), among (i) the Trust, the Company and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. and (ii) the Trust, the Company and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the documents identified in items (c) through (e) being collectively referred to as the "Operative Documents"); (f) The Capital Securities being issued on the date hereof (the "Capital Securities"); (g) The Common Securities being issued on the date hereof (the "Common Securities") (the documents identified in items (f) and (g) being collectively referred to as the "Trust Securities"); and (h) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated September 19, 2007, obtained from the Secretary of State. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Declaration of Trust, except that reference herein to any document shall mean such document as in effect on the date hereof. This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Placement Agreement. For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Declaration of Trust constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation, and termination of the Trust, and that the Declaration of Trust and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and have not been amended further, (ii) that there are no proceedings pending or contemplated, for the merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or termination of the Trust, (iii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation, due formation or due organization, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, formation or organization, (iv) that each party to the documents examined by us is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required generally or necessary in order for such party to enforce its rights under the documents examined by us, (v) the legal capacity of each natural person who is a party to the documents examined by us, (vi) except to the extent set forth in paragraph 2 below, that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (vii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 3 below, that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has duly authorized, executed and delivered such documents, (viii) the receipt by each Person to whom a Capital Security is to be issued by the Trust (the "Capital Security Holders") of a Capital Security Certificate for the Capital Security and the payment for the Capital Securities acquired by it, in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and the Subscription Agreement, (ix) that the Capital Securities are issued and sold to the Holders of the Capital Securities in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and the Subscription Agreement, (x) the receipt by the Person (the "Common Securityholder") to whom the common securities of the Trust representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities") are to be issued by the Trust of a Common Security Certificate for the Common Securities and the payment for the Common Securities acquired by it, in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (xi) that the Common Securities are issued and sold to the Common Securityholder in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (xii) that each of the parties to the documents reviewed by us has agreed to and received the stated consideration for the incurrence of its obligations under such documents, (xiii) that each of the documents reviewed by us (other than the Declaration of Trust) is a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the parties thereto in accordance with the terms thereof and (xiv) that the Trust derives no income from or connected with sources within the State of Delaware and has no assets, activities (other than having a trustee and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State) or employees in the State of Delaware. We have not participated in the preparation of any offering materials with respect to the Trust Securities and assume no responsibility for its contents. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder that are currently in effect. We express no opinion as to (i) the effect of suretyship defenses, or defenses in the nature thereof, with respect to the obligations of any applicable guarantor, joint obligor, surety, accommodation party, or other secondary obligor or any provisions of the Declaration of Trust with respect to indemnification or contribution and (ii) the accuracy or completeness of any exhibits or schedules to the Operative Documents. No opinion is given herein as to the choice of law or internal substantive rules of law that any court or other tribunal may apply to the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular provision of the Declaration of Trust or the other Operative Documents relating to remedies after default. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular provision of any of the Operative Documents relating to (i) waivers of rights to object to jurisdiction or venue, or consents to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waivers of rights to (or methods of) service of process, or rights to trial by jury, or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation of law, (iii) waivers of any applicable defenses, setoffs, recoupments, or counterclaims, (iv) waivers or variations of provisions which are not capable of waiver or variation under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") of the State, (v) the grant of powers of attorney to any person or entity, or (vi) exculpation or exoneration clauses, indemnity clauses, and clauses relating to releases or waivers of unmatured claims or rights. We have made no examination of, and no opinion is given herein as to the Trustee's or the Trust's title to or other ownership rights in, or the existence of any liens, charges or encumbrances on, or adverse claims against, any asset or property held by the Institutional Trustee or the Trust. We express no opinion as to the creation, validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any mortgage, security interest or lien in any asset or property held by the Institutional Trustee or the Trust. We express no opinion as to the effect of events occurring, circumstances arising, or changes of law becoming effective or occurring, after the date hereof on the matters addressed in this opinion letter, and we assume no responsibility to inform you of additional or changed facts, or changes in law, of which we may become aware. We express no opinion as to any requirement that any party to the Operative Documents (or any other persons or entities purportedly entitled to the benefits thereof) qualify or register to do business in any jurisdiction in order to be able to enforce its rights thereunder or obtain the benefits thereof. Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. ss. 3801, et seq.) (the "Act"). All filings required under the laws of - ------ -- --- the State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid existence of the Trust as a statutory trust have been made. 2. Under the Declaration of Trust and the Act, the Trust has the trust power and authority to (A) execute and deliver the Operative Documents, (B) perform its obligations under such Operative Documents and (C) issue the Trust Securities. 3. The execution and delivery by the Trust of the Operative Documents, and the performance by the Trust of its obligations thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on the part of the Trust. 4. The Declaration of Trust constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, the Trustees and the Administrators, and is enforceable against the Company, the Trustees and the Administrators, in accordance with its terms. 5. Each of the Operative Documents constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust, in accordance with its terms. 6. The Capital Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by the Declaration of Trust, and, when duly executed and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, the Subscription Agreement and the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities will be validly issued, fully paid and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 8 below, nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will entitle the Capital Securities Holders to the benefits of the Declaration of Trust. The issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights under the Act or the Declaration of Trust. 7. The Common Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by the Declaration of Trust and, when duly executed and delivered to the Company as Common Security Holder in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, will be validly issued, fully paid and, subject to paragraph 8 below and Section 9.1(b) of the Declaration of Trust (which provides that the Holder of the Common Securities are liable for debts and obligations of Trust), nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will entitle the Common Security Holder to the benefits of the Declaration of Trust. The issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights under the Act or the Declaration of Trust. 8. Under the Declaration of Trust and the Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Holder of the Common Securities may be obligated, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, (A) to provide indemnity and/or security in connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from transfers or exchanges of Capital Security Certificates and the issuance of replacement Capital Security Certificates, and (B) to provide security or indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the Institutional Trustee to exercise its rights and powers under the Declaration of Trust. 9. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Trust of the Operative Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, requires the consent or approval of, the authorization of, the withholding of objection on the part of, the giving of notice to, the filing, registration or qualification with, or the taking of any other action in respect of, any governmental authority or agency of the State of Delaware, other than the filing of the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State (which Certificate of Trust has been duly filed). 10. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Trust of the Trust Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby, (i) is in violation of the Declaration of Trust or of any law, rule or regulation of the State of Delaware applicable to the Trust or (ii) to the best of our knowledge, without independent investigation, violates, contravenes or constitutes a default under, or results in a breach of or in the creation of any lien (other than as permitted by the Operative Documents) upon any property of the Trust under any indenture, mortgage, chattel mortgage, deed of trust, conditional sales contract, bank loan or credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Trust is a party or by which it is bound. 11. Assuming that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, but rather will be classified for such purposes as a grantor trust under Subpart E, Part I of Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Trust will not be subject to any tax, fee or governmental charge under the laws of the State of Delaware. The opinions expressed in paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 above are subject, as to enforcement, to the effect upon the Declaration of Trust of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) the effect of applicable public policy on the enforceability of provisions relating to indemnification or contribution. Circular 230 Notice. Any advice contained in this communication with respect to any federal tax matter was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that the Internal Revenue Service may impose on the taxpayer. If any such advice is made to any person other than to our client for whom the advice was prepared, the advice expressed above is being delivered to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Richards, Layton & Finger) of the transaction or matter discussed or referenced, and such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. In basing the opinions set forth herein on "our knowledge," the words "our knowledge" signify that no information has come to the attention of the attorneys in the firm who are directly involved in the representation of the Trust in this transaction that would give us actual knowledge that any such opinions are not accurate. Except as otherwise stated herein, we have undertaken no independent investigation or verification of such matters. We consent to your relying as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with the Placement Agreement. We also consent to Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C.'s and Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP's relying as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with opinions to be rendered by them on the date hereof pursuant to the Placement Agreement. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose. Very truly yours, SCHEDULE A ---------- Wilmington Trust Company FTN Financial Capital Markets Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. First Tennessee Bank National Association Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Inc. First Banks, Inc. EXHIBIT B-3 ----------- TAX COUNSEL OPINION ITEMS ------------------------- 1. The Debentures will be classified as indebtedness of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 2. The Trust will be characterized as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. 500 N. Broadway, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Re: Representations Concerning the Issuance of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") to First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust") and Sale of Trust Securities (the "Trust Securities") of the Trust Ladies and Gentlemen: In accordance with your request, First Banks, Inc. (the "Company") hereby makes the following representations in connection with the preparation of your opinion letter as to the United States federal income tax consequences of the issuance by the Company of the Debentures to the Trust and the sale of the Trust Securities. Company hereby represents that: 1. The sole assets of the Trust will be the Debentures, any interest paid on the Debentures to the extent not distributed, proceeds of the Debentures, or any of the foregoing. 2. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures for general corporate purposes. 3. The Trust was not formed to conduct any trade or business and is not authorized to conduct any trade or business. The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of Trust Securities to acquire the Debentures, and (iii) engaging only in activities necessary or incidental thereto. 4. The Company has not entered into an agency agreement with the Trust or authorized the trustee to act as its agent in dealing with third parties. To the Company's knowledge, after due inquiry, the Trust has not acted as the agent of the Company or of anyone else in dealing with third parties. 5. The Trust was formed to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust, and the existence of multiple classes of ownership is incidental to that purpose. There is no intent to provide holders of such interests in the Trust with diverse interests in the assets of the Trust. 6. The Company intends to create a debtor-creditor relationship between the Company, as debtor, and the Trust, as a creditor, upon the issuance and sale of the Debentures to the Trust by the Company. The Company will (i) record and at all times continue to reflect the Debentures as indebtedness on its separate books and records for financial accounting purposes, and (ii) treat the Debentures as indebtedness for all United States tax purposes. 7. During each year, the Trust's income will consist solely of payments made by the Company with respect to the Debentures. Such payments will not be derived from the active conduct of a financial business by the Trust. Both the Company's obligation to make such payments and the measurement of the amounts payable by the Company are defined by the terms of the Debentures. Neither the Company's obligation to make such payments nor the measurement of the amounts payable by the Company is dependent on income or profits of Company or any affiliate of the Company. 8. The Company expects that it will be able to make, and will make, timely payment of amounts identified by the Debentures as principal and interest in accordance with the terms of the Debentures with available capital or accumulated earnings. 9. The Company presently has no intention to defer interest payments on the Debentures, and it considers the likelihood of such a deferral to be remote because, if it were to exercise its right to defer payments of interest with respect to the Debentures, it would not be permitted to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any capital stock of the Company or any affiliate of the Company (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase, or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any affiliate of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures, in each case subject to limited exceptions stated in Section 2.11 of the Indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Debentures. 10. The Company has no present intention (a) to take the position that a deferral of interest payments on the Debentures is not a remote contingency, or (b) to make an explicit disclosure on the Company's tax return, under Reg. ss. 1.1275-2(h)(5) that its determination as holder with respect to remote contingency status is different from its determination as issuer. 11. Immediately after the issuance of the Debentures, the debt-to-equity ratio of the Company (as determined for financial accounting purposes, but excluding deposit liabilities from the Company's debt) will be within standard depository institution industry norms and, in any event, will be no higher than four to one (4 : 1). 12. To the best of our knowledge, the Company is currently in compliance with all federal, state, and local capital requirements, except to the extent that failure to comply with any such requirements would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its affiliates. 13. The Company will not issue any class of common stock or preferred stock senior to the Debentures during their term. 14. The Internal Revenue Service has not challenged the interest deduction on any class of the Company's subordinated debt in the last ten (10) years on the basis that such debt constitutes equity for federal income tax purposes. The above representations are accurate as of the date below and will continue to be accurate through the issuance of the Trust Securities, unless you are otherwise notified by us in writing. The undersigned understands that you will rely on the foregoing in connection with rendering certain legal opinions, and possesses the authority to make the representations set forth in this letter on behalf of the Company. Very truly yours, FIRST BANKS, INC. Date: September 17, 2007 By: _____________________________ Title: _____________________________ EXHIBIT C --------- SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES ------------------------ First Bank The San Francisco Company EX-4 17 fabstixjrsub.txt EXHIBIT 4.12 EXHIBIT 4.12 FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc. September 20, 2007 First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company" which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Holder") or registered assigns, the principal sum of twenty-five million seven hundred seventy-four thousand dollars ($25,774,000.00) on December 15, 2037, and to pay interest on said principal sum from September 20, 2007, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made by check -------- ------- mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee. So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no -------- ------- Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, -------- ------- ------- that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANKS, INC. By /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle ------------------------------------- Authorized Officer REVERSE OF DEBENTURE This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 20, 2007 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price. In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals. In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company. THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. EX-4 18 fbstixsubpre.txt EXHIBIT 4.13 EXHIBIT 4.13 FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 20, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 25,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 8,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 20, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than September 28, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1 day following the date hereof. 1.2. The certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the Purchaser or its designee. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the Placement Agents identified therein includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that neither the Capital Securities, the Debentures nor the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents, warrants and certifies that (i) it is not a "U.S. person" as such term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act, (ii) it is not acquiring the Capital Securities for the account or benefit of any such U.S. person, (iii) the offer and sale of Capital Securities to the Purchaser constitutes an "offshore transaction" under Regulation S of the Securities Act, and (iv) it will not engage in hedging transactions with regard to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act and the Purchaser agrees to the legends and transfer restrictions set forth on the Capital Securities certificate. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable Securities law. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.5. The Purchaser, a Cayman Islands Company whose business includes issuance of certain notes and acquiring the Capital Securities and other similar securities, represents and warrants that it has such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of purchasing the Capital Securities, has had the opportunity to ask questions of, and receive answers and request additional information from, the Offerors and is aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk of an investment in the Capital Securities. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (i) the Purchaser is not in violation or default of any term of its Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association, of any provision of any mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, instrument or contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or of any judgment, decree, order, writ or, to its knowledge, any statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Purchaser which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligation set forth in this Agreement; and (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not, with or without the passage of time or giving of notice, result in any such material violation, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any such term, or the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to the Purchaser, its business or operations or any of its assets or properties which would prevent the Purchaser from performing any material obligations set forth in this Agreement. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that the Purchaser is an exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction where it is organized, with full power and authority to perform its obligations under this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.11. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6603 To the Purchaser: Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd. c/o Wilmington Trust (Cayman), Ltd. 4th Floor, Century Yard Cricket Square, Elgin Avenue Grand Cayman KY1-1209 Cayman Islands Attention: The Directors Fax: 345-946-4090 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand the day and year first written above. PREFERRED TERM SECURITIES XXVII, LTD. By: /s/ Helen Fairs-Hall ----------------------------------------- Print Name: Helen Fairs-Hall --------------------------------- Title: Director -------------------------------------- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Title: Administrator EX-4 19 fbstixtensub.txt EXHIBIT 4.14 EXHIBIT 4.14 FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 20, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 25,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 17,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 20, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than September 28, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1 day following the date hereof. 1.2. As a condition to its purchase of the Capital Securities, Purchaser shall enter into the Joinder Agreement to the Master Custodian Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Custodian Agreement") and, in accordance therewith, the certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the custodian in accordance with the Custodian Agreement. Purchaser shall not transfer the Capital Securities to any person or entity except in accordance with the terms of the Custodian Agreement. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 13, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the placement agents identified therein (the "Placement Agents") includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. 1.4. Anything herein or in the Placement Agreement notwithstanding, the Offerors acknowledge and agree that, so long as Purchaser holds some or all of the Capital Securities, the Purchaser may in its discretion from time to time transfer or sell, or sell or grant participation interests in, some or all of such Capital Securities to one or more parties, provided that any such transaction complies, as applicable, with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and any other applicable securities laws, is pursuant to an exemption therefrom, or is otherwise not subject thereto. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that none of the Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents and warrants that, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that neither the Offerors nor the Placement Agents are acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser for the Purchaser. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon any advice, counsel or representations (whether written or oral) of the Offerors or of the Placement Agents. 2.5. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (a) it has consulted with its own legal, regulatory, tax, business, investment, financial and accounting advisers in connection herewith to the extent it has deemed necessary, (b) it has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from officers and representatives of the Offerors concerning their respective financial condition and results of operations and the purchase of the Capital Securities, and any such questions have been answered to its satisfaction, (c) it has had the opportunity to review all publicly available records and filings concerning the Offerors and it has carefully reviewed such records and filings that it considers relevant to making an investment decision, and (d) it has made its own investment decisions based upon its own judgment, due diligence and advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary and not upon any view expressed by the Offerors or the Placement Agents. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. If the Purchaser is a dealer of the type described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, it owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than U.S. $25,000,000.00 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with it. The Purchaser is not a participant-directed employee plan, such as a 401(k) plan, or any other type of plan referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(D) or (a)(1)(i)(E) of Rule 144A, or a trust fund referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(F) of Rule 144A that holds the assets of such a plan, unless investment decisions with respect to the plan are made solely by the fiduciary, trustee or sponsor of such plan. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that on each day from the date on which it acquires the Capital Securities through and including the date on which it disposes of its interests in the Capital Securities, either (i) it is not (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) ----- which is subject to the provisions of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (an "ERISA Plan"), (b) any other "plan" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the ----------- United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) which is ---- subject to the provisions of Section 4975 of the Code or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (a "Plan"), (c) an entity ---- whose underlying assets include the assets of any such ERISA Plan or other Plan by reason of Department of Labor regulation section 2510.3-101 or otherwise, or (d) a governmental or church plan that is subject to any federal, state or local law which is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (a "Similar Law"); or (ii) the purchase, holding and ------------ disposition of the Capital Securities by it will satisfy the requirements for exemptive relief under Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14, ---- PTCE 90-1, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23 or a similar exemption, or, in the case of a plan subject to a Similar Law, will not result in a non-exempt violation of such Similar Law. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is acquiring the Capital Securities as principal for its own account for investment and, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, not for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. It was not formed solely for the purpose of investing in the Capital Securities, and additional capital or similar contributions were not specifically solicited from any person owning a beneficial interest in it for the purpose of enabling it to purchase any Capital Securities. The Purchaser is not a (i) partnership, (ii) common trust fund or (iii) special trust, pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust fund or plan in which the partners, beneficiaries or participants, as applicable, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation of any investment among such partners, beneficiaries or participants, and except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it agrees that it shall not hold the Capital Securities for the benefit of any other person and shall be the sole beneficial owner thereof for all purposes and that it shall not sell participation interests in the Capital Securities or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person shall be entitled to a beneficial interest in the distribution on the Capital Securities. The Capital Securities purchased directly or indirectly by the Purchaser constitute an investment of no more than 40% of its assets. The Purchaser understands and agrees that any purported transfer of the Capital Securities to a purchaser which would cause the representations and warranties of Section 2.6 and this Section 2.8 to be inaccurate shall be null and void ab initio and the Offerors retain the right to resell any Capital Securities sold to non-permitted transferees. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.11. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.12. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.13. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6603 To the Purchaser: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work Fax: 901-435-7983 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: /s/ David S. Work ------------------------------------- Print Name: David S. Work ----------------------------- Title: Executive Vice President ---------------------------------- FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ----------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Title: Administrator EXHIBIT A TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ----------------------------------- MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT This Master Custodian Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of May 27, 2004 by and among each purchaser (each a "Purchaser" and collectively the "Purchasers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Joinder Agreement"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation (the "Custodian") and each issuing entity (each an "Issuer" and collectively the "Issuers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement. The Purchasers and the Issuers are sometimes referred to herein as the "Interested Parties". RECITALS A. The Purchasers intend to purchase from the Issuers or their respective statutory business trust subsidiaries Securities issued by such Issuers (the "Securities"). B. In order to facilitate any future transfer of all or any portion of the Securities by the Purchasers, the Interested Parties intend to provide for the custody of the Securities and certain other securities on the terms set forth herein. C. The Custodian is willing to hold and administer such securities and to distribute the securities held by it in accordance with the agreement of the Interested Parties and/or arbitral or judicial orders and decrees as set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties by their execution hereof), the parties agree as follows: 1. Joinder Agreement. On or before the delivery to the Custodian of any ----------------- Securities issued by an Issuer, such Issuer and the applicable Purchaser or Purchasers shall enter into a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with such additional provisions as the Interested Parties may wish to add from time to time. An executed copy of each such Joinder Agreement shall be delivered to the Custodian on or before the date on which such Issuer's Securities are issued. This Agreement and each Joinder Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the Purchasers, Issuers and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. 2. Delivery of Securities. On or before each date on which an Issuer enters ---------------------- into a Joinder Agreement: (a) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian a signed, authenticated certificate representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities, with the Purchaser designated as owner thereof (the "Original Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Original Securities. (b) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian five signed, unauthenticated and undated certificates with no holder designated, each of which when completed representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities (the "Replacement Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Replacement Securities. 3. Timing of Release from Custody. Upon receipt of a signed transfer ---------------------------------- notice in the form of Exhibit B to be delivered in connection with the Purchaser's transfer of all or any portion of an Issuer's Securities, on the effective date set forth in such transfer notice, the Custodian shall: (a) Deliver the Original Securities certificate corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, among the Institutional Trustee, the Issuer and the administrators named therein (the "Declaration") or as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the "Indenture"), as applicable, for the purpose of canceling the applicable Original Securities certificate in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or Indenture, as applicable; and (b) Deliver the Replacement Securities certificate(s) corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice in the amount designated in and in accordance with the transfer notice for the purpose of completing and authenticating the applicable Replacement Securities certificate(s) in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Declaration or Indenture, as applicable. The initial term of this Agreement shall be one year (the "Initial Term"). Unless FTN Financial Capital Markets or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. shall otherwise notify the Custodian in writing, upon expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for an additional one-year term and shall continue to automatically renew for succeeding one-year terms until terminated. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Interested Parties shall be released from all obligations hereunder, except for the indemnification obligations set forth in paragraphs 5(b) and 5(c) hereof. 4. Concerning the Custodian. ------------------------ (a) Each Interested Party acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian (i) shall not be responsible for any of the agreements referred to or described herein (including without limitation any Issuer's Declaration or Indenture relating to such Issuer's Securities), or for determining or compelling compliance therewith, and shall not otherwise be bound thereby, (ii) shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement on its part to be performed, each of which are ministerial (and shall not be construed to be fiduciary) in nature, and no implied duties or obligations of any kind shall be read into this Agreement against or on the part of the Custodian, (iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might in its judgment involve or cause it to incur any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with acceptable indemnification, (iv) may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, instrument, statement, certificate, request or other document furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof, and (v) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, including in-house counsel, and the opinion or advice of such counsel in any instance shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel. (b) The Custodian shall not be liable to anyone for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder except in the case of the Custodian's negligence or willful misconduct in breach of the terms of this Agreement. In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if the Custodian has been informed of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. (c) The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability on account of any action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian employed by the Custodian than any such book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian has to the Custodian, except to the extent that such action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian was caused by the Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in breach of this Agreement. (d) The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of each of the Issuers and the Purchaser, and the Custodian assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Custodian makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Securities. The Custodian shall not be accountable for the use or application by any of the Issuers or the Purchaser of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities. 5. Compensation, Expense Reimbursement and Indemnification. ------------------------------------------------------- (a) The Custodian shall be compensated pursuant to a separate fee agreement. (b) Each of the Interested Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Custodian on demand for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this Agreement or the performance or observance of its duties hereunder which are in excess of its customary compensation for normal services hereunder, including without limitation, payment of any legal fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with resolution of any claim by any party hereunder. (c) Each of the Interested Parties covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Custodian (and its directors, officers and employees) and hold it (and such directors, officers and employees) harmless from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense of any nature incurred by the Custodian arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or with the administration of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to attorney's fees and other costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim of liability unless and except to the extent such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense shall be caused by the Custodian's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The provisions in this paragraph 5 shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Custodian. 6. Voting Rights. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to preserve, ------------- protect or exercise rights in the Original Securities, and shall be responsible only for reasonable measures to maintain the physical safekeeping thereof, and otherwise to perform and observe such duties on its part as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be responsible for forwarding to any Interested Party, notifying any Interested Party with respect to, or taking any action with respect to, any notice, solicitation or other document or information, written or otherwise, received from an issuer or other person with respect to the Original Securities, including but not limited to, proxy material, tenders, options, the pendency of calls and maturities and expiration of rights. 7. Resignation. The Custodian may at any time resign as Custodian hereunder ----------- by giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice of resignation to each of the Interested Parties. Prior to the effective date of the resignation as specified in such notice, the Interested Parties will issue to the Custodian a written instruction authorizing redelivery of the Original Securities and the Replacement Securities to a bank or trust company that they select as successor to the Custodian hereunder. If, however, the Interested Parties shall fail to name such a successor custodian within twenty days after the notice of resignation from the Custodian, the Purchasers shall be entitled to name such successor custodian. If no successor custodian is named by the Interested Parties or the Purchasers, the Custodian may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor custodian. 8. Dispute Resolution. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute ------------------ arise with respect to the delivery, ownership, right of possession, and/or disposition of the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities, or should any claim be made upon the Custodian, the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities by a third party, the Custodian upon receipt of notice of such dispute or claim is authorized and shall be entitled (at its sole option and election) to retain in its possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Original Securities and Replacement Securities until such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court in the United States of America, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order, decree or judgment having expired. The Custodian may, but shall be under no duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings which relate to the Original Securities and Replacement Securities. 9. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service. Each of the Interested Parties ------------------------------------ hereby absolutely and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts in the State of Delaware and of any Federal court located in said State in connection with any actions or proceedings brought against any of the Interested Parties (or each of them) by the Custodian arising out of or relating to this Agreement. In any such action or proceeding, the Interested Parties each hereby absolutely and irrevocably (i) waives any objection to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waives personal service of any summons, complaint, declaration or other process, and (iii) agrees that the service thereof may be made by certified or registered first-class mail directed to such party, as the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with paragraph 10 hereof. 10. Force Majeure. The Custodian shall not be responsible for delays or ------------- failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. 11. Notices. ------- (a) Any notice permitted or required hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent by personal delivery, overnight delivery by a recognized courier or delivery service, mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by confirmed facsimile accompanied by mailing of the original on the same day by first class mail, postage prepaid, in each case the parties at their address set forth below (or to such other address as any such party may hereafter designate by written notice to the other parties). If to an Issuer, to the address appearing on such Issuer's Joinder Agreement If to the Purchaser, to the address appearing on such Purchaser's Joinder Agreement If to the Custodian: Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Chris Slaybaugh - Corporate Trust Administration Fax: 302-636-4140 12. Miscellaneous. ------------- (a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the --------------- respective parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns. (b) Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered or modified ------------- without the express written consent of the parties hereto. No course of conduct shall constitute a waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless such waiver is specified in writing, and then only to the extent so specified. A waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement on one occasion shall not constitute a waiver of the other terms of this Agreement, or of such terms and conditions on any other occasion. (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed ------------- in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware. (d) Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents --------------------------- relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several ------------ counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ---------------------------- Print Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------ Title: Financial Services Officer -------------------------- EXHIBIT A TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT ------------------------- September 20, 2007 This Joinder Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of September 20, 2007 by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser") and First Bank Statutory Trust IX (the "Issuer"). RECITALS A. Wilmington Trust Company (the "Custodian") is party to that certain Master Custodian Agreement dated as of May 27, 2004, as amended (the "Custodian Agreement"). B. The Custodian Agreement provides that certain financial institutions that have issued securities (or whose statutory trust subsidiaries have issued securities) and the Purchaser of such securities will join into the Custodian Agreement pursuant to the terms of a joinder agreement. C. On the date hereof, Issuer is issuing securities to the Purchaser and the Issuer and the Purchaser desire to enter into this Agreement to facilitate the subsequent transfer of the Issuer's securities by the Custodian. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Issuer by its execution hereof), the Issuer agrees as follows: 1. Joinder. The Issuer and Purchaser hereby join in the Custodian ------- Agreement and agree to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions of the Custodian Agreement that are ascribed to "Issuers" and "Purchasers" respectively therein to the same extent as if the Issuer and Purchaser had signed the Custodian Agreement as an original party thereto. 2. Notice. Any notice permitted or required to be sent to an Issuer ------ under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Bank Statutory Trust IX c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Any notice permitted or required to be sent to a Purchaser under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work 3. Termination. This Agreement and the Purchaser's and Issuer's ----------- respective rights and obligations under the Custodian Agreement shall terminate upon the transfer of all of Issuer's securities pursuant to the Custodian Agreement. 4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Custodian Agreement ---------------- constitute the entire agreement among the Purchaser, Issuer and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and Purchaser have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: Administrator FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------- Name: -------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------- EXHIBIT B TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE [DATE] Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Dear Sir or Madam: The undersigned hereby notifies you of the transfer of [________] of the Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX, such transfer to be effective on [DATE OF TRANSFER]. Capitalized terms used in this notice and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Placement Agreement dated September 13, 2007 between the Offerors and the placement agents named therein. The undersigned hereby instructs you as Custodian to deliver the Original Securities certificate to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee (the "Trustee") under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated September 20, 2007 among the Trustee, First Banks, Inc. and the administrative trustees named therein (the "Trust Agreement") for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and to deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. By copy of this notice, the Institutional Trustee is hereby instructed to make the Replacement Securities certificate registered to [NAME, ADDRESS AND IDENTITY OF TRANSFEREE] in the liquidation amount of [_________] and bearing the identification number "CUSIP NO. [__________]" and to authenticate and deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to [_____________]. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: -------------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------------ Title: ----------------------------------------- cc: First Banks, Inc. Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee EX-4 20 fbstixcertp1.txt EXHIBIT 4.15 EXHIBIT 4.15 Certificate Number P-1 8,000 Capital Securities CUSIP NO. 99T741AO7 THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (I) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (II) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. September 20, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Mertz & Moyer (the "Holder"), as the nominee of Wilmington Trust Company, as securities intermediary under the Securities Account Control Agreement dated as of September 20, 2007 among Preferred Term Securities XXVII, Ltd., as issuer and Wilmington Trust Company, as indenture trustee and securities intermediary, is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 20, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signature appears on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle -------------------------------- Authorized Officer REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) --------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: --------------------------------------- Signature: ------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 (1) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EX-4 21 fbstixcertp2.txt EXHIBIT 4.16 EXHIBIT 4.16 Certificate Number P-2 17,000 Capital Securities THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (I) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (II) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. September 20, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust IX (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust IX, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Tennessee Bank National Association is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 20, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signature appears on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST IX By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Monigle ------------------------------- Authorized Officer REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 7.94438% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.25% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) ---------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: ------------------------------------------- Signature: ------------------------------ (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 - ------------------------------ (1) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EX-4 22 fbstxiindent.txt EXHIBIT 4.17 EXHIBIT 4.17 =============================================== FIRST BANKS, INC., as Issuer INDENTURE Dated as of September 28, 2007 WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES DUE 2037 ===============================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Page ---- ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS............................................................................................1 Section 1.1. Definitions............................................................................1 ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES............................................................................................8 Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating..............................................................8 Section 2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication........................................8 Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures....................................................9 Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures................................................................9 Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures....................................9 Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.......................................11 Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures..................................................................12 Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest...........................................12 Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc..................................................13 Section 2.10. Computation of Interest...............................................................14 Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period..................................................15 Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers.........................................................................15 ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.................................................................16 Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures........16 Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.................................................17 Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office....................................17 Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent..........................................................18 Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee................................................................18 Section 3.6. Additional Sums.......................................................................19 Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions..............................................19 Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends...............................................................19 Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust.............................................................19 Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness........................................................20 Section 3.11. Subsidiary; Insured Depository Institution............................................20 ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE....................................20 Section 4.1. Securityholders' Lists................................................................20 Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists..................................................20 Section 4.3. Reports by the Company................................................................21 ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT..................................22 Section 5.1. Events of Default.....................................................................22 Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.......................................23 Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee............................................25 Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders........................................................25 Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee................................................................25 Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver....................26 Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders........26 Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults....................................................................26 Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs..............................................................27 ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE...............................................................................27 Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee................................................27 Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc..................................................28 Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc...................................................29 Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures..........................................................29 Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust............................................................29 Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee..................................................29 Section 6.7. Officers' Certificate as Evidence.....................................................30 Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee................................................................30 Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee.....................................................31 Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee.......................................................32 Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc.............................................................32 Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents.................................................................33 ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS......................................................................34 Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders.............................................................34 Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders.................................................34 Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners........................................................34 Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding....................................35 Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound..........................................35 ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS..........................................................................35 Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings..................................................................35 Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee...........................................................36 Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders........................................36 Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting.............................................................36 Section 8.5. Regulations...........................................................................36 Section 8.6. Voting................................................................................36 Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions.......................................................................37 ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES..............................................................................37 Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Securityholders............................37 Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders...............................39 Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures.....................................................39 Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures................................................................40 Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee...........40 ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES..............................................................................40 Section 10.1. Optional Redemption...................................................................40 Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption..............................................................40 Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.........................................40 Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption...........................................41 ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE....................................................41 Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.......................................41 Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted....................................................42 Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.............................................42 ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.............................................................42 Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture................................................................42 Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.......................................43 Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.....................................................43 Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys............................................................43 ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS....................................43 Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.................................43 ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS............................................................................44 Section 14.1. Successors............................................................................44 Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity.....................................................44 Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers...........................................................44 Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc............................................................44 Section 14.5. Governing Law.........................................................................44 Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent......................................44 Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc......................................................45 Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts.............................................................45 Section 14.9. Separability..........................................................................45 Section 14.10. Assignment............................................................................45 Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights..............................................................45 ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES..........................................................................45 Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate..............................................................45 Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness........................................................46 Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy..................................................46 Section 15.4. Subrogation...........................................................................47 Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination...................................................48 Section 15.6. Notice by the Company.................................................................48 Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.................................49 Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired.....................................................49 Exhibit A Form of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture Exhibit B Form of Certificate to Trustee Exhibit C Form of Quarterly Report
THIS INDENTURE, dated as of September 28, 2007, between First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as debenture trustee (the "Trustee"). WITNESSETH: WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037 (the "Debentures") under this Indenture to provide, ---------- among other things, for the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed; NOW, THEREFORE, This Indenture Witnesseth: In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as follows: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS ----------- Section 1.1. Definitions. The terms defined in this Section 1.1 ----------- (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section 1.1. All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term "generally accepted accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation. The words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision. "Acceleration Event of Default" means an Event of Default under Section ----------------------------- 5.1(a), (d), (e) or (f), whatever the reason for such Acceleration Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body. "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. ------------------- "Additional Junior Indebtedness" means, without duplication and other ------------------------------- than the Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability -------- ------- of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines. "Additional Sums" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6. --------------- "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Authenticating Agent" means any agent or agents of the Trustee which --------------------- at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12. "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or -------------- state law for the relief of debtors. "Board of Directors" means the board of directors or the executive ------------------- committee or any other duly authorized designated officers of the Company. "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the ----------------- Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee. "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other ------------ day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Capital Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets ------------------ of the Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of - -------- ------- Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. "Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement that the ------------------------------ Company enters into with Wilmington Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, or other Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital Securities of the Trust. "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Company and the ------------------------- Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital adequacy guidelines, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the -------- ------- Company to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the -------- ------- ------- distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Certificate" means a certificate signed by any one of the principal ----------- executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company. "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets ----------------- of the Trust which rank pari passu with Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of - -------- ------- Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities. "Company" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, and, subject ------- to the provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns. "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8. ----------- "Debenture" or "Debentures" has the meaning stated in the first recital --------- ---------- of this Indenture. "Debenture Register" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5. ------------------ "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of ----------- the Trust, as amended or supplemented from time to time. "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse ------- of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8. ------------------ "Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. ------------------ "Distribution Period" means (i) with respect to interest paid on the -------------------- first Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Interest Payment Date. "Event of Default" means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued ---------------- for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein designated. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11. ---------------- "Federal Reserve" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve ---------------- System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding companies. "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended --------- or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both. "Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration. --------------------- "Interest Payment Date" means March 15, June 15, September 15 and ----------------------- December 15 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing in December 2007. "Interest Rate" means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and -------------- including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 the rate per annum of 8.08063%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Company and the -------------------------- Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures. "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust ------------------- Security. "Maturity Date" means December 15, 2037. ------------- "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of ---------------------- the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal -------------------- counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section. "OTS" means the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal --- agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding companies. The term "outstanding," when used with reference to Debentures, means, ----------- subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except: (a) Debentures theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; (b) Debentures, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that, if such Debentures, or portions -------- ------- thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Debentures paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in due course. "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, ------ partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof. "Predecessor Security" of any particular Debenture means every previous -------------------- Debenture evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Debenture. "Principal Office of the Trustee," or other similar term, means the -------------------------------- office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture shall be Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. --------------- "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures ---------------- being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Redemption Date. "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer -------------------- within the Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Reuters Page LIBOR01" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. -------------------- "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time -------------- to time or any successor legislation. "Securityholder," "holder of Debentures," or other similar terms, means -------------- any Person in whose name at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof. "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to the Company, (i) the -------------------- principal, premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company for all borrowed and purchased money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company; (ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker's acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction; (v) all obligations of the Company associated with derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts, and similar arrangements; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise including, without limitation, similar obligations arising from off-balance sheet guarantees and direct credit substitutes; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) above of other Persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. Notwithstanding the foregoing, "Senior Indebtedness" shall not include (1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3) trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of business (such trade accounts payable being pari passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4) obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are pari passu, junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding company). Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness. "Special Event" means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment ------------- Company Event or a Tax Event. "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2. ----------------------- "Special Redemption Price" means the price set forth in the following table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed: - ----------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Month in which Special Special Redemption Price ---------------------- ------------------------ Redemption Date Occurs ---------------------- - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2007 104.625% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2008 104.300% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2008 104.000% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2008 103.650% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2008 103.350% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2009 103.000% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2009 102.700% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2009 102.350% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2009 102.050% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2010 101.700% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2010 101.400% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2010 101.050% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ December 2010 100.750% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ March 2011 100.450% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ June 2011 100.200% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ September 2011 and thereafter 100.000% - --------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date. "Subsidiary" means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at ---------- least a majority of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner. For the purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an ---------- opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an "Administrative Action") or judicial decision ---------------------- interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Company on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. "3-Month LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10. ------------- "Trust" shall mean First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a Delaware statutory ----- trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture, of which the Company is the sponsor. "Trust Securities" means Common Securities and Capital Securities of ---------------- the Trust. "Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, and, subject to the ------- provisions of Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder. ARTICLE II. DEBENTURES ---------- Section 2.1. Authentication and Dating. Upon the execution and -------------------------- delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter, Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $10,310,000.00 may be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a written authentication order from the Company, shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without any further action by the Company hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon the aforementioned authentication order and written order in authenticating and delivering said Debentures. In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon: (a) a copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, as the case may be; and (b) an Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall also state: (1) that such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights or the reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation, preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and (2) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this Indenture. The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing holders. The definitive Debentures shall be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Debentures, as evidenced by their execution of such Debentures. Section 2.2. Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication. The -------------------------------------------------- Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Debentures shall be in substantially the following form: This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By ---------------------------------- Authorized Signer Section 2.3. Form and Denomination of Debentures. The Debentures ------------------------------------- shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. Any attempted transfer of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever. Any such purported transferee shall be deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Debentures. The Debentures shall be numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Section 2.4. Execution of Debentures. The Debentures shall be signed ----------------------- in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents. Only such Debentures as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company, although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer. Every Debenture shall be dated the date of its authentication. Section 2.5. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Debentures. The --------------------------------------------------- Company shall cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a register (the "Debenture Register") for the Debentures issued hereunder in ------------------- which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in this Article II provided. The Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. Debentures to be exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. Registration or registration of transfer of any Debenture by the Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. The Company or the Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of Debentures for redemption. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law: THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Section 2.6. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures. In case ----------------------------------------------- any Debenture shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute, and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected therewith. In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and of the ownership thereof. Every substituted Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder. All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender. Section 2.7. Temporary Debentures. Pending the preparation of ---------------------- definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are typed, printed or lithographed. Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Debenture shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Debentures. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of such definitive Debentures. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder. Section 2.8. Payment of Interest and Additional Interest. Interest at ------------------------------------------- the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the Person to whom principal is paid. Each Debenture shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum of 8.08063%, and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described in Section 2.10, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly. Interest shall be payable (subject to any relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007. Any interest on any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be ------------------- payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 25 days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date and shall be no longer payable. The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment method; provided, however, the Trustee in its -------- ------- sole discretion deems such payment method to be practical. Any interest (including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the terms of such Debentures. The term "regular record date" as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on the 15th Business Day preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date. Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture. Section 2.9. Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc. All Debentures --------------------------------------- surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent, shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. All Debentures canceled by any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall destroy all canceled Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing. If the Company shall acquire any of the Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. Section 2.10. Computation of Interest. The amount of interest payable ----------------------- for each Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). (a) "3-Month LIBOR" means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). "Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits; (2) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (3) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. (b) The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. (c) "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking ------------------- Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined. (d) The Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are listed, of the Coupon Rate and the Determination Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day of the relevant Distribution Period. Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided. Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture, the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined, the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period. (e) Subject to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications, opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given, expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion. Section 2.11. Extension of Interest Payment Period. So long as no ---------------------------------------- Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period ----------------- no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of -------------------- any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, -------- however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided - ------- -------- further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not - ------- ------- and shall not permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's or such Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (f) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (g) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The Trustee shall give notice of the Company's election to begin a new Extension Period to the Securityholders. Section 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Debentures may ------------- use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, however, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers. ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY ----------------------------------- Section 3.1. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed -------------------------------------------------------- Treatment of the Debentures. - --------------------------- (a) The Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the related record date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Institutional Trustee. (b) The Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United States federal income tax purposes. All payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an Internal Revenue Service Form W8 BEN (or any substitute or successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States federal income tax purposes. (c) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period. (d) As of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its outstanding equity and on the Company's ability to make any payments of principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures. Section 3.2. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. So long as any of ------------------------------------- the Debentures remain outstanding, the Company will maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this Indenture may be served. The Company will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the Trustee. In case the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee. In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside Wilmington, Delaware, where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in -------- ------- any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Wilmington, Delaware, for the purposes above mentioned. The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof. Section 3.3. Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office. The --------------------------------------------------- Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder. Section 3.4. Provision as to Paying Agent. ---------------------------- (a) If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this Section 3.4, (1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures; (2) that it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall be due and payable; and (3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent. (b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the Debentures when the same shall become due and payable. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to act. (c) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained. (d) Anything in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to Sections 12.3 and 12.4. Section 3.5. Certificate to Trustee. The Company will deliver to the ---------------------- Trustee on or before 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof. A form of this Certificate is attached hereto as Exhibit B. --------- Section 3.6. Additional Sums. If and for so long as the Trust is the ---------------- holder of all Debentures and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts ("Additional Sums") on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net ---------------- amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges had been imposed. Whenever in this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made; provided, however, -------- ------- that the deferral of the payment of interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable. Section 3.7. Compliance with Consolidation Provisions. The Company ------------------------------------------- will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article XI hereof are complied with. Section 3.8. Limitation on Dividends. If Debentures are initially ------------------------ issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Section 3.9. Covenants as to the Trust. For so long as the Trust --------------------------- Securities remain outstanding, the Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the -------- ------- Company under this Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities. The Company, as owner of the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures. Section 3.10. Additional Junior Indebtedness. The Company shall not, ------------------------------- and it shall not cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness (i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate or pari passu in all respects to the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company, or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company. Section 3.11. Subsidiary; Insured Depository Institution. So long as ------------------------------------------- any of the Debentures remain outstanding, at least one operating Subsidiary of the Company shall be an insured depository institution, as such term is defined in Section 3(c)(2) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended. ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS ---------------------------------- BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE ------------------------------ Section 4.1. Securityholders' Lists. The Company covenants and agrees ---------------------- that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee: (a) on each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1 so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as Debenture registrar. Section 4.2. Preservation and Disclosure of Lists. ------------------------------------ (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures registrar (if so acting) hereunder. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished. (b) In case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either: (1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application. If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If said Commission, as permitted or required by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application. (c) Each and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b). Section 4.3. Reports by the Company. (a) The Company shall furnish to ---------------------- the holders of the Capital Securities and to prospective purchasers of the Capital Securities, upon their request, the information required to be furnished pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. (b) The Company shall furnish to (i) Wilmington Trust Company, with a copy to FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., and (ii) any beneficial owner of the Capital Securities reasonably identified to the Company upon their request, a completed quarterly report in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, which report shall be so furnished by the Company not later --------- than 50 days after the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year of the Company and not later than 100 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company along with a copy of the Company's most recently filed (1) FR Y-9C filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a bank holding company, (2) FR Y-9SP filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a small bank holding company or (3) H-(b)11 filed with the OTS if the Company is a savings and loan holding company. ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ------------------------------------------- UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT ------------------------ Section 5.1. Events of Default. "Event of Default," wherever used ----------------- herein, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (a) the Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture, including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, following the nonpayment of any such interest for twenty or more consecutive Distribution Periods; or (b) the Company defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration or otherwise; or (c) the Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (d) a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (e) the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due; or (f) the Trust shall have voluntarily or nvoluntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with (i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration. If an Acceleration Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default under Section 5.1(b) or (c) occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may proceed to remedy the default or breach thereunder by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee or such holders shall deem most effectual to remedy the defaulted covenant or enforce the provisions of this Indenture so breached, either by suit in equity or by action at law, for damages or otherwise. The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein -- then and in every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent thereon. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as though no such proceeding had been taken. Section 5.2. Payment of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor. The -------------------------------------------------- Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1(a) or (b) then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable. In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise, (i) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures, (ii) in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings, (iii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and (iv) to distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses. Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding. All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any such proceedings. Section 5.3. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any moneys ------------------------------------------- collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: First: To the payment of costs and expenses incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6; Second: To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV; Third: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and Fourth: The balance, if any, to the Company. Section 5.4. Proceedings by Securityholders. No holder of any -------------------------------- Debenture shall have any right to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Debentures. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity. Section 5.5. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of Default ----------------------- hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law. Section 5.6. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission -------------------------------------------------------- Not a Waiver. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.6, all powers and - ------------ remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section 6.1) or by the Securityholders. Section 5.7. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by -------------------------------------------------------- Majority of Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal - ---------------------------- amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such Debentures; provided, -------- however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have - ------- the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided, however, that if the -------- ------- Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. Section 5.8. Notice of Defaults. The Trustee shall, within 90 days ------------------ after the actual knowledge by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment -------- ------- of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders. Section 5.9. Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture ------------------------ agree, and each holder of any Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of -------- ------- this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable. ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE ---------------------- Section 6.1. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. With respect to -------------------------------------- the holders of Debentures issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs. No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that: (a) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred (1) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, and (2) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture; (b) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and (c) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture. None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it. Section 6.2. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Except as ----------------------------------------- otherwise provided in Section 6.1: (a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company; (c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel; (d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby; (e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived) to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs; (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debentures affected thereby; provided, however, that if the -------- ------- payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so proceeding; (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed by it with due care; and (h) with the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or (b), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures. Section 6.3. No Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals ---------------------------------------- contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Debentures. The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture. Section 6.4. Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer -------------------------------------------------------- Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent - -------------------------------------- or any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar. Section 6.5. Moneys to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of -------------------------- Section 12.4, all moneys received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company. Section 6.6. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company ---------------------------------------- covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the Trustee's counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Indenture. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability. The obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular Debentures. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), (e) or (f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture. Notwithstanding anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise advance funds to or on behalf of the Company. Section 6.7. Officers' Certificate as Evidence. Except as otherwise ---------------------------------- provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof. Section 6.8. Eligibility of Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall at ---------------------- all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00) and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent records of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of ss. 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this Indenture. Section 6.9. Resignation or Removal of Trustee --------------------------------- (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing notice thereof, at the Company's expense, to the holders of the Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor Trustee. If no successor Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee. (b) In case at any time any of the following shall occur -- (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint successor Trustee. (c) Upon prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor. (d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in Section 6.10. Section 6.10. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor Trustee -------------------------------- appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights and powers. Any Trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.6. If a successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee. No successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under the provisions of Section 6.8. In no event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder. Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register. If the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company. Section 6.11. Succession by Merger, etc. Any corporation into which ------------------------- the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such -------- corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Debentures shall have been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Debentures so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Debentures shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Debentures either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Debentures or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the -------- ------- right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Debentures in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation. Section 6.12. Authenticating Agents. There may be one or more ---------------------- Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the -------- ------- Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of Debentures. Any such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12 the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect herein specified in this Section. Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures as the names and addresses of such holders appear on the Debenture Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein. The Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. Any Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee. ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS ------------------------------ Section 7.1. Action by Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it ------------------------- is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee deems satisfactory. If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same, and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement -------- ------- or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date. Section 7.2. Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the --------------------------------------- provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee. The ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a certificate of the Debenture registrar. The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary. The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 8.6. Section 7.3. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. Prior to due presentment ------------------------------ for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. Section 7.4. Debentures Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding. In --------------------------------------------------- determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided, however, that for the purposes of -------- ------- determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In the case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee. Section 7.5. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor. ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS ------------------------- Section 8.1. Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders may -------------------- be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following purposes: (a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V; (b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article VI; (c) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or (d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law. Section 8.2. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time --------------------------- call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a holder of Debentures, to the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting. Section 8.3. Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. In case ---------------------------------------------- at any time the Company pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 8.2. Section 8.4. Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any ------------------------- meeting of Securityholders a Person shall (a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel. Section 8.5. Regulations. Notwithstanding any other provisions of ----------- this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit. The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or -------- ------- counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or 8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice. Section 8.6. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any ------ meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as provided in Section 8.2. The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated. Section 8.7. Quorum; Actions. The Persons entitled to vote a majority --------------- in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided, however, that if any action is to be -------- ------- taken at such meeting with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Securityholders, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2, except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum. Except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided, however, that, except as limited by the provisos in the -------- ------- first paragraph of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting. ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES ----------------------- Section 9.1. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of -------------------------------------------------------- Securityholders. The Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the - --------------- Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes: (a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI hereof; (b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, -------- however, that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or - ------- condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default; (c) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially -------- adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures; (d) to add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided, -------- however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the - ------- holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures); (e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; (f) to make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect; or (g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add to the rights of the holders of Debentures. The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise. Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2. Section 9.2. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. ------------------------------------------------------- With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without -------- ------- the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the -------- ------- ------- Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture; provided further, however, that if the consent of the Securityholder of each - -------- ------- ------- outstanding Debenture is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture. Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the Debenture Register. Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture. It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof. Section 9.3. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of --------------------------------- any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes. Section 9.4. Notation on Debentures. Debentures authenticated and ----------------------- delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding. Section 9.5. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be -------------------------------------------------------- Furnished to Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and - -------------------- 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX. The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof. ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES ------------------------ Section 10.1. Optional Redemption. The Company shall have the right -------------------- (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012 (the "Redemption Date"), at the ---------------- Redemption Price. Section 10.2. Special Event Redemption. If a Special Event shall occur ------------------------ and be continuing, the Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the "Special Redemption Date") at the Special Redemption ------------------------- Price. Section 10.3. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Debentures. In case ---------------------------------------------- the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register. Such mailing shall be by first class mail. The notice if mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Debenture. Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. If less than all the Debentures are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures to be redeemed. In case the Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Section 10.4. Payment of Debentures Called for Redemption. If notice ------------------------------------------- of redemption has been given as provided in Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called for redemption shall cease to accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. Upon presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Debenture so presented. ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE ------------------------------------------------- Section 11.1. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. Nothing ----------------------------------------------- contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any - -------- ------- such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property. Section 11.2. Successor Entity to be Substituted. In case of any such ---------------------------------- consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the Debentures. Such successor entity thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for that purpose. All the Debentures so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof. Section 11.3. Opinion of Counsel to be Given to Trustee. The Trustee, ----------------------------------------- subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption, permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the provisions of this Article XI. ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE --------------------------------------- Section 12.1. Discharge of Indenture. When ---------------------- (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or (b) all the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds, which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any Debentures which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in the case of either clause (a) or clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures shall mature and be paid. Thereafter, Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture. The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures. Section 12.2. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. Subject ----------------------------------------------- to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest. Section 12.3. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held. Upon the satisfaction --------------------------------- and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys. Section 12.4. Return of Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited with or -------------------------- paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall, subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease. ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, ---------------------------------------- OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS ---------------------- Section 13.1. Indenture and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations. ------------------------------------------------------- No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ------------------------ Section 14.1. Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises ---------- and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns whether so expressed or not. Section 14.2. Official Acts by Successor Entity. Any act or proceeding --------------------------------- by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board, committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company. Section 14.3. Surrender of Company Powers. The Company by instrument --------------------------- in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted successor. Section 14.4. Addresses for Notices, etc. Any notice, consent, ----------------------------- direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made, furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to the Company, 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042, Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. Any notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register. Section 14.5. Governing Law. This Indenture and each Debenture shall ------------- be deemed to be a contract made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict of laws principles thereof. Section 14.6. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. Upon ------------------------------------------------- any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with. Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with. Section 14.7. Table of Contents, Headings, etc. The table of contents --------------------------------- and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof. Section 14.8. Execution in Counterparts. This Indenture may be -------------------------- executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 14.9. Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions ------------ contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Debentures, but this Indenture and such Debentures shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein. Section 14.10. Assignment. The Company will have the right at all times ---------- to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto. Section 14.11. Acknowledgment of Rights. The Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee or any other Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the Debentures. ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES --------------------------- Section 15.1. Agreement to Subordinate. The Company covenants and ------------------------- agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder of a Debenture, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions. The payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided, -------- however, that the Debentures shall rank pari passu in all material respects with - ------- any current indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of debt securities) issued to any trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Company. No provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder. Section 15.2. Default on Senior Indebtedness. In the event and during ------------------------------ the continuation of any default by the Company in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Section 15.3. Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy. Upon any payment ------------------------------------ by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures. Upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the Trustee. In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. For purposes of this Article XV, the words "cash, property or securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture. Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6 of this Indenture. Section 15.4. Subrogation. Subject to the payment in full of all ----------- Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures shall be paid in full. For the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Debentures as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV. Section 15.5. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination. Each Securityholder ----------------------------------- by such Securityholder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Section 15.6. Notice by the Company. The Company shall give prompt ---------------------- written notice to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice -------- ------- provided for in this Section at least 2 Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by it within 2 Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of any such holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. Section 15.7. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness. ------------------------------------------------------- The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise. Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6. Section 15.8. Subordination May Not Be Impaired. No right of any ----------------------------------- present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with. Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC. By /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------------------------ Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh Title: Senior Financial Services Officer EXHIBIT A FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc. September 28, 2007 First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company" which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Holder") or registered assigns, the principal sum of ten million three hundred ten thousand dollars ($10,310,000.00) on December 15, 2037, and to pay interest on said principal sum from September 28, 2007, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, at an annual rate equal to 8.08063% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made by check -------- ------- mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee. So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no -------- ------- Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, -------- ------- ------- that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANKS, INC. By ------------------------------------ Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By: ----------------------------------- Authorized Officer [FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE] This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 28, 2007 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price. In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals. In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall -------- ------- without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, -------- ------- that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company. THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. EXHIBIT B FORM OF CERTIFICATE TO TRUSTEE Pursuant to Section 3.5 of the Indenture between First Banks, Inc., as the Company (the "Company"), and Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee, dated as of September 28, 2007 (the "Indenture"), the undersigned hereby certifies as follows: 1. In my capacity as an officer of the Company, I would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company during the last fiscal year in the performance of any covenants of the Company contained in the Indenture. 2. [To my knowledge, the Company is not in default in the performance of any covenants contained in the Indenture. or, alternatively: I am aware of the default(s) in the performance of covenants in the Indentures, as specified below.] Capitalized terms used herein, and not otherwise defined herein, have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate. Date: -------------------------------- Name: Title: EXHIBIT C FORM OF QUARTERLY REPORT Wilmington Trust Company 1100 N. Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration - PreTSL e-mail: cslaybaugh@wilmingtontrust.com BANK HOLDING COMPANY As of [March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31], 20__ Tier 1 to Risk Weighted Assets _________% Ratio of Double Leverage _________% Non-Performing Assets to Loans and OREO _________% Ratio of Reserves to Non-Performing Loans _________% Ratio of Net Charge-Offs to Loans _________% Return on Average Assets (annualized)** _________% Net Interest Margin (annualized)** _________% Efficiency Ratio _________% Ratio of Loans to Assets _________% Ratio of Loans to Deposits _________% Total Assets $__________ Year to Date Income $__________ - ------------------- *A table describing the quarterly report calculation procedures is provided on page C-2 ** To annualize Return on Average Assets and Net Interest Margin do the following: 1st Quarter-multiply income statement item by 4, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 2nd Quarter-multiply income statement item by 2, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 3rd Quarter-divide income statement item by 3, then multiply by 4, then divide by balance sheet item(s) 4th Quarter-should already be an annual number NO ADJUSTMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO BALANCE SHEET ITEMS cc: FTN Financial Capital Markets Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor Memphis, Tennessee 38117 New York, New York 10019 Attention: Structured Finance Group Attention: Mitchell Kleinman, e-mail: jenny.pembroke@ftnfinancial.com General Counsel e-mail: mkleinmann@kbw.com Financial Definitions - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Report Item Description of Calculation - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- "Tier 1 Capital" to Tier 1 Risk Ratio: Core Capital (Tier 1)/ Risk Weighted Assets Risk-Adjusted Assets - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Double Total equity investments in subsidiaries divided Leverage by the total equity capital. This field is calculated at the parent company level. "Subsidiaries" include bank, bank holding company, and nonbank subsidiaries. - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Non-Performing Assets Total Nonperforming Assets (NPLs+Foreclosed Real to Loans and OREO Estate+Other Nonaccrual & Repossessed Assets)/ Total Loans + Foreclosed Real Estate - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Reserves to Total Loan Loss and Allocated Transfer Risk Non-Performing Loans Reserves/ Total Nonperforming Loans (Nonaccrual + Restructured) - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Net Net charge offs for the period as a percentage of Charge-Offs to average loans. Loans - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Return on Assets Net Income as a percentage of Assets. - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Net Interest Margin (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available / Average Earning Assets) - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Efficiency Ratio (Noninterest Expense)/ (Net Interest Income Fully Taxable Equivalent, if available, plus Noninterest Income) - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Loans to Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Assets Gross of Reserve)/ Total Assets - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Ratio of Loans to Total Loans & Leases (Net of Unearned Income & Deposits Gross of Reserve)/ Total Deposits (Includes Domestic and Foreign Deposits) - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Total Assets The sum of total assets. Includes cash and balances due from depository institutions; securities; federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell; loans and lease financing receivables; trading assets; premises and fixed assets; other real estate owned; investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies; customer's liability on acceptances outstanding; intangible assets; and other assets. - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- Net Income The sum of income (loss) before extraordinary items and other adjustments and extraordinary items; and other adjustments, net of income taxes. - ----------------------- --------------------------------------------------- EX-4 23 fbstxiamend.txt EXHIBIT 4.18 EXHIBIT 4.18 ====================================== AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST by and among WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Delaware Trustee, WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Institutional Trustee, FIRST BANKS, INC., as Sponsor, and TERRANCE M. MCCARTHY, PETER D.WIMMER and LISA K. VANSICKLE, as Administrators, Dated as of September 28, 2007 ======================================
TABLE OF CONTENTS ----------------- Page ---- ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS..........................................................................1 Section 1.1. Definitions............................................................................1 ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION...........................................................................................7 Section 2.1. Name...................................................................................7 Section 2.2. Office.................................................................................7 Section 2.3. Purpose................................................................................8 Section 2.4. Authority..............................................................................8 Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust.........................................................8 Section 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the Administrators...............................8 Section 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Institutional Trustee.....................11 Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee........................................12 Section 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and Administrators................13 Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee...............................................15 Section 2.11. Delaware Trustee......................................................................17 Section 2.12. Execution of Documents................................................................17 Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities................................17 Section 2.14. Duration of Trust.....................................................................17 Section 2.15. Mergers...............................................................................17 ARTICLE III SPONSOR..............................................................................................18 Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities...............................................18 Section 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor.......................................................19 Section 3.3. Expenses..............................................................................19 Section 3.4. Right to Proceed......................................................................19 ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS..............................................................20 Section 4.1. Number of Trustees....................................................................20 Section 4.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility.........................................................20 Section 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility....................................................20 Section 4.4. Administrators........................................................................21 Section 4.5. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and Administrators...................21 Section 4.6. Vacancies Among Trustees..............................................................22 Section 4.7. Effect of Vacancies...................................................................22 Section 4.8. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators.......................................23 Section 4.9. Delegation of Power...................................................................23 Section 4.10. Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business...................................23 ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS..........................................................................................24 Section 5.1. Distributions.........................................................................24 ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES................................................................................24 Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities...............................................24 Section 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar............................................25 Section 6.3. Form and Dating.......................................................................25 Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.....................................25 Section 6.5. Temporary Securities..................................................................26 Section 6.6. Cancellation..........................................................................26 Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults...........................................26 ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST.................................................................28 Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust..................................................28 ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS...............................................................................28 Section 8.1. General...............................................................................28 Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions..................................................29 Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders...............................................................31 ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS.....................31 Section 9.1. Liability.............................................................................31 Section 9.2. Exculpation...........................................................................32 Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty........................................................................32 Section 9.4. Indemnification.......................................................................33 Section 9.5. Outside Businesses....................................................................35 Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee.....................................................................35 ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING.............................................................................................35 Section 10.1. Fiscal Year...........................................................................35 Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters............................................................35 Section 10.3. Banking...............................................................................36 Section 10.4. Withholding...........................................................................36 ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS...............................................................................36 Section 11.1. Amendments............................................................................36 Section 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written Consent......................38 ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE....................................39 Section 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee...............................39 Section 12.2. Representations of the Delaware Trustee...............................................39 ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................................................40 Section 13.1. Notices...............................................................................40 Section 13.2. Governing Law.........................................................................41 Section 13.3. Intention of the Parties..............................................................41 Section 13.4. Headings..............................................................................42 Section 13.5. Successors and Assigns................................................................42 Section 13.6. Partial Enforceability................................................................42 Section 13.7. Counterparts..........................................................................42 Annex I....................Terms of Securities Exhibit A-1................Form of Capital Security Certificate Exhibit A-2................Form of Common Security Certificate Exhibit B..................Specimen of Initial Debenture Exhibit C..................Placement Agreement
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI September 28, 2007 AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and effective as of September 28, 2007, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the Administrators (as defined herein), the Sponsor (as defined herein) and by the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust (as defined herein) to be issued pursuant to this Declaration; WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor established First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust"), a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act (as defined herein) pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of September 24, 2007 (the "Original Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on September 24, 2007, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain debentures of the Debenture Issuer (as defined herein); WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; and WHEREAS, the Trustees, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration; NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the Trust as a statutory trust under the Statutory Trust Act and that this Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such statutory trust, the Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration. The parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS Section 1.1. Definitions. ----------- Unless the context otherwise requires: (a) Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise specified; and (e) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Acceleration Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in the -------------------------------- Indenture. "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------- "Administrative Action" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ---------------------- Annex I. "Administrators" means each of Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer -------------- and Lisa K. Vansickle, solely in such Person's capacity as Administrator of the Trust created and continued hereunder and not in such Person's individual capacity, or such Administrator's successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor appointed as herein provided. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder. "Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to ------------------ bind such Person. "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person: ---------------- (a) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of such Person in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or for any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or (b) such Person shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other similar official) of such Person of any substantial part of its property, or shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally to pay its debts as they become due. "Business Day" means any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any other ------------ day on which banking institutions in New York City or Wilmington, Delaware are permitted or required by any applicable law or executive order to close. "Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(a) of ------------------- Annex I. "Capital Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate in fully ---------------------------- registered form representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1. "Capital Treatment Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) ------------------------- of Annex I. "Certificate" means any certificate evidencing Securities. ----------- "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Placement Agreement. ------------ "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to ---- time, or any successor legislation. "Common Securities" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 1(b) of ------------------ Annex I. "Common Security Certificate" means a definitive Certificate in fully ---------------------------- registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2. "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrator; (b) any ---------------------------- Affiliate of any Administrator; (c) any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any Administrator; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or its Affiliates. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Institutional Trustee ---------------------- at which the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Declaration is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attn: Corporate Trust Administration. "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(a) of Annex I. ----------- "Covered Person" means: (a) any Administrator, officer, director, --------------- shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust or (ii) any of the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities. "Creditor" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3. -------- "Debenture Issuer" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, in ---------------- its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the Indenture. "Debenture Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee under ------------------ the Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee. "Debentures" means the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable ---------- Interest Debentures due 2037 to be issued by the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture. "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------ "Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2. ---------------- "Determination Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of ------------------ Annex I. "Direct Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(d). ------------- "Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in ------------ accordance with Section 5.1. "Distribution Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) ------------------------- of Annex I. "Distribution Period" means (i) with respect to the Distribution paid -------------------- on the first Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to a Distribution paid on each successive Distribution Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the preceding Distribution Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current Distribution Payment Date. "Distribution Rate" means, for the Distribution Period beginning on ------------------ (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, the rate per annum of 8.08063%, and for each Distribution Period beginning on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, the Coupon Rate for such Distribution Period. "Event of Default" means any one of the following events (whatever the ---------------- reason for such event and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body): (a) the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default; or (b) default by the Trust in the payment of any Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of any Security when it becomes due and payable; or (c) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Institutional Trustee in this Declaration (other than those specified in clause (a) or (b) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail to the Institutional Trustee and to the Sponsor by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or (d) the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Institutional Trustee if a successor Institutional Trustee has not been appointed within 90 days thereof. "Extension Period" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 2(b) of Annex ---------------- I. "Federal Reserve" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. --------------- "Fiduciary Indemnified Person" shall mean each of the Institutional ------------------------------ Trustee (including in its individual capacity), the Delaware Trustee (including in its individual capacity), any Affiliate of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee and any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee. "Fiscal Year" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1. ----------- "Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of the Closing --------- Date, of the Sponsor in respect of the Capital Securities. "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a ------ Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Statutory Trust Act. "Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary ------------------- Indemnified Person. "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the Closing Date, between --------- the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued, as such Indenture and any supplemental indenture may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time. "Indenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in --------------------------- the Indenture. "Institutional Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility ---------------------- requirements set forth in Section 4.3. "Interest" means any interest due on the Debentures including any -------- Additional Interest and Defaulted Interest. "Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the ------------------- Investment Company Act. "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as ----------------------- amended from time to time, or any successor legislation. "Investment Company Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) ------------------------- of Annex I. "Liquidation" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. ----------- "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of ------------------------ Annex I. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holder(s) of ------------------------------------------------- outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "Maturity Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Officers' Certificates" means, with respect to any Person, a ------------------------ certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant providing for it in this Declaration shall include: (a) a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate; (c) a statement that each such officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "OTS" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 3 of Annex I. --- "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 6.2. ------------ "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, ------ estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Placement Agreement" means the Placement Agreement relating to the -------------------- offering and sale of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C. "Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(c). ---------------- "Pro Rata" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 8 of Annex I. -------- "Quorum" means a majority of the Administrators or, if there are only ------ two Administrators, both of them. "Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex ---------------- I. "Redemption/Distribution Notice" has the meaning set forth in paragraph ------------------------------ 4(e) of Annex I. "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex ---------------- I. "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. --------- "Relevant Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5(a). ---------------- "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Institutional Trustee, ------------------- any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Institutional Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in Section ------------------------------ 8.2(b). "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act. --------- "Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act. --------- "Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities. ---------- "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time -------------- to time, or any successor legislation. "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Special Redemption Date" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) ------------------------- of Annex I. "Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) ------------------------- of Annex I. "Sponsor" means First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, or any ------- successor entity in a merger, consolidation or amalgamation, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust. "Statutory Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware --------------------- Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq. as may be amended from time to time. "Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). ---------------- "Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section ---------------------------- 4.5(e). "Successor Institutional Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section ------------------------------- 4.5(b). "Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.15(b). -------------------- "Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 5(b) of Annex --------------- I. "Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. --------- "10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means Holder(s) of ----------------------------------------------- outstanding Securities voting together as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the relevant class. "3-Month LIBOR" has the meaning set forth in paragraph 4(a) of Annex I. ------------- "Transfer Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2. -------------- "Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations, including --------------------- temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations). "Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, -------------- or owing to, the Property Account and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing and any other property and assets for the time being held or deemed to be held by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to the trusts of this Declaration. "Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this ------- Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder. "U.S. Person" means a United States Person as defined in Section ------------ 7701(a)(30) of the Code. ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION Section 2.1. Name. The Trust is named "First Bank Statutory Trust ---- XI," as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrators following written notice to the Holders of the Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Administrators. Section 2.2. Office. The address of the principal office of the ------ Trust is c/o Wilmington Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600. On at least 10 Business Days written notice to the Holders of the Securities, the Administrators may designate another principal office, which shall be in a state of the United States or in the District of Columbia. Section 2.3. Purpose. The exclusive purposes and functions of the ------- Trust are (a) to issue and sell the Securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (b) to invest the gross proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (c) to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust through issuance of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities and (d) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. Section 2.4. Authority. Except as specifically provided in this --------- Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by a Trustee in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no Person shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration. The Administrators shall have only those ministerial duties set forth herein with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust and are not intended to be trustees or fiduciaries with respect to the Trust or the Holders. The Institutional Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be obligated except as provided in Section 2.6, to perform those duties assigned to the Administrators. Section 2.5. Title to Property of the Trust. Except as provided in ------------------------------ Section 2.8 with respect to the Debentures and the Property Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust. Section 2.6. Powers and Duties of the Trustees and the -------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) The Trustees and the Administrators shall conduct the affairs of the Trust in accordance with the terms of this Declaration. Subject to the limitations set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section, and in accordance with the following provisions (i) and (ii), the Trustees and the Administrators shall have the authority to enter into all transactions and agreements determined by the Institutional Trustee to be appropriate in exercising the authority, express or implied, otherwise granted to the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, under this Declaration, and to perform all acts in furtherance thereof, including without limitation, the following: (i) Each Administrator shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the issuance and sale of the Securities; (B) to cause the Trust to enter into, and to execute and deliver on behalf of the Trust, such agreements as may be necessary or desirable in connection with the purposes and function of the Trust, including agreements with the Paying Agent; (C) ensuring compliance with the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws; (D) the sending of notices (other than notices of default), and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration; (E) the consent to the appointment of a Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar in accordance with this Declaration, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; (F) execution and delivery of the Securities in accordance with this Declaration; (G) execution and delivery of closing certificates pursuant to the Placement Agreement and the application for a taxpayer identification number; (H) unless otherwise determined by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities or as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, to execute on behalf of the Trust (either acting alone or together with any or all of the Administrators) any documents that the Administrators have the power to execute pursuant to this Declaration; (I) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); (J) to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be established, including Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates; and (K) to duly prepare and file all applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be filed with respect to the Trust on behalf of the Trust. (ii) As among the Trustees and the Administrators, the Institutional Trustee shall have the power, duty and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to the following matters: (A) the establishment of the Property Account; (B) the receipt of the Debentures; (C) the collection of interest, principal and any other payments made in respect of the Debentures in the Property Account; (D) the distribution through the Paying Agent of amounts owed to the Holders in respect of the Securities; (E) the exercise of all of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of the Debentures; (F) the sending of notices of default and other information regarding the Securities and the Debentures to the Holders in accordance with this Declaration; (G) the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with the terms of this Declaration; (H) to the extent provided in this Declaration, the winding up of the affairs of and liquidation of the Trust and the preparation, execution and filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (I) after any Event of Default (provided that such Event of Default is not by or with respect to the Institutional Trustee) the taking of any action incidental to the foregoing as the Institutional Trustee may from time to time determine is necessary or advisable to give effect to the terms of this Declaration and protect and conserve the Trust Property for the benefit of the Holders (without consideration of the effect of any such action on any particular Holder); and (J) to take all action that may be necessary for the preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory trust under the laws of the State of Delaware. (iii) The Institutional Trustee shall have the power and authority to act on behalf of the Trust with respect to any of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the Administrators set forth in Section 2.6(a)(i)(D), (E) and (F) herein but shall not have a duty to do any such act unless specifically requested to do so in writing by the Sponsor, and shall then be fully protected in acting pursuant to such written request; and in the event of a conflict between the action of the Administrators and the action of the Institutional Trustee, the action of the Institutional Trustee shall prevail. (b) So long as this Declaration remains in effect, the Trust (or the Trustees or Administrators acting on behalf of the Trust) shall not undertake any business, activities or transaction except as expressly provided herein or contemplated hereby. In particular, neither the Trustees nor the Administrators may cause the Trust to (i) acquire any investments or engage in any activities not authorized by this Declaration, (ii) sell, assign, transfer, exchange, mortgage, pledge, set-off or otherwise dispose of any of the Trust Property or interests therein, including to Holders, except as expressly provided herein, (iii) take any action that would reasonably be expected (x) to cause the Trust to fail or cease to qualify as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes or (y) to require the trust to register as an Investment Company under the Investment Company Act, (iv) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or issue any other debt or (v) take or consent to any action that would result in the placement of a lien on any of the Trust Property. The Institutional Trustee shall, at the sole cost and expense of the Trust, defend all claims and demands of all Persons at any time claiming any lien on any of the Trust Property adverse to the interest of the Trust or the Holders in their capacity as Holders. (c) In connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the right and responsibility to assist the Trust with respect to, or effect on behalf of the Trust, the following (and any actions taken by the Sponsor in furtherance of the following prior to the date of this Declaration are hereby ratified and confirmed in all respects): (i) the taking of any action necessary to obtain an exemption from the Securities Act; (ii) the determination of the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and the determination of any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by or on behalf of the Trust, and the advice to the Administrators of actions they must take on behalf of the Trust, and the preparation for execution and filing of any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust or on behalf of the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States in connection with the sale of the Capital Securities; (iii) the negotiation of the terms of, and the execution and delivery of, the Placement Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities; and (iv) the taking of any other actions necessary or desirable to carry out any of the foregoing activities. (d) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized and directed to conduct the affairs of the Trust and to operate the Trust so that the Trust will not (i) be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act, and (ii) fail to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes. The Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities shall not take any action inconsistent with the treatment of the Debentures as indebtedness of the Debenture Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities are authorized to take any action, not inconsistent with applicable laws, the Certificate of Trust or this Declaration, as amended from time to time, that each of the Administrators and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities determines in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes. (e) All expenses incurred by the Administrators or the Trustees pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be reimbursed by the Sponsor, and the Trustees and the Administrators shall have no obligations with respect to such expenses (for purposes of clarification, this Section 2.6(e) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration). (f) The assets of the Trust shall consist of the Trust Property. (g) Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators for the benefit of the Trust in accordance with this Declaration. (h) If the Institutional Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Declaration and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Institutional Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Sponsor, the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Institutional Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted. Section 2.7. Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the -------------------------------------------------------- Institutional Trustee. - --------------------- (a) The Trust shall not, and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust shall not and the Institutional Trustee shall cause the Trust not to: (i) invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities; (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein; (iii) possess Trust Property for other than a Trust purpose; (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans represented by the Debentures; (v) possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way whatsoever other than as expressly provided herein; (vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the Securities; (vii) carry on any "trade or business" as that phrase is used in the Code; or (viii) other than as provided in this Declaration (including Annex I), (A) direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall have received a written opinion of counsel to the effect that such modification will not cause the Trust to cease to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes. Section 2.8. Powers and Duties of the Institutional Trustee. ---------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of record in the name of the Institutional Trustee in trust for the benefit of the Trust and the Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the Institutional Trustee to the Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be appointed as Institutional Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered. (b) The Institutional Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest in the Debentures to the Administrators or to the Delaware Trustee. (c) The Institutional Trustee shall: (i) establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing trust account (the "Property Account") in the name of and under ---------------- the exclusive control of the Institutional Trustee, and maintained in the Institutional Trustee's trust department, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments, or cause the Paying Agent to make payments, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Account in accordance with Section 5.1. Funds in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration; (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and (iii) upon written notice of distribution issued by the Administrators in accordance with the terms of the Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the Securities. (d) The Institutional Trustee may bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to legal action with respect to, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against, the Trust which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee has actual knowledge or arises out of the Institutional Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration; provided, however, that -------- ------- if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due -------------- date specified in the Debentures. In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights of such Holder of the Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of the Capital Securities in such Direct Action; provided, however, that no Holder of the Common Securities may exercise -------- ------- such right of subrogation so long as an Event of Default with respect to the Capital Securities has occurred and is continuing. (e) The Institutional Trustee shall continue to serve as a Trustee until either: (i) the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities and this Declaration; or (ii) a Successor Institutional Trustee has been appointed and has accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 4.5. (f) The Institutional Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the rights, powers and privileges of a Holder of the Debentures under the Indenture and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Institutional Trustee may, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject to the rights of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration (including Annex I) and the terms of the Securities. The Institutional Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 2.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3, and the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 2.3. Section 2.9. Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustees and -------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) The Institutional Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Institutional Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), the Institutional Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (b) The duties and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Administrators shall be as provided by this Declaration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Declaration shall require any Trustee or Administrator to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of their duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of their rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate protection against such risk of liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Declaration relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustees or Administrators shall be subject to the provisions of this Article. Nothing in this Declaration shall be construed to relieve an Administrator or a Trustee from liability for its own negligent act, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct. To the extent that, at law or in equity, a Trustee or an Administrator has duties and liabilities relating to the Trust or to the Holders, such Trustee or such Administrator shall not be liable to the Trust or to any Holder for such Trustee's or such Administrator's good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustee otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the Sponsor and the Holders to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Administrators or the Trustees. (c) All payments made by the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent in respect of the Securities shall be made only from the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property and only to the extent that there shall be sufficient revenue or proceeds from the Trust Property to enable the Institutional Trustee or a Paying Agent to make payments in accordance with the terms hereof. Each Holder, by its acceptance of a Security, agrees that it will look solely to the revenue and proceeds from the Trust Property to the extent legally available for distribution to it as herein provided and that the Trustees and the Administrators are not personally liable to it for any amount distributable in respect of any Security or for any other liability in respect of any Security. This Section 2.9(c) does not limit the liability of the Trustees expressly set forth elsewhere in this Declaration. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for its own acts or omissions hereunder except as a result of its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Institutional Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; (ii) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities, as applicable, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration; (iii) the Institutional Trustee's sole duty with respect to the custody, safekeeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the Property Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar manner as the Institutional Trustee deals with similar property for its fiduciary accounts generally, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded to the Institutional Trustee under this Declaration; (iv) the Institutional Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing with the Sponsor; and money held by the Institutional Trustee need not be segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the Property Account maintained by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 2.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law; and (v) the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring the compliance by the Administrators or the Sponsor with their respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Institutional Trustee be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrators or the Sponsor. Section 2.10. Certain Rights of Institutional Trustee. Subject to the -------------------------------------- provisions of Section 2.9: (a) the Institutional Trustee may conclusively rely and shall fully be protected in acting or refraining from acting in good faith upon any resolution, opinion of counsel, certificate, written representation of a Holder or transferee, certificate of auditors or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties; (b) if (i) in performing its duties under this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee is required to decide between alternative courses of action, (ii) in construing any of the provisions of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee finds the same ambiguous or inconsistent with any other provisions contained herein, or (iii) the Institutional Trustee is unsure of the application of any provision of this Declaration, then, except as to any matter as to which the Holders of Capital Securities are entitled to vote under the terms of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee may deliver a notice to the Sponsor requesting the Sponsor's written instructions as to the course of action to be taken and the Institutional Trustee shall take such action, or refrain from taking such action, as the Institutional Trustee shall be instructed in writing, in which event the Institutional Trustee shall have no liability except for its own negligence or willful misconduct; (c) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Administrators contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate; (d) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before undertaking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Institutional Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate as to factual matters which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Administrators; (e) the Institutional Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or reregistration thereof; (f) the Institutional Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection (which counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates) and the advice of such counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon and in accordance with such advice; the Institutional Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration from any court of competent jurisdiction; (g) the Institutional Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Declaration, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Institutional Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction; provided, that nothing contained in this Section 2.10(g) shall be taken to relieve the Institutional Trustee, subject to Section 2.9(b), upon the occurrence of an Event of Default (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 6.7), to exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs; (h) the Institutional Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by one or more Holders, but the Institutional Trustee may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit; (i) the Institutional Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through its agents or attorneys and the Institutional Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of or for the supervision of, any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder; (j) whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Institutional Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder the Institutional Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Capital Securities which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as would be entitled to direct the Institutional Trustee under the terms of the Capital Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; (k) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Declaration, the Institutional Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Declaration; (l) when the Institutional Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with a Bankruptcy Event, such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or law relating to creditors rights generally; (m) the Institutional Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Institutional Trustee obtains actual knowledge of such event or the Institutional Trustee receives written notice of such event from any Holder, the Sponsor or the Debenture Trustee; (n) any action taken by the Institutional Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities, and the signature of the Institutional Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Institutional Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Institutional Trustee's or its agent's taking such action; and (o) no provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Institutional Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Institutional Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Institutional Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. Section 2.11. Delaware Trustee. Notwithstanding any other provision of ---------------- this Declaration other than Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of any of the Trustees or the Administrators described in this Declaration (except as may be required under the Statutory Trust Act). Except as set forth in Section 4.1, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of ss. 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. Section 2.12. Execution of Documents. Unless otherwise determined in ---------------------- writing by the Institutional Trustee, and except as otherwise required by the Statutory Trust Act, the Institutional Trustee, or any one or more of the Administrators, as the case may be, is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any documents that the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, have the power and authority to execute pursuant to Section 2.6. Section 2.13. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. ------------------------------------------------------- The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Sponsor, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration, the Debentures or the Securities. Section 2.14. Duration of Trust. The Trust, unless earlier dissolved ----------------- pursuant to the provisions of Article VII hereof, shall be in existence for 35 years from the Closing Date. Section 2.15. Mergers. ------- (a) The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described in Section 2.15(b) and (c) and except in connection with the liquidation of the Trust and the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 7.1(a)(iv) of the Declaration or Section 4 of Annex I. (b) The Trust may, with the consent of the Institutional Trustee and without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any state; provided that: (i) if the Trust is not the surviving entity, such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either: ---------------- (A) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under the Securities; or (B) substitutes for the Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Securities (the "Successor Securities") so that the Successor Securities --------------------- rank the same as the Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption and otherwise; (ii) the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor Entity that possesses substantially the same powers and duties as the Institutional Trustee as the Holder of the Debentures; (iii) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (iv) the Institutional Trustee receives written confirmation from Moody's Investor Services, Inc. and any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization that rates securities issued by the initial purchaser of the Capital Securities that it will not reduce or withdraw the rating of any such securities because of such merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement; (v) such Successor Entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust; (vi) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust has received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the effect that: (A) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect; (B) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an Investment Company; and (C) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be classified as a "grantor trust" for United States federal income tax purposes; (vii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee; (viii) the Sponsor owns 100% of the common securities of any Successor Entity; and (ix) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, the Institutional Trustee shall have received an Officers' Certificate of the Administrators and an opinion of counsel, each to the effect that all conditions precedent under this Section 2.15(b) to such transaction have been satisfied. (c) Notwithstanding Section 2.15(b), the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or Successor Entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. ARTICLE III SPONSOR Section 3.1. Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities. On the -------------------------------------------- Closing Date, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common Securities issued by the Trust in an amount at least equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Capital Securities are sold. Section 3.2. Responsibilities of the Sponsor. In connection with the -------------------------------- issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in, or direct the Administrators to engage in, the following activities: (a) to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to qualify the Trust or to qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable laws of any such States, to protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which it was created; and (b) to negotiate the terms of and/or execute on behalf of the Trust, the Placement Agreement and other related agreements providing for the sale of the Capital Securities. Section 3.3. Expenses. In connection with the offering, sale and -------- issuance of the Debentures to the Trust and in connection with the sale of the Securities by the Trust, the Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, shall: (a) pay all reasonable costs and expenses owing to the Debenture Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 of the Indenture; (b) be responsible for and shall pay all debts and obligations (other than with respect to the Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Securities (including fees to the placement agents in connection therewith), the costs and expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) of the Institutional Trustee and the Administrators, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the Trust, including, without limitation, costs and expenses of accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, Paying Agents, Registrars, Transfer Agents, duplicating, travel and telephone and other telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets and the enforcement by the Institutional Trustee of the rights of the Holders (for purposes of clarification, this Section 3.3(b) does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees pursuant to the services to be provided by the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration); and (c) pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust. The Sponsor's obligations under this Section 3.3 shall be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any Person to whom such debts, obligations, costs, expenses and taxes are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may enforce the Sponsor's obligations under this Section 3.3 directly against the Sponsor and the Sponsor irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Sponsor. The Sponsor agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 3.3. Section 3.4. Right to Proceed. The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of ---------------- Holders to institute a Direct Action as set forth in Section 2.8(d) hereto. ARTICLE IV INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND ADMINISTRATORS Section 4.1. Number of Trustees. The number of Trustees shall -------------------- initially be two, and; (a) at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and (b) after the issuance of any Securities, the number of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holder of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holder of the Common Securities; provided, however, that there shall be a Delaware Trustee -------- ------- if required by Section 4.2; and there shall always be one Trustee who shall be the Institutional Trustee, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the applicable requirements, in which case Section 2.11 shall have no application to such entity in its capacity as Institutional Trustee. Section 4.2. Delaware Trustee; Eligibility. ----------------------------- (a) If required by the Statutory Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") shall be: (i) a natural person at least 21 years of age who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or (ii) if not a natural person, an entity which is organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, including ss. 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. (b) The initial Delaware Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company. Section 4.3. Institutional Trustee; Eligibility. ---------------------------------- (a) There shall at all times be one Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; (ii) not offer or provide credit or credit enhancement to the Trust; and (iii) be a banking corporation or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, state, or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the purposes of this Section 4.3(a)(iii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Institutional Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.3(a), the Institutional Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth in Section 4.5. (c) If the Institutional Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Institutional Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Declaration. (d) The initial Institutional Trustee shall be Wilmington Trust Company. Section 4.4. Administrators. Each Administrator shall be a U.S. -------------- Person, 21 years of age or older and authorized to bind the Sponsor. The initial Administrators shall be Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle. There shall at all times be at least one Administrator. Except where a requirement for action by a specific number of Administrators is expressly set forth in this Declaration and except with respect to any action the taking of which is the subject of a meeting of the Administrators, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Administrators may be taken by, and any power of the Administrators may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one such Administrator. Section 4.5. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees and -------------------------------------------------------- Administrators. - -------------- (a) No resignation or removal of any Trustee (the "Relevant Trustee") and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. (b) Subject to Section 4.5(a), a Relevant Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Holders of the Securities and by appointing a successor Relevant Trustee. Upon the resignation of the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall appoint a successor by requesting from at least three Persons meeting the eligibility requirements their expenses and charges to serve as the successor Institutional Trustee on a form provided by the Administrators, and selecting the Person who agrees to the lowest expense and charges (the "Successor Institutional Trustee"). If the instrument of acceptance by the successor Relevant Trustee required by this Section 4.5 shall not have been delivered to the Relevant Trustee within 60 days after the giving of such notice of resignation or delivery of the instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Trust, any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Relevant Trustee. The Institutional Trustee shall have no liability for the selection of such successor pursuant to this Section 4.5. (c) Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by an act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of the Common Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, or both of them, may be removed by the act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, delivered to the Relevant Trustee (in its individual capacity and on behalf of the Trust). If any Trustee shall be so removed, the Holders of Capital Securities, by act of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding delivered to the Relevant Trustee, shall promptly appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees, and such successor Trustee shall comply with the applicable requirements of this Section 4.5. If no successor Relevant Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by this Section 4.5 within 30 days after delivery of an instrument of removal, the Relevant Trustee or any Holder who has been a Holder of the Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any federal, state or District of Columbia court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Relevant Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a successor Relevant Trustee or Trustees. (d) The Institutional Trustee shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of a Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to all Holders and to the Sponsor. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Relevant Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office if it is the Institutional Trustee. (e) Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Declaration, in the event a Delaware Trustee who is a natural person dies or is adjudged by a court to have become incompetent or incapacitated, the vacancy created by such death, incompetence or incapacity may be filled by the Institutional Trustee following the procedures in this Section 4.5 (with the successor being a Person who satisfies the eligibility requirement for a Delaware Trustee set forth in this Declaration) (the "Successor Delaware Trustee"). (f) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee with respect to the Securities and the Trust and (b) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Declaration as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust by more than one Relevant Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such amendment shall constitute such Relevant Trustees co-trustees and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities and the Trust subject to the payment of all unpaid fees, expenses and indemnities of such retiring Relevant Trustee. (g) No Institutional Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Institutional Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be. (h) The Holders of the Capital Securities will have no right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Holders of the Common Securities. (i) Any successor Delaware Trustee shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware identifying the name and principal place of business of such Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware. Section 4.6. Vacancies Among Trustees. If a Trustee ceases to hold -------------------------- office for any reason and the number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 4.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy by the Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the Trustees, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 4.5. Section 4.7. Effect of Vacancies. The death, resignation, retirement, ------------------- removal, bankruptcy, dissolution, liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall not operate to dissolve, terminate or annul the Trust or terminate this Declaration. Whenever a vacancy in the number of Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the appointment of a Trustee in accordance with Section 4.5, the Institutional Trustee shall have all the powers granted to the Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon the Trustees by this Declaration. Section 4.8. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators. ------------------------------------------------------- Meetings of the Administrators shall be held from time to time upon the call of an Administrator. Regular meetings of the Administrators may be held in person in the United States or by telephone, at a place (if applicable) and time fixed by resolution of the Administrators. Notice of any in-person meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Trustees with the Administrators or meetings of the Administrators or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where the Trustee or an Administrator, as the case may be, attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any activity on the grounds that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any action of the Trustees or the Administrators, as the case may be, may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority of the Trustees or the Administrators present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Trustees or the Administrators. Meetings of the Trustees and the Administrators together shall be held from time to time upon the call of any Trustee or an Administrator. Section 4.9. Delegation of Power. ------------------- (a) Any Administrator may, by power of attorney consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of 21 that is a U.S. Person his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents contemplated in Section 2.6; and (b) the Administrators shall have power to delegate from time to time to such of their number the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the Trust or the names of the Administrators or otherwise as the Administrators may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein. Section 4.10. Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any --------------------------------------------------- Person into which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee shall be the successor of the Institutional Trustee or the Delaware Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article and, provided, -------- further, that such Person shall file an amendment to the Certificate of Trust - ------- with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware as contemplated in Section 4.5(i). ARTICLE V DISTRIBUTIONS Section 5.1. Distributions. Holders shall receive Distributions in ------------- accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the Debenture Issuer makes a payment of Interest or any principal on the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee, the Institutional Trustee shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make a distribution (a "Distribution") of such amounts to Holders. ARTICLE VI ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES Section 6.1. General Provisions Regarding Securities. --------------------------------------- (a) The Administrators shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one series of capital securities substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I and one series of common securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I. The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Capital Securities rank pari passu to, and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with, the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I. (b) The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by one or more Administrators. Such signature shall be the facsimile or manual signature of any Administrator. In case any Administrator of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrator before the Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Administrator, and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall be an Administrator of the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not such an Administrator. A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the facsimile or manual signature of an Authorized Officer of the Institutional Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated under this Declaration. Upon written order of the Trust signed by one Administrator, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue. The Institutional Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent that is a U.S. Person acceptable to the Trust to authenticate the Capital Securities. A Common Security need not be so authenticated. (c) The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. (d) Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and, except as provided in Section 9.1(b) with respect to the Common Securities, non-assessable. (e) Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder in accordance with the terms of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration and the Guarantee. Section 6.2. Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Trust -------------------------------------------- shall maintain in Wilmington, Delaware, an office or agency where the Capital Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent"), and an office or ------------- agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange (the "Transfer Agent"). The Trust shall keep or cause to be kept at --------------- such office or agency a register for the purpose of registering Securities, transfers and exchanges of Securities, such register to be held by a registrar (the "Registrar"). The Administrators may appoint the Paying Agent, the --------- Registrar and the Transfer Agent and may appoint one or more additional Paying Agents or one or more co-Registrars, or one or more co-Transfer Agents in such other locations as it shall determine. The term "Paying Agent" includes any ------------- additional paying agent, the term "Registrar" includes any additional registrar --------- or co-Registrar and the term "Transfer Agent" includes any additional transfer --------------- agent. The Administrators may change any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar at any time without prior notice to any Holder. The Administrators shall notify the Institutional Trustee of the name and address of any Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar not a party to this Declaration. The Administrators hereby initially appoint the Institutional Trustee to act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent and Registrar for the Capital Securities and the Common Securities. The Institutional Trustee or any of its Affiliates in the United States may act as Paying Agent, Transfer Agent or Registrar. Section 6.3. Form and Dating. The Capital Securities and the ----------------- Institutional Trustee's certificate of authentication thereon shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1, and the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Declaration. Certificates may be typed, printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Administrators, as conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof. The Securities may have letters, numbers, notations or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Sponsor). The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Institutional Trustee in writing. Each Capital Security shall be dated on or before the date of its authentication. The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Institutional Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, the Administrators and the Sponsor, by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby. Capital Securities will be issued only in blocks having a stated liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. The Capital Securities are being offered and sold by the Trust pursuant to the Placement Agreement in definitive, registered form without coupons and with the Restricted Securities Legend. Section 6.4. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates. ------------------------------------------------- If: (a) any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Registrar, or if the Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and (b) there shall be delivered to the Registrar, the Administrators and the Institutional Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them harmless; then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, an Administrator on behalf of the Trust shall execute (and in the case of a Capital Security Certificate, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate) and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 6.4, the Registrar or the Administrators may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time. Section 6.5. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are -------------------- ready for delivery, the Administrators may prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Administrators consider appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Administrators shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate, definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Section 6.6. Cancellation. The Administrators at any time may deliver ------------ Securities to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar shall forward to the Institutional Trustee any Securities surrendered to it for registration of transfer, redemption or payment. The Institutional Trustee shall promptly cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, payment, replacement or cancellation and shall dispose of such canceled Securities as the Administrators direct. The Administrators may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been paid or that have been delivered to the Institutional Trustee for cancellation. Section 6.7. Rights of Holders; Waivers of Past Defaults. ------------------------------------------- (a) The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Institutional Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.5, and the Holders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration. The Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights. (b) For so long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if upon an Acceleration Event of Default, the Debenture Trustee fails or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures fail to declare the principal of all of the Debentures to be immediately due and payable, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities then outstanding shall have the right to make such declaration by a notice in writing to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Debenture Trustee as provided in the Indenture, if the Institutional Trustee, subject to the provisions hereof, fails to annul any such declaration and waive such default, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, by written notice to the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Debenture Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Debenture Issuer has paid or deposited with the Debenture Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all of the Debentures, (B) any accrued Additional Interest on all of the Debentures, (C) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debentures that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest and Additional Interest thereon at the rate borne by the Debentures, and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Debenture Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Debenture Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, their agents and counsel; and (ii) all Events of Default with respect to the Debentures, other than the non-payment of the principal of the Debentures that has become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.7 of the Indenture. The Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default under the Indenture or any Indenture Event of Default, except a default or Indenture Event of Default in the payment of principal or interest on the Debentures (unless such default or Indenture Event of Default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee) or a default under the Indenture or an Indenture Event of Default in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon. Upon receipt by the Institutional Trustee of written notice declaring such an acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, by Holders of any part of the Capital Securities, a record date shall be established for determining Holders of outstanding Capital Securities entitled to join in such notice, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Institutional Trustee receives such notice. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such notice, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and -------- annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having joined in such notice prior to the day that is 90 days after such record date, such notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new written notice of declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a written notice that has been canceled pursuant to the proviso to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.7. (c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6.7, the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, on behalf of the Holders of all the Capital Securities, waive any past default or Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such default or Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any default or Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. ARTICLE VII DISSOLUTION AND TERMINATION OF TRUST Section 7.1. Dissolution and Termination of Trust. ------------------------------------ (a) The Trust shall dissolve on the first to occur of: (i) unless earlier dissolved, on December 15, 2042, the expiration of the term of the Trust; (ii) upon a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (iii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent with respect to the Sponsor (other than in connection with a merger, consolidation or similar transaction not prohibited by the Indenture, this Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be) or upon the revocation of the charter of the Sponsor and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof; (iv) upon the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities, upon exercise of the right of the Holder of all of the outstanding Common Securities to dissolve the Trust as provided in Annex I hereto; (v) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Trust or the Debenture Issuer; (vi) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the Securities; or (vii) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of the Trustees and the Sponsor. (b) As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to in Section 7.1(a), and after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, including of the Statutory Trust Act, and subject to the terms set forth in Annex I, the Institutional Trustee shall terminate the Trust by filing a certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. (c) The provisions of Section 2.9 and Article IX shall survive the termination of the Trust. ARTICLE VIII TRANSFER OF INTERESTS Section 8.1. General. ------- (a) Subject to Section 8.1(c), where Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal number of Capital Securities represented by different certificates, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Trust shall issue and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request. (b) Upon issuance of the Common Securities, the Sponsor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities and for so long as the Securities remain outstanding, and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the -------- ------- Sponsor, in its capacity as Debenture Issuer, under the Indenture that is a U.S. Person may succeed to the Sponsor's ownership of the Common Securities. (c) Capital Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void and will be deemed to be of no legal effect whatsoever and any such transferee shall be deemed not to be the holder of such Capital Securities for any purpose, including but not limited to the receipt of Distributions on such Capital Securities, and such transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such Capital Securities. (d) The Registrar shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities, which will be effected without charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that may be imposed in relation to it. Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Securities, the Registrar shall cause one or more new Securities of the same tenor to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or transferees. Every Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Institutional Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6. A transferee of a Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Security. By acceptance of a Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration. (e) The Trust shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Securities to be redeemed, or (ii) to register the transfer or exchange of any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part. Section 8.2. Transfer Procedures and Restrictions. ------------------------------------ (a) The Capital Securities shall bear the Restricted Securities Legend, which shall not be removed unless there is delivered to the Trust such satisfactory evidence, which may include an opinion of counsel satisfactory to the Institutional Trustee, as may be reasonably required by the Trust, that neither the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the provisions of the Securities Act. Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Institutional Trustee, at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver Capital Securities that do not bear the legend. (b) Except as permitted by Section 8.2(a), each Capital Security shall bear a legend (the "Restricted Securities Legend") in substantially the ------------------------------ following form and a Capital Security shall not be transferred except in compliance with such legend, unless otherwise determined by the Sponsor, upon the advice of counsel expert in securities law, in accordance with applicable law: THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. (c) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall execute and the Institutional Trustee shall authenticate Capital Securities at the Registrar's request. (d) Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be effected without charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Registrar or the Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation to it. (e) All Capital Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange. Section 8.3. Deemed Security Holders. The Trust, the Administrators, ----------------------- the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust, the Administrators, the Trustees, the Paying Agent, the Transfer Agent or the Registrar shall have actual or other notice thereof. ARTICLE IX LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE OR OTHERS Section 9.1. Liability. --------- (a) Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Guarantee and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be: (i) personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from assets of the Trust; or (ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of the Securities any deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise. (b) The Holder of the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets. (c) Pursuant to the Statutory Trust Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Section 9.2. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected by such Indemnified Person with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid. Section 9.3. Fiduciary Duty. -------------- (a) To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in equity, are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such other duties and liabilities of the Indemnified Person. (b) Whenever in this Declaration a Indemnified Person is permitted or required to make a decision: (i) in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust or any other Person; or (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable law. Section 9.4. Indemnification. --------------- (a) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Trust) arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. (b) The Sponsor shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by law, any Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Declaration by reason of the fact that he is or was an Indemnified Person against expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust; provided, however, that no such indemnification -------- ------- shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. (c) To the extent that an Indemnified Person shall be successful on the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith. (d) Any indemnification of an Administrator under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Sponsor only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Indemnified Person is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b). Such determination shall be made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum consisting of such Administrators who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a Quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust. (e) To the fullest extent permitted by law, expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4 shall be paid by the Sponsor in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Sponsor as authorized in this Section 9.4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Sponsor if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the Administrators by a majority vote of a Quorum of disinterested Administrators, (ii) if such a Quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrators so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the Common Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the Administrators, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time such determination is made, such Indemnified Person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such Indemnified Person did not believe to be in the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding, that such Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In no event shall any advance be made in instances where the Administrators, independent legal counsel or the Common Security Holder reasonably determine that such Indemnified Person deliberately breached his duty to the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders. (f) The Trustees, at the sole cost and expense of the Sponsor, retain the right to representation by counsel of their own choosing in any action, suit or any other proceeding for which they are indemnified under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 9.4, without affecting their right to indemnification hereunder or waiving any rights afforded to it under this Declaration or applicable law. (g) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 9.4 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Sponsor or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office. All rights to indemnification under this Section 9.4 shall be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Sponsor and each Indemnified Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 9.4 is in effect. Any repeal or modification of this Section 9.4 shall not affect any rights or obligations then existing. (h) The Sponsor or the Trust may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Person who is or was an Indemnified Person against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Sponsor would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 9.4. (i) For purposes of this Section 9.4, references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger, so that any Person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section 9.4 with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued. (j) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section 9.4 shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, (i) continue as to a Person who has ceased to be an Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a Person; and (ii) survive the termination or expiration of this Declaration or the earlier removal or resignation of an Indemnified Person. Section 9.5. Outside Businesses. Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, ------------------ the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed wrongful or improper. None of any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee or the Institutional Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates. Section 9.6. Compensation; Fee. The Sponsor agrees: ----------------- (a) to pay to the Trustees from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by them hereunder as the parties shall agree from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustees upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustees in accordance with any provision of this Declaration (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of their respective agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 9.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Sponsor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Trustees under this Declaration or the fees and expenses of the Trustees' counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Declaration. The provisions of this Section 9.6 shall survive the dissolution of the Trust and the termination of this Declaration and the removal or resignation of any Trustee. No Trustee may claim any lien or charge on any property of the Trust as a result of any amount due pursuant to this Section 9.6. ARTICLE X ACCOUNTING Section 10.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the ----------- ----------- Trust shall be the calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code. Section 10.2. Certain Accounting Matters. -------------------------- (a) At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Administrators shall keep, or cause to be kept at the principal office of the Trust in the United States, as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, full books of account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail each transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained, at the Sponsor's expense, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall be examined by and reported upon (either separately or as part of the Sponsor's regularly prepared consolidated financial report) as of the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the Administrators. (b) The Administrators shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities Form 1099 or such other annual United States federal income tax information statement required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date, the Administrators shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust. (c) The Administrators, at the Sponsor's expense, shall cause to be duly prepared at the principal office of the Sponsor in the United States, as `United States' is defined in Section 7701(a)(9) of the Code (or at the principal office of the Trust if the Sponsor has no such principal office in the United States), and filed an annual United States federal income tax return on a Form 1041 or such other form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing authority. Section 10.3. Banking. The Trust shall maintain in the United States, ------- as defined for purposes of Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7, one or more bank accounts in the name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, -------- however, that all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the - ------- Institutional Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property Account. The sole signatories for such accounts (including the Property Account) shall be designated by the Institutional Trustee. Section 10.4. Withholding. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying ----------- Agent and the Administrators shall comply with all withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local law. The Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent shall request, and each Holder shall provide to the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to the Holder, and any representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding obligations. The Administrators shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable jurisdictions. To the extent that the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent is required to withhold and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a Distribution in the amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed overwithholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction. If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Institutional Trustee or any Paying Agent may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such withholding. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS Section 11.1. Amendments. ---------- (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed (i) by the Institutional Trustee, or (ii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware Trustee, by the Delaware Trustee. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article XI, an amendment may be made, and any such purported amendment shall be valid and effective only if: (i) the Institutional Trustee shall have first received (A) an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (B) an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and (ii) the result of such amendment would not be to (A) cause the Trust to cease to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust; or (B) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (c) Except as provided in Section 11.1(d), (e) or (h), no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be void and ineffective, unless the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities shall have consented to such amendment. (d) In addition to and notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration, without the consent of each affected Holder, this Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Securities as of a specified date or change any conversion or exchange provisions or (ii) restrict the right of a Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such date. (e) Sections 9.1(b) and 9.1(c) and this Section 11.1 shall not be amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities. (f) Article III shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities. (g) The rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities under Article IV to appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. (h) This Declaration may be amended by the Institutional Trustee and the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities without the consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities to: (i) cure any ambiguity; (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this Declaration; (iii) add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the Sponsor; or (iv) modify, eliminate or add to any provision of this Declaration to such extent as may be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes at all times as a grantor trust and will not be required to register as an Investment Company (including without limitation to conform to any change in Rule 3a-5, Rule 3a-7 or any other applicable rule under the Investment Company Act or written change in interpretation or application thereof by any legislative body, court, government agency or regulatory authority) which amendment does not have a material adverse effect on the rights, preferences or privileges of the Holders of Securities; provided, however, that no such modification, elimination or addition -------- ------- referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) shall adversely affect in any material respect the powers, preferences or special rights of Holders of Capital Securities. Section 11.2. Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written -------------------------------------------------------- Consent. - ------- (a) Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any time by the Administrators (or as provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this Declaration or the terms of the Securities. The Administrators shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall be given by delivering to the Administrators one or more calls in a writing stating that the signing Holders of the Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be called. Any Holders of the Securities calling a meeting shall specify in writing the Certificates held by the Holders of the Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities represented by such Certificates shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph has been met. (b) Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of Holders of the Securities: (i) notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of the Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of the Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the Holders of the Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders of the Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting shall be given to the Holders of the Securities entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. The Administrators may specify that any written ballot submitted to the Holders of the Securities for the purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned to the Trust within the time specified by the Administrators; (ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of the Securities executing it. Except as otherwise provided herein, all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders of a Delaware corporation; each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted by the Administrators or by such other Person that the Administrators may designate; and (iii) unless the Statutory Trust Act, this Declaration, or the terms of the Securities otherwise provides, the Administrators, in their sole discretion, shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities, including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of the Securities, waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting, the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the exercise of any such right to vote; provided, however, -------- ------- that each meeting shall be conducted in the United States (as that term is defined in Treasury Regulations section 301.7701-7). ARTICLE XII REPRESENTATIONS OF INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE AND THE DELAWARE TRUSTEE Section 12.1. Representations and Warranties of Institutional Trustee. ------------------------------------------------------- The initial Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Institutional Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Institutional Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Institutional Trustee, that: (a) the Institutional Trustee is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of Delaware with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (b) the execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Institutional Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional Trustee, and it constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Institutional Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Institutional Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Institutional Trustee; and (d) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee of this Declaration. Section 12.2. Representations of the Delaware Trustee. The Trustee ------------------------------------------- that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Delaware Trustee that: (a) if it is not a natural person, the Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (b) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Delaware Trustee. This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee, and under Delaware law (excluding any securities laws) constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of the court (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); (c) if it is not a natural person, the execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Delaware Trustee; (d) it has trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this Declaration; (e) no consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice to, any state or federal banking authority governing the trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and (f) the Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, it is an entity which has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and, in either case, a Person that satisfies for the Trust the requirements of Section 3807 of the Statutory Trust Act. ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.1. Notices. All notices provided for in this Declaration ------- shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied (which telecopy shall be followed by notice delivered or mailed by first class mail) or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrators at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): First Bank Statutory Trust XI c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6621 (b) if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the Delaware Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (c) if given to the Institutional Trustee, at the Institutional Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Institutional Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (d) if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice of to the Trust): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6621 (e) if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Trust. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. Section 13.2. Governing Law. This Declaration and the rights of the -------------- parties hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to the principles of conflict of laws of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction that would call for the application of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of Delaware; provided, however, -------- ------- that there shall not be applicable to the Trust, the Trustees or this Declaration any provision of the laws (statutory or common) of the State of Delaware pertaining to trusts that relate to or regulate, in a manner inconsistent with the terms hereof (a) the filing with any court or governmental body or agency of trustee accounts or schedules of trustee fees and charges, (b) affirmative requirements to post bonds for trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (c) the necessity for obtaining court or other governmental approval concerning the acquisition, holding or disposition of real or personal property, (d) fees or other sums payable to trustees, officers, agents or employees of a trust, (e) the allocation of receipts and expenditures to income or principal, or (f) restrictions or limitations on the permissible nature, amount or concentration of trust investments or requirements relating to the titling, storage or other manner of holding or investing trust assets. Section 13.3. Intention of the Parties. It is the intention of the ------------------------- parties hereto that the Trust be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties. Section 13.4. Headings. Headings contained in this Declaration are -------- inserted for convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision hereof. Section 13.5. Successors and Assigns. Whenever in this Declaration any ---------------------- of the parties hereto is named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns, whether or not so expressed. Section 13.6. Partial Enforceability. If any provision of this ----------------------- Declaration, or the application of such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby. Section 13.7. Counterparts. This Declaration may contain more than one ------------ counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees and Administrators to any of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Delaware Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ----------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh Title: Senior Financial Services Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ----------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh Title: Senior Financial Services Officer FIRST BANKS, INC., as Sponsor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------------- Name: Lisas K. Vansickle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ADMINISTRATORS OF FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ----------------------------------------- Administrator By: /s/ Peter D. Wimmer ---------------------------------------- Administrator By: /s/ Terrance M. McCarthy ---------------------------------------- Administrator ANNEX I TERMS OF SECURITIES Pursuant to Section 6.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of September 28, 2007 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set forth in the Declaration): 1. Designation and Number. ---------------------- (a) 10,000 Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust"), with an aggregate stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of ten million dollars ($10,000,000.00) and a stated liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as the "Capital Securities". The Capital Security -------------------- Certificates evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. (b) 310 Floating Rate Common Securities of the Trust (the "Common Securities") will be evidenced by Common Security Certificates ------------------- substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice. 2. Distributions. (a) Distributions will be payable on each Security for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 at a rate per annum of 8.08063% and shall bear interest for each successive Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount thereof, such rate ----------- being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the applicable Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by law). Distributions, as used herein, include cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). (b) Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance, and will be payable, subject to extension of distribution payment periods as described herein, quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year, or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any -------------------------- such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 when, as and if available for payment. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time, subject to the ----------------- conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, -------- however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date and - ------- provided further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the Debenture - -------- ------- ------- Issuer and its Affiliates shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Debenture Issuer's or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Debenture Issuer or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Debenture Issuer to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Debenture Issuer) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing, or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Debenture Issuer or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above, (a) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Debenture Issuer (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer) for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or of any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's indebtedness for any class or series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock, (c) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (f) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Debenture Issuer (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (g) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. (c) Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant record dates. The relevant record dates shall be fifteen days before the relevant Distribution Payment Date. Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any Distribution Payment Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the Debentures, as the case may be, when due (taking into account any Extension Period), will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered on the special record date or other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture. (d) In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the Securities. 3. Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution. In the event of the ----------------------------------------- voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Trust (each a "Liquidation") other than in connection with a redemption of ----------- the Debentures, the Holders of the Securities will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of the Securities, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust (to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer), distributions equal to the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation ----------- Distribution"), unless in connection with such Liquidation, the Debentures in an - ------------ aggregate stated principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate equal to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and having the same record date as, such Securities, after paying or making reasonable provision to pay all claims and obligations of the Trust in accordance with the Statutory Trust Act, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such Securities. The Sponsor, as the Holder of all of the Common Securities, has the right at any time to dissolve the Trust (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of a Special Event), subject to the receipt by the Debenture Issuer of prior approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of the Sponsor (the "Federal Reserve"), if the Sponsor is a bank holding company, or from the Office --------------- of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of Sponsor, (the "OTS") if the Sponsor --- is a savings and loan holding company, in either case if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, cause the Debentures to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis in accordance with the aggregate stated liquidation amount thereof. If a Liquidation of the Trust occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (v) in Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Institutional Trustee as expeditiously as it determines to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities, the Debentures on a Pro Rata basis to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, unless such distribution is determined by the Institutional Trustee not to be practical, in which event such Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to the Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities of creditors of the Trust to the extent not satisfied by the Debenture Issuer, an amount equal to the Liquidation Distribution. An early Liquidation of the Trust pursuant to clause (iv) of Section 7.1(a) of the Declaration shall occur if the Institutional Trustee determines that such Liquidation is possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Trust, to the Holders of the Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Debentures, and such distribution occurs. If, upon any such Liquidation the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on such Capital Securities shall be paid to the Holders of the Trust Securities on a Pro Rata basis, except that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities with regard to such distributions. After the date for any distribution of the Debentures upon dissolution of the Trust (i) the Securities of the Trust will be deemed to be no longer outstanding, (ii) upon surrender of a Holder's Securities certificate, such Holder of the Securities will receive a certificate representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution, (iii) any certificates representing the Securities still outstanding will be deemed to represent undivided beneficial interests in such of the Debentures as have an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount with an interest rate identical to the Distribution Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance (and until such certificates are so surrendered, no payments of interest or principal shall be made to Holders of Securities in respect of any payments due and payable under the Debentures; provided, however that such failure to pay shall -------- ------- not be deemed to be an Event of Default and shall not entitle the Holder to the benefits of the Guarantee), and (iv) all rights of Holders of Securities under the Declaration shall cease, except the right of such Holders to receive Debentures upon surrender of certificates representing such Securities. 4. Redemption and Distribution. (a) The Debentures will mature on December 15, 2037. The Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, at any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. In addition, the Debentures may be redeemed by the Debenture Issuer at the Special Redemption Price, in whole but not in part, at any Distribution Payment Date, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event at the Special Redemption Price, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice to holders of such Debentures so long as such Special Event is continuing. In each case, the right of the Debenture Issuer to redeem the Debentures is subject to the Debenture Issuer having received prior approval from the Federal Reserve (if the Debenture Issuer is a bank holding company) or prior approval from the OTS (if the Debenture Issuer is a savings and loan holding company), in each case if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the applicable federal agency. "3-Month LIBOR" means the London interbank offered interest rate for -------------- three-month, U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (1) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined below). "Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits; (2) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (3) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (4) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. "Capital Treatment Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and ------------------------ the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Sponsor will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or its then equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Sponsor (or if the Sponsor is not a bank holding company or otherwise is not subject to the Federal Reserve's risk-based capital adequacy guidelines, such guidelines applied to the Sponsor as if the Sponsor were subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the -------- ------- Sponsor to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment Event, if such inability results from the Sponsor having cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided further, however, that the -------- ------- ------- distribution of Debentures in connection with the Liquidation of the Trust shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such Liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event. "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days ------------------- (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a Coupon Rate is being determined. "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and ------------------------ the Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will be considered an Investment Company that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act which change or prospective change becomes effective or would become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of the Debentures. "Maturity Date" means December 15, 2037. ------------- "Redemption Date" shall mean the date fixed for the redemption of ---------------- Capital Securities, which shall be any Distribution Payment Date on or after the Distribution Payment Date in December 2012. "Redemption Price" means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures ----------------- being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Redemption Date. "Special Event" means a Tax Event, an Investment Company Event or a -------------- Capital Treatment Event. "Special Redemption Date" means a date on which a Special Event ------------------------- redemption occurs, which shall be a Distribution Payment Date. "Special Redemption Price" means the price set forth in the following -------------------------- table for any Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed: - ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- Month in which Special Special Redemption Price ---------------------- ------------------------ Redemption Date Occurs ---------------------- - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2007 104.625% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2008 104.300% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2008 104.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2008 103.650% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2008 103.350% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2009 103.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2009 102.700% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2009 102.350% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2009 102.050% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2010 101.700% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2010 101.400% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2010 101.050% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- December 2010 100.750% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- March 2011 100.450% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- June 2011 100.200% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- September 2011 and thereafter 100.000% - --------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid Interest on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date. "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Debenture Issuer and the Trust of --------- an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or announcement including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such procedures or regulations) (an "Administrative Action") or judicial decision ---------------------- interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in connection with a proceeding involving the Debenture Issuer or the Trust and whether or not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change, Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that: (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges. (b) Upon the repayment in full at maturity or redemption in whole or in part of the Debentures (other than following the distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of the Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or payment shall concurrently be applied to redeem Pro Rata at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed; provided, however, -------- ------- that holders of such Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of such redemption (other than at the scheduled maturity of the Debentures). (c) If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be redeemed Pro Rata from each Holder of Capital Securities. (d) The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Capital Securities unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all Capital Securities for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or before the date of redemption. (e) Redemption or Distribution Procedures. ------------------------------------- (i) Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of the Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust ------------------------------ by mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the Debentures. For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this paragraph 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of such Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of such Securities at the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder. (ii) If the Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a Redemption/ Distribution Notice, which notice may only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this paragraph 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then, provided that the Institutional Trustee has a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price, as applicable, to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the address of each such Holder appearing on the books and records of the Trust on the Redemption Date. If a Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit Distributions will cease to accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price specified in paragraph 4(a), but without interest on such Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price in respect of any Securities i s improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust or by the Debenture Issuer as guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee, Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue at the Distribution Rate from the original Redemption Date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. In the event of any redemption of the Capital Securities issued by the Trust in part, the Trust shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security during a period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days before any selection for redemption of the Capital Securities and ending at the close of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is deemed to have been given to all Holders of the Capital Securities to be so redeemed or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Capital Securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except for the unredeemed portion of any Capital Securities being redeemed in part. (iii) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Administrators on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the Capital Securities, the Holders thereof and (B) in respect of the Common Securities, the Holder thereof. (iv) Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities laws), and provided that the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. 5. Voting Rights - Capital Securities. ---------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under paragraphs 5(b) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital Securities will have no voting rights. The Administrators are required to call a meeting of the Holders of the Capital Securities if directed to do so by Holders of at least 10% in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. (b) Subject to the requirements of obtaining a tax opinion by the Institutional Trustee in certain circumstances set forth in the last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, have the right to direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including the right to direct the Institutional Trustee, as holder of the Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the Indenture as the holder of the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent on behalf of all the Holders of the Capital Securities to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be required; provided, however, that, where - -------- ------- a consent or action under the Indenture would require the consent or act of the holders of greater than a simple majority in aggregate principal amount of Debentures (a "Super Majority") affected thereby, the Institutional Trustee may -------------- only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities outstanding which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Debentures after the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of such Capital Securities have so directed the Institutional Trustee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, a Holder of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Debenture Issuer to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Debentures without first instituting any legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other person or entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on the date the interest or principal is payable (or in the case of redemption, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable), then a Holder of record of the Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment, on or after the respective due dates specified in the Debentures, to such Holder directly of the principal of or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such Holder. The Institutional Trustee shall notify all Holders of the Capital Securities of any default actually known to the Institutional Trustee with respect to the Debentures unless (x) such default has been cured prior to the giving of such notice or (y) the Institutional Trustee determines in good faith that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of such Capital Securities, except where the default relates to the payment of principal of or interest on any of the Debentures. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of Default also constitutes an Event of Default hereunder. Except with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any of the actions described in clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures, is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Institutional Trustee shall request the direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, -------- ------- that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of a Super-Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities outstanding which the relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. The Institutional Trustee shall not take any such action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the Securities unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes. A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default hereunder. Any required approval or direction of Holders of the Capital Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Capital Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Institutional Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of the Capital Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth the following information (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. Notwithstanding that Holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor shall not entitle the Holder thereof to vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Capital Securities were not outstanding. In no event will Holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrators, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the Sponsor as the Holder of all of the Common Securities of the Trust. Under certain circumstances as more fully described in the Declaration, Holders of Capital Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Institutional Trustee and the Delaware Trustee. 6. Voting Rights - Common Securities. --------------------------------- (a) Except as provided under paragraphs 6(b), 6(c) and 7 and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Common Securities will have no voting rights. (b) The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with Article IV of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace any Administrators. (c) Subject to Section 6.7 of the Declaration and only after each Event of Default (if any) with respect to the Capital Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated and subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Institutional Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waiving any past default and its consequences that is waivable under the Indenture, or (iii) exercising any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable; provided, however, that, where a -------- ------- consent or action under the Indenture would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent or take such action at the written direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. Notwithstanding this paragraph 6(c), the Institutional Trustee shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities. Other than with respect to directing the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Institutional Trustee or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Institutional Trustee shall not take any action described in (i), (ii) or (iii) above, unless the Institutional Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action. If the Institutional Trustee fails to enforce its rights, to the fullest extent permitted by law, under the Declaration, any Holder of the Common Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce the Institutional Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Institutional Trustee or any other Person. Any approval or direction of Holders of the Common Securities may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of the Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of the Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent. The Administrators will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of the Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of the Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities. 7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture. --------------------------------------- (a) In addition to any requirements under Section 11.1 of the Declaration, if any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the Trustees, Sponsor or Administrators otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or otherwise, or (ii) the Liquidation of the Trust, other than as described in Section 7.1 of the Declaration, then the Holders of outstanding Securities, voting together as a single class, will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities, affected thereby; provided, however, if any amendment or proposal referred to in clause -------- ------- (i) above would adversely affect only the Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval of a Majority in liquidation amount of such class of Securities. (b) In the event the consent of the Institutional Trustee as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Debentures, the Institutional Trustee shall request the written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification, or termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture -------- ------- would require a Super Majority, the Institutional Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding. (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Institutional Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed an Investment Company which is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act. (d) Notwithstanding any provision of the Declaration, the right of any Holder of the Capital Securities to receive payment of distributions and other payments upon redemption or otherwise, on or after their respective due dates, or to institute a suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder. For the protection and enforcement of the foregoing provision, each and every Holder of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or equity. 8. Pro Rata. A reference in these terms of the Securities to any -------- payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to -------- each Holder of the Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities then outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the Capital Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder of the Common Securities Pro Rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding. 9. Ranking. The Capital Securities rank pari passu with and ------- payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that, where an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to receive payment of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the rights of the Holders of the Capital Securities with the result that no payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, any Common Security, and no other payment on account of redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all outstanding Capital Securities for all distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) the full amount of such Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) on all outstanding Capital Securities then called for redemption, shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Institutional Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or the Redemption Price (or Special Redemption Price) of, the Capital Securities then due and payable. 10. Acceptance of Guarantee and Indenture. Each Holder of the ---------------------------------------- Capital Securities and the Common Securities, by the acceptance of such Securities, agrees to the provisions of the Guarantee, including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture. 11. No Preemptive Rights. The Holders of the Securities shall have -------------------- no preemptive or similar rights to subscribe for any additional securities. 12. Miscellaneous. These terms constitute a part of the Declaration. ------------- The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY] THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Certificate Number P-1 10,000 Capital Securities [CUSIP NO. [_______] **To be inserted at the request of a subsequent transferee] September 28, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Tennessee Bank National Association is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 28, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signatures appear on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: ------------------------------------ Name: Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: ------------------------------ Authorized Officer [FORM OF REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 8.08063% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: ------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) --- ------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints ------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: ---------------------------- Signature: ----------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 - --------------------------------- 1 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION. THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 8.1 OF THE DECLARATION. Certificate Number C-1 310 Common Securities September 28, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Common Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Banks, Inc. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 28, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. As set forth in the Declaration, when an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and payments upon Liquidation, redemption or otherwise are subordinated to the rights of payment of Holders of the Capital Securities. Upon receipt of this Certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Certificate, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common Securities as evidence of undivided beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Common Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: ----------------------------------- Name: Title: Administrator [FORM OF REVERSE OF COMMON SECURITY] Distributions payable on each Common Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 8.08063% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Common Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Common Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security Certificate to: --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)----- --------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints agent ------------------------------------------------- to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: --------------------------- Signature: ---------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature: (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee 2 - --------------------------------- 2 Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union, meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 1 EXHIBIT B SPECIMEN OF INITIAL DEBENTURE (See Document No. 17) PLACEMENT AGREEMENT (See Document No. 1) EX-4 24 fbstxiguarte.txt EXHIBIT 4.19 EXHIBIT 4.19 ------------------------------------------------- GUARANTEE AGREEMENT by and between FIRST BANKS, INC. and WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY Dated as of September 28, 2007 ------------------------------------------------- GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ------------------- This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of September 28, 2007, is executed and delivered by First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer"). WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the administrators of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $10,000,000.00 (the "Capital Securities"); and WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders. ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION Section 1.1. Definitions and Interpretation. In this Guarantee, -------------------------------- unless the context otherwise requires: (a) capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1; (b) a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout; (c) all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time; (d) all references in this Guarantee to "Articles" or "Sections" are to Articles or Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified; (e) terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and (f) a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa. "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of --------- the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder. "Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter ------------- becomes indebted or liable. "Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this ------------------ Guarantee. "Common Securities" means the common securities issued by the Issuer ------------------ to the Guarantor pursuant to the Declaration. "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at ---------------------- which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. "Covered Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities. -------------- "Debentures" means the debt securities of the Guarantor designated the ---------- Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037 held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer. "Declaration Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined ----------------------------- in the Declaration. "Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a). ---------------- "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, ------------------- without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to Capital Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special Event, and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution"). "Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor ----------------- Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee. "Guarantor" means First Banks, Inc. and each of its successors and --------- assigns. "Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of ------ the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining -------- ------- whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor. "Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the ------------------ Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee. "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between --------- the Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the institutional trustee of the Issuer. "Issuer" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this ----- Guarantee. "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition ------------------------ of "Guarantee Payments" herein. "Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means ------------------------------------------------------------- Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding. "Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not ----------- including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities. "Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a ----------------------- certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include: (a) a statement that the officer signing the Officer's Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto; (b) a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate; (c) a statement that the officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with. "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, ------ estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature. "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ---------------- "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, -------------------- any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject. "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------- "Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture. ------------------------ "Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee ----------------------------- possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1. "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital ---------------- Securities. ARTICLE II POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE Section 2.1. Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee. ------------------------------------------ (a) This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee. The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee. (b) If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (c) The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after curing all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been waived pursuant to Section 2.4) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs. (d) No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that: (i) prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred: (A) the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and (B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made; (iii) the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and (iv) no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Section 2.2. Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee. ----------------------------------- (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1: (i) The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties. (ii) Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate. (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor. (iv) The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or re-registration thereof). (v) The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees. The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction. (vi) The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing -------- ------- contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee. (vii) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit. (viii) The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder. (ix) Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action. No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action. (x) Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions. (xi) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee. (b) No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty. Section 2.3. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee. ------------------------------------------------------- The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee. Section 2.4. Events of Default; Waiver. ------------------------- (a) An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder. (b) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Section 2.5. Events of Default; Notice. ------------------------- (a) The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding - -------- ------- such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof. ARTICLE III GUARANTEE TRUSTEE Section 3.1. Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility. ------------------------------ (a) There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall: (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. (b) If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 3.2(c). (c) If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Guarantee. Section 3.2. Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee -------------------------------------------------------- Trustee. - ------- (a) Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default. (b) The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor. (c) The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation. The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee. (d) If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee. Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee. (e) No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee. (f) Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation. ARTICLE IV GUARANTEE Section 4.1. Guarantee. --------- (a) The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except the defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders. (b) The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries. This Guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof. Section 4.2 . Waiver of Notice and Demand. The Guarantor hereby waives --------------------------- notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands. Section 4.3. Obligations Not Affected. The obligations, covenants, ------------------------ agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following: (a) the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer; (b) the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture); (c) any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind; (d) the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer; (e) any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities; (f) the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or (g) any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances. There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing. Section 4.4. Rights of Holders. ----------------- (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to -------- ------- Section 2.1) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability. (b) Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person. The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor. Section 4.5. Guarantee of Payment. his Guarantee creates a guarantee -------------------- of payment and not of collection. Section 4.6. Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all ----------- (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent -------- ------- required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders. Section 4.7. Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that ----------------------- its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof. Section 4.8. Enforcement by a Beneficiary. A Beneficiary may enforce ---------------------------- the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, -------- however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by - ------- mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment, and after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee. ARTICLE V LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION Section 5.1. Limitation of Transactions. So long as any Capital ---------------------------- Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's or such Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Guarantor or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Guarantor to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension Period, as applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (vi) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Guarantor (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (vii) payments under this Guarantee). Section 5.2. Ranking. This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured ------- obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor. By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein. The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder. This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise. ARTICLE VI TERMINATION Section 6.1. Termination. This Guarantee shall terminate as to the ----------- Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee. ARTICLE VII INDEMNIFICATION Section 7.1. Exculpation. ----------- (a) No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions. (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid. Section 7.2. Indemnification. --------------- (a) The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder. The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. (b) Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above. The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the - -------- ------- Indemnified Person. Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel to represent the Guarantor in an action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor. The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding. Section 7.3. Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses. The Guarantor ---------------------------------------- agrees: (a) to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and (b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct. For purposes of clarification, this Section 7.3 does not contemplate the payment by the Guarantor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Guarantee Trustee for services to be provided by the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee or the fees and expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee. The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS Section 8.1. Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements ----------------------- contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, in each case, to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. Section 8.2. Amendments. Except with respect to any changes that do ---------- not adversely affect the rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of such approval. Section 8.3. Notices. All notices provided for in this Guarantee ------- shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows: (a) If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor): Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Telecopy: 302-636-4140 (b) If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee): First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopy: 314-592-6621 (c) If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer. All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver. Section 8.4. Benefit. This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the ------- Beneficiaries and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities. Section 8.5. Governing Law. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND ------------- CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW). Section 8.6. Counterparts. This Guarantee may be executed in one or ------------ more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Section 8.7. Separability. In case one or more of the provisions ------------ contained in this Guarantee shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein. Signatures appear on the following page THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC., as Guarantor By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansicle Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Guarantee Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------------------------- Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh Title: Senior Financial Services Officer EX-4 25 fbstxiplace.txt EXHIBIT 4.20 EXHIBIT 4.20 FIRST BANKS, INC. 10,000 Capital Securities Floating Rate Capital Securities (Liquidation Amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security) PLACEMENT AGREEMENT --------------- September 27, 2007 FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 787 7th Avenue 4th Floor New York, New York 10019 Ladies and Gentlemen: First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), and its financing subsidiary, First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust," and hereinafter together with the Company, the "Offerors"), hereby confirm their agreement (this "Agreement") with you as placement agents (the "Placement Agents"), as follows: Section 1. Issuance and Sale of Securities. ------------------------------- 1.1. Introduction. The Offerors propose to issue and sell at the ------------ Closing (as defined in Section 2.3.1 hereof) 10,000 of the Trust's Floating Rate Capital Securities, with a liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per capital security (the "Capital Securities"), to First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser") pursuant to the terms of a Subscription Agreement entered into, or to be entered into on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2.3.1 hereof), between the Offerors and the Purchaser (the "Subscription Agreement"), the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by --------- this reference. 1.2. Operative Agreements. The Capital Securities shall be fully --------------------- and unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment (the "Guarantee") pursuant and subject to the Guarantee Agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement"), to be dated as of the Closing Date and executed and delivered by the Company and Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit from time to time of the holders of the Capital Securities. The entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the holders of the Capital Securities shall be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities"), and shall be used by the Trust to purchase $10,310,000.00 in principal amount of the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") of the Company. The Capital Securities and the Common Securities for the Trust shall be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust among WTC, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), WTC, as institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), the Administrators named therein, and the Company, to be dated as of the Closing Date and in substantially the form heretofore delivered to the Placement Agents (the "Trust Agreement"). The Debentures shall be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture"), to be dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and WTC, as indenture trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"). The documents identified in this Section 1.2 and in Section 1.1 are referred to herein as the "Operative Documents." 1.3. Rights of Purchaser. The Capital Securities shall be offered ------------------- and sold by the Trust directly to the Purchaser without registration of any of the Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities laws in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws. The Offerors agree that this Agreement shall be incorporated by reference into the Subscription Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to this Agreement. The Offerors and the Placement Agents have entered into this Agreement to set forth their understanding as to their relationship and their respective rights, duties and obligations. 1.4. Legends. Upon original issuance thereof, and until such time ------- as the same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Capital Securities and Debentures certificates shall each contain a legend as required pursuant to any of the Operative Documents. Section 2. Purchase of Capital Securities. ------------------------------ 2.1. Exclusive Rights; Purchase Price. From the date hereof until --------------------------------- the Closing Date (which date may be extended by mutual agreement of the Offerors and the Placement Agents), the Offerors hereby grant to the Placement Agents the exclusive right to arrange for the sale of the Capital Securities to the Purchaser at a purchase price of $1,000.00 per Capital Security. 2.2. Subscription Agreement. The Offerors hereby agree to evidence ----------------------- their acceptance of the subscription by countersigning a copy of the Subscription Agreement and returning the same to the Placement Agents. 2.3. Closing and Delivery of Payment. ------------------------------- 2.3.1. Closing; Closing Date. The sale and purchase of the ----------------------- CapitalSecurities by the Offerors to the Purchaser shall take place at a closing (the"Closing") at the offices of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., at 10:00 a.m.(St. Louis time) on September 28, 2007, or such other business day as may be agreed upon by the Offerors and the Placement Agents (the "Closing Date"); provided, -------- however, that in no event shall the Closing Date occur later than October 5, - ------- 2007 unless consented to by the Purchaser. Payment by the Purchaser shall be payable in the manner set forth in the Subscription Agreement and shall be made prior to or on the Closing Date. 2.3.2. Delivery. The certificate for the Capital Securities -------- shall be in definitive form, registered in the name of the Purchaser, or the Purchaser's designee, and in the aggregate amount of the Capital Securities purchased by the Purchaser. 2.3.3. Transfer Agent. The Offerors shall deposit the --------------- certificatere presenting the Capital Securities with the Institutional Trustee or other appropriate party prior to the Closing Date. 2.4. Costs and Expenses. Whether or not this Agreement is terminated ------------------ or the sale of the Capital Securities is consummated, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that it shall pay or cause to be paid (directly or by reimbursement) all reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement, including all fees, expenses and disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Offerors; all reasonable expenses incurred by the Offerors incident to the preparation, execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement, the Indenture, and the Guarantee; and all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the Trust Agreement. 2.5. Failure to Close. If any of the conditions to the Closing ---------------- specified in this Agreement shall not have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the Placement Agents or if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 10:00 a.m. (St. Louis time) on October 5, 2007, then each party hereto, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement without thereby waiving any rights it may have by reason of such nonfulfillment or failure; provided, however, that -------- ------- the obligations of the parties under Sections 2.4, 7.5 and 9 shall not be so relieved and shall continue in full force and effect. Section 3. Closing Conditions. The obligations of the Purchaser and the ------------------ Placement Agents on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Offerors contained in this Agreement, to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the statements of the Offerors made in any certificates pursuant to this Agreement, to the performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under this Agreement, to compliance, at and as of the Closing Date, by the Offerors with their respective agreements herein contained, and to the following further conditions: 3.1. Opinions of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Placement Agents ------------------- shall have received the following favorable opinions, each dated as of the Closing Date: (a) from Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP, counsel for the Offerors and addressed to the Purchaser, the Placement Agents and WTC in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit B-1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this ----------- reference, (b) from Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to the Offerors and addressed to the Purchaser, the Placement Agents and the Offerors, in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit B-2 attached hereto and ----------- incorporated herein by this reference and (c) from Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C., special tax counsel to the Offerors, and addressed to the Placement Agents and the Offerors, addressing the items set forth on Exhibit B-3 attached hereto and ----------- incorporated herein by this reference, subject to the receipt by Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. of a representation letter from the Company in the form set forth in Exhibit B-3 completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to Lewis, Rice & ----------- Fingersh, L.C. (collectively, the "Offerors' Counsel Opinions"). In rendering the Offerors' Counsel Opinions, counsel to the Offerors may rely as to factual matters upon certificates or other documents furnished by officers, directors and trustees of the Offerors (copies of which shall be delivered to the Placement Agents and the Purchaser) and by government officials, and upon such other documents as counsel to the Offerors may, in their reasonable opinion, deem appropriate as a basis for the Offerors' Counsel Opinions. Counsel to the Offerors may specify the jurisdictions in which they are admitted to practice and that they are not admitted to practice in any other jurisdiction and are not experts in the law of any other jurisdiction. If the Offerors' counsel is not admitted to practice in the State of New York, the opinion of Offerors' counsel may assume, for purposes of the opinion, that the laws of the State of New York are substantively identical, in all respects material to the opinion, to the internal laws of the state in which such counsel is admitted to practice. Such Offerors' Counsel Opinions shall not state that they are to be governed or qualified by, or that they are otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991). 3.2. Officer's Certificate. At the Closing Date, the Purchaser and --------------------- the Placement Agents shall have received certificates from an authorized officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that (i) the representations and warranties of the Offerors set forth in Section 5 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Offerors have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) since the date of this Agreement the Offerors have not incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions, other than in the ordinary course of business, which is material to the Offerors, and (iii) covering such other matters as the Placement Agents may reasonably request. 3.3. Administrator's Certificate. At the Closing Date, the Purchaser --------------------------- and the Placement Agents shall have received a certificate of one or more Administrators of the Trust, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the representations and warranties of the Trust set forth in Section 5 are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Trust has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date. 3.4. Purchase Permitted by Applicable Laws; Legal Investment. The ---------------------------------------------------------- purchase of and payment for the Capital Securities as described in this Agreement and pursuant to the Subscription Agreement shall (a) not be prohibited by any applicable law or governmental regulation, (b) not subject the Purchaser or the Placement Agents to any penalty or, in the reasonable judgment of the Purchaser and the Placement Agents, other onerous conditions under or pursuant to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and (c) be permitted by the laws and regulations of the jurisdictions to which the Purchaser and the Placement Agents are subject. 3.5. Consents and Permits. The Company and the Trust shall have --------------------- received all consents, permits and other authorizations, and made all such filings and declarations, as may be required from any person or entity pursuant to any law, statute, regulation or rule (federal, state, local and foreign), or pursuant to any agreement, order or decree to which the Company or the Trust is a party or to which either is subject, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 3.6. Information. Prior to or on the Closing Date, the Offerors ----------- shall have furnished to the Placement Agents such further information, certificates, opinions and documents addressed to the Purchaser and the Placement Agents, which the Placement Agents may reasonably request, including, without limitation, a complete set of the Operative Documents or any other documents or certificates required by this Section 3; and all proceedings taken by the Offerors in connection with the issuance, offer and sale of the Capital Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agents. If any condition specified in this Section 3 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions or certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agents, this Agreement may be terminated by the Placement Agents by notice to the Offerors at any time at or prior to the Closing Date. Notice of such termination shall be given to the Offerors in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing. Section 4. Conditions to the Offerors' Obligations. The obligations of the --------------------------------------- Offerors to sell the Capital Securities to the Purchaser and consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Placement Agents contained in this Agreement and to the following further conditions: 4.1. Executed Agreement. The Offerors shall have received from the ------------------ Placement Agents an executed copy of this Agreement. 4.2. Fulfillment of Other Obligations. The Placement Agents shall -------------------------------- have fulfilled all of their other obligations and duties required to be fulfilled under this Agreement prior to or at the Closing. Section 5. Representations and Warranties of the Offerors. Except as set ------------------------------------------------ forth on the Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Section 11.1) attached hereto, if any, the Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Placement Agents and the Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows: 5.1. Securities Law Matters. ---------------------- (a) Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their "Affiliates" (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act ("Regulation D")), nor any person acting on any of their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would require the registration under the Securities Act of any of the Capital Securities, the Guarantee or the Debentures (collectively, the "Securities") or any other securities to be issued, or which may be issued, by the Purchaser. (b) Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their Affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has (i) other than the Placement Agents, offered for sale or solicited offers to purchase the Securities, or (ii) engaged in any form of offering, general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D) in connection with any offer or sale of any of the Securities. (c) The Securities satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule 144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act. (d) Neither the Company nor the Trust is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the transactions described in this Agreement, will be an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case within the meaning of Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), without regard to Section 3(c) of the Investment Company Act. (e) Neither the Company nor the Trust has paid or agreed to pay to any person or entity (other than the Placement Agents) any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any of the Securities. 5.2. Organization, Standing and Qualification of the Trust. The ---------------------------------------------------------- Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (the "Statutory Trust Act") with the power and authority to own property and to conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Operative Documents. The Trust is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust. The Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than the Operative Documents. The Trust is and will, under current law, be classified for federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation. 5.3. Trust Agreement. The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized ---------------- by the Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Administrators of the Trust, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Delaware Trustee and the Institutional Trustee, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and such Administrators, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation and other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law) ("Bankruptcy and Equity"). Each of the Administrators of the Trust is an employee or a director of the Company or of a financial institution subsidiary of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and deliver the Trust Agreement. 5.4. Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture. Each of the Guarantee -------------------------------------- and the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Guarantee, and by the Indenture Trustee, in the case of the Indenture, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.5. Capital Securities and Common Securities. The Capital ----------------------------------------------- Securities and the Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor on the Closing Date to the Purchaser, in the case of the Capital Securities, and to the Company, in the case of the Common Securities, will be validly issued and represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. None of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities is subject to preemptive or other similar rights. On the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities will be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any pledge, security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance. 5.6. Debentures. The Debentures have been duly authorized by the ---------- Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered to the Indenture Trustee for authentication in accordance with the Indenture, and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor by the Trust, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.7. Power and Authority. This Agreement has been duly authorized, -------------------- executed and delivered by the Company and the Trust and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company and the Trust, enforceable against the Company and the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity. 5.8. No Defaults. The Trust is not in violation of the Trust ------------ Agreement or, to the knowledge of the Administrators, any provision of the Statutory Trust Act. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company or the Trust of this Agreement or the Operative Documents to which it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein and the use of the proceeds therefrom, will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or other encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Trust, the Company or any of the Company's Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 5.11 hereof) pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Trust, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of any of them is subject, except for a conflict, breach, default, lien, charge or encumbrance which could not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect nor will such action result in any violation of the Trust Agreement or the Statutory Trust Act or require the consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body. As used herein, the term "Material Adverse Effect" means any one or more effects that individually or in the aggregate are material and adverse to the Offerors' ability to consummate the transactions contemplated herein or in the Operative Documents or any one or more effects that individually or in the aggregate are material and adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business. 5.9. Organization, Standing and Qualification of the Company. The --------------------------------------------------------- Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Missouri, with all requisite corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of the Company to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.10. Subsidiaries of the Company. Each of the Company's significant --------------------------- subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act (the "Significant Subsidiaries")) is listed in Exhibit C attached hereto and --------- incorporated herein by this reference. Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with all requisite power and authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where the nature of its activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of any such Significant Subsidiary to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries (a) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, (b) are fully paid and nonassessable, and (c) are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, restriction upon voting or transfer, preemptive rights, claim, equity or other defect. 5.11. Permits. The Company and each of its subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1-02(x) of Regulation S-X to the Securities Act) (the "Subsidiaries") have all requisite power and authority, and all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from regulatory or governmental officials, bodies and tribunals, to own or lease their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as now being conducted, except such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits which, if not obtained and maintained, would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates or permits which, singly or in the aggregate, if the failure to be so licensed or approved is the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders and consents, the violation of which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. 5.12. Conflicts, Authorizations and Approvals. Neither the Company ---------------------------------------- nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective articles or certificate of incorporation, charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, the effect of which violation or default in performance or observance would have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. 5.13. Holding Company Registration and Deposit Insurance. The -------------------------------------------------------- Company is duly registered (i) as a bank holding company or financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and the regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") or (ii) as a savings and loan holding company under the Home Owners' Loan Act of 1933, as amended, and the regulations of the Office of Thrift Supervision (the "OTS"), and the deposit accounts of the Company's Subsidiary depository institutions are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") to the fullest extent permitted by law and the rules and regulations of the FDIC, and no proceedings for the termination of such insurance are pending or threatened. 5.14. Financial Statements. -------------------- (a) The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and related consolidated income statements and statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the three years ended December 31, 2006 together with the notes thereto, and the consolidated balance sheets of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of June 30, 2007 and the related consolidated income statements and statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the six months then ended, copies of each of which have been provided to the Placement Agents (together, the "Financial Statements"), have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be disclosed therein) and fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and changes in shareholders' equity of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated (subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal recurring year-end adjustments, none of which shall be material). The books and records of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries have been, and are being, maintained in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements and reflect only actual transactions. (b) The information in the Company's most recently filed (i) FR Y-9C filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a bank holding company, (ii) FR Y-9SP filed with the Federal Reserve if the Company is a small bank holding company or (iii) H-(b)11 filed with the OTS if the Company is a savings and loan holding company (the "Regulatory Report"), previously provided to the Placement Agents fairly presents in all material respects the financial position of the Company and, where applicable, all of its Subsidiaries as of the end of the period represented by such Regulatory Report. (c) Since the respective dates of the Financial Statements and the Regulatory Report, there has been no material adverse change or development with respect to the financial condition or earnings of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (d) The accountants of the Company who certified the year-end Financial Statements are independent public accountants of the Company and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. 5.15. Exchange Act Reporting. The reports filed with the Securities ---------------------- and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") by the Company under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") and the regulations thereunder at the time they were filed with the Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and such reports did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading (except to the extent superseded by a subsequent report filed by the Company with the Commission). 5.16. Regulatory Enforcement Matters. Neither the Company nor any of ------------------------------ its Subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any notice or advice that any of them may become subject or party to, any investigation with respect to, any cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent agreement, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been since January 1, 2004, a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or since January 1, 2004, has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or that in any material manner relates to their capital adequacy, their credit policies, their ability or authority to pay dividends or make distributions to their shareholders or make payments of principal or interest on their debt obligations, their management or their business (each, a "Regulatory Agreement"), nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 2004, by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement. There is no material unresolved violation, criticism or exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement relating to any examinations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. As used herein, the term "Regulatory Agency" means any federal or state agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depository institutions, bank, financial or savings and loan holding companies, or engaged in the insurance of depository institution deposits, or any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental agency, authority or instrumentality having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is currently unable to pay dividends or make distributions to its shareholders with respect to any class of its equity securities, or prohibited from paying principal or interest on its debt obligations, due to a restriction or limitation, whether by statute, contract or otherwise, and, in the reasonable judgment of the Company's management, neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries will be unable in the foreseeable future to pay dividends or make distributions with respect to any class of equity securities, or be prohibited from paying principal or interest on its debt obligations, due to a restriction or limitation, whether by statute, contract or otherwise. 5.17. No Material Change. Since December 31, 2006, there has been no ------------------ material adverse change or development with respect to the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, prospects or results of operations of the Company or its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business. 5.18. No Undisclosed Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any of its -------------------------- Subsidiaries has any material liability, whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including any liability for taxes (and there is no past or present fact, situation, circumstance, condition or other basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing, charge, complaint, claim or demand against the Company or its Subsidiaries giving rise to any such liability), except (i) for liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements and (ii) normal fluctuation in the amount of the liabilities referred to in clause (i) above occurring in the ordinary course of business of the Company and all of its Subsidiaries since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements. 5.19. Litigation. No charge, investigation, action, suit or ---------- proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of the Offerors, threatened against or affecting the Company or its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before or by any courts or any regulatory, administrative or governmental official, commission, board, agency or other authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. 5.20. Deferral of Interest Payments on Debentures. The Company has no ------------------------------------------- present intention to exercise its option to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture. The Company believes that the likelihood that it would exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Debentures as provided in the Indenture at any time during which the Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be imposed on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions on, or to redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock and on the Company's ability to make any payments of principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any of its debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with, or junior in interest to, the Debentures. Section 6. Representations and Warranties of the Placement Agents. Each --------------------------------------------------------- Placement Agent represents and warrants to the Offerors as to itself (but not as to the other Placement Agent) as follows: 6.1. Organization, Standing and Qualification. ---------------------------------------- (a) FTN Financial Capital Markets is a division of First Tennessee Bank National Association, a national banking association duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the United States, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted. FTN Financial Capital Markets is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts its business so as to require such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, prospects or results of operations of FTN Financial Capital Markets. (b) Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of New York, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or conducts its business so as to require such qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business, prospects or results of operations of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 6.2. Power and Authority. The Placement Agent has all requisite ------------------- power and authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Placement Agent and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Placement Agent, enforceable against the Placement Agent in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity and except as any indemnification or contribution provisions thereof may be limited under applicable securities laws. 6.3. General Solicitation. In the case of the offer and sale of --------------------- the Capital Securities, no form of general solicitation or general advertising was used by the Placement Agent or its representatives including, but not limited to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio or any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general solicitation or general advertising. 6.4. Purchaser. The Placement Agent has made such reasonable inquiry --------- as is necessary to determine that the Purchaser is acquiring the Capital Securities for its own account, except as contemplated in Section 7.8 hereto, and that the Purchaser does not intend to distribute the Capital Securities in contravention of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws. 6.5. Qualified Purchasers. The Placement Agent has not offered or -------------------- sold and will not arrange for the offer or sale of the Capital Securities except (i) to those the Placement Agent reasonably believes are "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D), or (ii) in any other manner that does not require registration of the Capital Securities under the Securities Act. In connection with each such sale, the Placement Agent has taken or will take reasonable steps to ensure that the Purchaser is aware that (a) such sale is being made in reliance on an exemption under the Securities Act and (b) future transfers of the Capital Securities will not be made except in compliance with applicable securities laws. 6.6. Offering Circulars. Neither the Placement Agent nor its ------------------- representatives will include any non-public information about the Company, the Trust or any of their Affiliates in any registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or private placement memorandum used in connection with any purchase of Capital Securities without the prior written consent of the Trust and the Company. Section 7. Covenants of the Offerors. The Offerors covenant and agree with ------------------------- the Placement Agents and the Purchaser as follows: 7.1. Compliance with Representations and Warranties. During the ------------------------------------------------- period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Offerors shall use their best efforts and take all action necessary or appropriate to cause their representations and warranties contained in Section 5 hereof to be true as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date. 7.2. Sale and Registration of Securities. The Offerors and their ------------------------------------ Affiliates shall not nor shall any of them permit any person acting on their behalf (other than the Placement Agents), to directly or indirectly (i) sell, offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would or could be integrated with the sale of the Capital Securities in a manner that would require the registration under the Securities Act of the Securities or (ii) make offers or sales of any such Security, or solicit offers to buy any such Security, under circumstances that would require the registration of any of such Securities under the Securities Act. 7.3. Use of Proceeds. The Trust shall use the proceeds from the sale --------------- of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to purchase the Debentures from the Company. 7.4. Investment Company. The Offerors shall not engage, or permit ------------------- any Subsidiary to engage, in any activity which would cause it or any Subsidiary to be an "investment company" under the provisions of the Investment Company Act. 7.5. Reimbursement of Expenses. If the sale of the Capital ------------------------- Securities provided for herein is not consummated (i) because any condition set forth in Section 3 hereof is not satisfied, or (ii) because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Trust to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a breach by the Placement Agents, the Company shall reimburse the Placement Agents upon demand for all of their pro rata share of out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no obligation to reimburse the Placement Agents for their out-of-pocket expenses if the sale of the Capital Securities fails to occur because the Placement Agents fail to fulfill a condition set forth in Section 4 or the Purchaser fails to purchase the Capital Securities. 7.6. Solicitation and Advertising. In connection with any offer or ---------------------------- sale of any of the Securities, the Offerors shall not, nor shall either of them permit any of their Affiliates or any person acting on their behalf, other than the Placement Agents, to engage in any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as defined in Regulation D). 7.7. Compliance with Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. So ----------------------------------------------------------- long as any of the Securities are outstanding and are "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Offerors will, during any period in which they are not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or the Offerors are not exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, provide to each holder of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such holder or prospective purchaser in connection with any proposed transfer, any information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act, if applicable. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the holders, and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders, from time to time of such restricted securities. The information provided by the Offerors pursuant to this Section 7.7 will not, at the date thereof, contain any 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. 7.8. Transfer Notice. The Offerors acknowledge that the Purchaser --------------- may transfer the Capital Securities, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time following the Closing Date by delivering the notice (the "Transfer Notice") attached as Exhibit B to the Master Custodian Agreement, dated May 27, --------- 2004, as amended, and attached as Exhibit A to the Subscription Agreement. In --------- order to facilitate such transfer, the Company shall execute in blank five additional Capital Securities certificates, to be delivered at Closing, such certificates to be completed with the name of the transferee(s) to which the Capital Securities, in whole or in part, will be transferred upon the receipt of a Transfer Notice and authenticated by the Institutional Trustee at the time of each such transfer. Section 8. Covenants of the Placement Agents. The Placement Agents ------------------------------------ covenant and agree with the Offerors that, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Placement Agents shall use their best efforts and take all action necessary or appropriate to cause their representations and warranties contained in Section 6 to be true as of the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date. The Placement Agents further covenant and agree not to engage in hedging transactions with respect to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act. Section 9. Indemnification. --------------- 9.1. Indemnification Obligation. The Offerors shall jointly and --------------------------- severally indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agents and the Purchaser and each of their respective agents, employees, officers and directors and each person that controls either of the Placement Agents or the Purchaser within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and agents, employees, officers and directors or any such controlling person of either of the Placement Agents or the Purchaser (each such person or entity, an "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Offerors), insofar as such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, or relate to, in whole or in part, (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any information (whether written or oral) or documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the Placement Agents or the Purchaser by the Offerors, or (b) any omission or alleged omission to state in any information (whether written or oral) or documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the Placement Agents or the Purchaser by the Offerors a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal and other expenses as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, judgments, liability, expense or action described in this Section 9.1. In addition to their other obligations under this Section 9, the Offerors hereby agree that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of, or based upon, or related to the matters described above in this Section 9.1, they shall reimburse each Indemnified Party on a quarterly basis for all reasonable legal or other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, each Indemnified Party shall promptly return such amounts to the Offerors together with interest, determined on the basis of the prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for borrowers of the highest credit standing) announced from time to time by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments which are not made to an Indemnified Party within 30 days of a request for reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of such request. 9.2. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Promptly after receipt -------------------------------------- by an Indemnified Party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Offerors under this Section 9, notify the Offerors in writing of the commencement thereof; but, subject to Section 9.4, the omission to so notify the Offerors shall not relieve them from any liability pursuant to Section 9.1 which the Offerors may have to any Indemnified Party unless and to the extent that the Offerors did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure by the Indemnified Party results in the forfeiture by the Offerors of substantial rights and defenses. In case any such action is brought against any Indemnified Party and such Indemnified Party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from the Offerors, the Offerors shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that they may wish, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; provided, however, if the defendants in -------- ------- any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Offerors and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict between the positions of the Offerors and the Indemnified Party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to those available to the Offerors, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such Indemnified Party. Upon receipt of notice from the Offerors to such Indemnified Party of their election to so assume the defense of such action and approval by the Indemnified Party of counsel, the Offerors shall not be liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the Indemnified Party shall have employed such counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso in the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the Offerors shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel representing the Indemnified Parties who are parties to such action), or (ii) the Offerors shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel of such Indemnified Party shall be at the expense of the Offerors. 9.3. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this ------------ Section 9 is required by its terms, but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under Section 9.1 in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to herein or therein, then the Offerors shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of any losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to herein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, from the offering of such Capital Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein or other breaches which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The respective relative benefits received by the Offerors, on the one hand, and the Placement Agents, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion, in the case of the Offerors, as the total price paid to the Offerors for the Capital Securities sold by the Offerors to the Purchaser (net of the compensation paid to the Placement Agents hereunder, but before deducting expenses), and in the case of the Placement Agents, as the compensation received by them, bears to the total of such amounts paid to the Offerors and received by the Placement Agents as compensation. The relative fault of the Offerors and the Placement Agents shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission of a material fact or the inaccurate or the alleged inaccurate representation and/or warranty relates to information supplied by the Offerors or the Placement Agents and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The provisions set forth in Section 9.2 with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is made under this Section 9.3; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect -------- ------- to any action for which notice has been given under Section 9.2 for purposes of indemnification. The Offerors and the Placement Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9.3 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 this Section 9.3. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Section 9.3 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. In no event shall the liability of the Placement Agents hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the compensation (net of payment of all expenses) received by the Placement Agents upon the sale of the Capital Securities giving rise to such obligation. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. 9.4. Additional Remedies. The indemnity and contribution agreements ------------------- contained in this Section 9 are in addition to any liability that the Offerors may otherwise have to any Indemnified Party. 9.5. Additional Indemnification. The Company shall indemnify and --------------------------- hold harmless the Trust against all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as due from the Trust under Sections 9.1 through 9.4 hereof. Section 10. Rights and Responsibilities of Placement Agents. ----------------------------------------------- 10.1. Reliance. In performing their duties under this Agreement, the -------- Placement Agents shall be entitled to rely upon any notice, signature or writing which they shall in good faith believe to be genuine and to be signed or presented by a proper party or parties. The Placement Agents may rely upon any opinions or certificates or other documents delivered by the Offerors or their counsel or designees to either the Placement Agents or the Purchaser. 10.2. Rights of Placement Agents. In connection with the performance -------------------------- of their duties under this Agreement, the Placement Agents shall not be liable for any error of judgment or any action taken or omitted to be taken unless the Placement Agents were grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct in connection with such performance or non-performance. No provision of this Agreement shall require the Placement Agents to expend or risk their own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability on behalf of the Purchaser in connection with the performance of any of their duties hereunder. The Placement Agents shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in them by this Agreement. Section 11. Miscellaneous. 11.1. Disclosure Schedule. The term "Disclosure Schedule," as used ------------------- herein, means the schedule, if any, attached to this Agreement that sets forth items the disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate as an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof; provided, -------- that any item set forth in the Disclosure Schedule as an exception to a representation or warranty shall be deemed an admission by the Offerors that such item represents an exception, fact, event or circumstance that is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the section numbers contained in Section 5. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless the Disclosure Schedule identifies the exception with reasonable particularity and describes the relevant facts in reasonable detail. Without limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, the mere listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item in the Disclosure Schedule shall not be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless the representation or warranty has to do with the existence of the document or other item itself. Information provided by the Company in response to any due diligence questionnaire shall not be deemed part of the Disclosure Schedule and shall not be deemed to be an exception to one or more representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof unless such information is specifically included on the Disclosure Schedule in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.1. 11.2. Legal Expenses. At Closing, the Placement Agents shall provide -------------- a credit for the Offerors' transaction-related legal expenses in the amount of $10,000.00. 11.3. Non-Disclosure. Except as required by applicable law, including -------------- without limitation securities laws and regulations promulgated thereunder, (i) the Offerors shall not, and will cause their advisors and representatives not to, issue any press release or other public statement regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Documents prior to or on the Closing Date and (ii) following the Closing Date, the Offerors shall not include in any press release, other public statement or other communication regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Operative Documents, any reference to the Placement Agents, WTC, the Purchaser, the term "PreTS" or any derivations thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Offerors may (1) consult any tax advisor regarding U.S. federal income tax treatment or tax structure of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement and the Operative Documents and (2) disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the U.S. Federal income tax structure (in each case, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation ss. 1.6011-4) of the transaction contemplated under this Agreement and the Operative Documents and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to you relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For this purpose, "tax structure" is limited to any facts relevant to the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the transaction and does not include information relating to identity of the parties. 11.4. Notices. Prior to the Closing, and thereafter with respect to ------- matters pertaining to this Agreement only, all notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery: if to the Placement Agents, to: FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Telecopier: 901-435-4706 Telephone: 800-456-5460 Attention: James D. Wingett and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. 787 7th Avenue 4th Floor New York, New York 10019 Telecopier: 212-403-2000 Telephone: 212-403-1004 Attention: Mitchell Kleinman, General Counsel with a copy to: Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. 500 North Broadway, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Telecopier: 314-241-6056 Telephone: 314-444-7600 Attention: Thomas C. Erb, Esq. and Sidley Austin LLP 787 7th Avenue New York, New York 10019 Telecopier: 212-839-5599 Telephone: 212-839-5300 Attention: Renwick Martin, Esq. if to the Offerors, to: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Telecopier: 314-592-6621 Telephone: 314-592-6603 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle with a copy to: Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP 1201 Walnut Street, Suite 2900 Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Telecopier: 816-412-8117 Telephone: 816-691-3351 Attention: C. Robert Monroe, Esq. All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (ii) five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, (iii) when answered back, if telexed, (iv) the next business day after being telecopied, or (v) the next business day after timely delivery to a courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. From and after the Closing, the foregoing notice provisions shall be superseded by any notice provisions of the Operative Documents under which notice is given. The Placement Agents, the Offerors, and their respective counsel, may change their respective notice addresses from time to time by written notice to all of the foregoing persons. 11.5. Parties in Interest, Successors and Assigns. Except as ------------------------------------------------ expressly set forth herein, this Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the Placement Agents, the Purchaser and the Offerors and any person controlling the Placement Agents, the Purchaser or the Offerors and their respective successors and assigns; and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties. 11.6. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by the parties ------------ hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. 11.7. Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of -------- reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof. 11.8. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND ------------- CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAWS PERTAINING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. 11.9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with the Operative ---------------- Documents and the other documents delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This Agreement, together with the Operative Documents and the other documents delivered in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement, supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter. 11.10. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the ------------ provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Placement Agents' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. 11.11. Survival. The Placement Agents and the Offerors, respectively, -------- agree that the representations, warranties and agreements made by each of them in this Agreement and in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the delivery of, and payment for, the Capital Securities. Signatures appear on the following page If this Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so indicate by signing the acceptance of this Agreement and deliver such counterpart to the Offerors whereupon this Agreement will become binding between us in accordance with its terms. Very truly yours, FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /S/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer --------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansicskle ---------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------- Title: Administrator CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first set forth above FTN FINANCIAL CAPITAL MARKETS, a division of First Tennessee Bank National Association, as a Placement Agent By: /s/ James D. Wingett ------------------------------------------------ Name: James D. Wingett ---------------------------------------------- Title: Senior Vice President --------------------------------------------- KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC., a New York corporation, as a Placement Agent By: /s/ Peter J. Wirth ----------------------------------------------- Name: Peter J. Wirth ---------------------------------------------- Title: Managing Director --------------------------------------------- EXHIBIT A --------- FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ------------------------------ FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 28, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 10,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 10,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 28, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than October 5, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1 day following the date hereof. 1.2. As a condition to its purchase of the Capital Securities, Purchaser shall enter into the Joinder Agreement to the Master Custodian Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Custodian Agreement") and, in accordance therewith, the certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the custodian in accordance with the Custodian Agreement. Purchaser shall not transfer the Capital Securities to any person or entity except in accordance with the terms of the Custodian Agreement. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 27, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the placement agents identified therein (the "Placement Agents") includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. 1.4. Anything herein or in the Placement Agreement notwithstanding, the Offerors acknowledge and agree that, so long as Purchaser holds some or all of the Capital Securities, the Purchaser may in its discretion from time to time transfer or sell, or sell or grant participation interests in, some or all of such Capital Securities to one or more parties, provided that any such transaction complies, as applicable, with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and any other applicable securities laws, is pursuant to an exemption therefrom, or is otherwise not subject thereto. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that none of the Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents and warrants that, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that neither the Offerors nor the Placement Agents are acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser for the Purchaser. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon any advice, counsel or representations (whether written or oral) of the Offerors or of the Placement Agents. 2.5. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (a) it has consulted with its own legal, regulatory, tax, business, investment, financial and accounting advisers in connection herewith to the extent it has deemed necessary, (b) it has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from officers and representatives of the Offerors concerning their respective financial condition and results of operations and the purchase of the Capital Securities, and any such questions have been answered to its satisfaction, (c) it has had the opportunity to review all publicly available records and filings concerning the Offerors and it has carefully reviewed such records and filings that it considers relevant to making an investment decision, and (d) it has made its own investment decisions based upon its own judgment, due diligence and advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary and not upon any view expressed by the Offerors or the Placement Agents. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. If the Purchaser is a dealer of the type described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, it owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than U.S. $25,000,000.00 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with it. The Purchaser is not a participant-directed employee plan, such as a 401(k) plan, or any other type of plan referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(D) or (a)(1)(i)(E) of Rule 144A, or a trust fund referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(F) of Rule 144A that holds the assets of such a plan, unless investment decisions with respect to the plan are made solely by the fiduciary, trustee or sponsor of such plan. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that on each day from the date on which it acquires the Capital Securities through and including the date on which it disposes of its interests in the Capital Securities, either (i) it is not (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) ----- which is subject to the provisions of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (an "ERISA Plan"), (b) any other "plan" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the ----------- United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) which is ---- subject to the provisions of Section 4975 of the Code or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (a "Plan"), (c) an entity ---- whose underlying assets include the assets of any such ERISA Plan or other Plan by reason of Department of Labor regulation section 2510.3-101 or otherwise, or (d) a governmental or church plan that is subject to any federal, state or local law which is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (a "Similar Law"); or (ii) the purchase, holding and ------------ disposition of the Capital Securities by it will satisfy the requirements for exemptive relief under Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14, ---- PTCE 90-1, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23 or a similar exemption, or, in the case of a plan subject to a Similar Law, will not result in a non-exempt violation of such Similar Law. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants hat it is acquiring the Capital Securities as principal for its own account for investment and, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, not for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. It was not formed solely for the purpose of investing in the Capital Securities, and additional capital or similar contributions were not specifically solicited from any person owning a beneficial interest in it for the purpose of enabling it to purchase any Capital Securities. The Purchaser is not a (i) partnership, (ii) common trust fund or (iii) special trust, pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust fund or plan in which the partners, beneficiaries or participants, as applicable, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation of any investment among such partners, beneficiaries or participants, and except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it agrees that it shall not hold the Capital Securities for the benefit of any other person and shall be the sole beneficial owner thereof for all purposes and that it shall not sell participation interests in the Capital Securities or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person shall be entitled to a beneficial interest in the distribution on the Capital Securities. The Capital Securities purchased directly or indirectly by the Purchaser constitute an investment of no more than 40% of its assets. The Purchaser understands and agrees that any purported transfer of the Capital Securities to a purchaser which would cause the representations and warranties of Section 2.6 and this Section 2.8 to be inaccurate shall be null and void ab initio and the Offerors retain the right to resell any Capital Securities sold to non-permitted transferees. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.11. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.12. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.13. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6621 To the Purchaser: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work Fax: 901-435-7983 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: ---------------------------------- Print Name: -------------------------- Title: ------------------------------ FIRST BANKS, INC. By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: Administrator EXHIBIT A TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ----------------------------------- MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT This Master Custodian Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of May 27, 2004 by and among each purchaser (each a "Purchaser" and collectively the "Purchasers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Joinder Agreement"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation (the "Custodian") and each issuing entity (each an "Issuer" and collectively the "Issuers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement. The Purchasers and the Issuers are sometimes referred to herein as the "Interested Parties". RECITALS A. The Purchasers intend to purchase from the Issuers or their respective statutory business trust subsidiaries Securities issued by such Issuers (the "Securities"). B. In order to facilitate any future transfer of all or any portion of the Securities by the Purchasers, the Interested Parties intend to provide for the custody of the Securities and certain other securities on the terms set forth herein. C. The Custodian is willing to hold and administer such securities and to distribute the securities held by it in accordance with the agreement of the Interested Parties and/or arbitral or judicial orders and decrees as set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties by their execution hereof), the parties agree as follows: 1. Joinder Agreement. On or before the delivery to the Custodian of any ----------------- Securities issued by an Issuer, such Issuer and the applicable Purchaser or Purchasers shall enter into a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with such additional provisions as the Interested Parties may wish to add from time to time. An executed copy of each such Joinder Agreement shall be delivered to the Custodian on or before the date on which such Issuer's Securities are issued. This Agreement and each Joinder Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the Purchasers, Issuers and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. 2. Delivery of Securities. On or before each date on which an Issuer ------------------------ enters into a Joinder Agreement: (a) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian a signed, authenticated certificate representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities, with the Purchaser designated as owner thereof (the "Original Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Original Securities. (b) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian five signed, unauthenticated and undated certificates with no holder designated, each of which when completed representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities (the "Replacement Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Replacement Securities. 3. Timing of Release from Custody. Upon receipt of a signed transfer ------------------------------- notice in the form of Exhibit B to be delivered in connection with the Purchaser's transfer of all or any portion of an Issuer's Securities, on the effective date set forth in such transfer notice, the Custodian shall: (a) Deliver the Original Securities certificate corresponding to he Issuer identified in the transfer notice to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, among the Institutional Trustee, the Issuer and the administrators named therein (the "Declaration") or as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the "Indenture"), as applicable, for the purpose of canceling the applicable Original Securities certificate in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or Indenture, as applicable; and (b) Deliver the Replacement Securities certificate(s) corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice in the amount designated in and in accordance with the transfer notice for the purpose of completing and authenticating the applicable Replacement Securities certificate(s) in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Declaration or Indenture, as applicable. The initial term of this Agreement shall be one year (the "Initial Term"). Unless FTN Financial Capital Markets or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. shall otherwise notify the Custodian in writing, upon expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for an additional one-year term and shall continue to automatically renew for succeeding one-year terms until terminated. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Interested Parties shall be released from all obligations hereunder, except for the indemnification obligations set forth in paragraphs 5(b) and 5(c) hereof. 4. Concerning the Custodian. ------------------------ (a) Each Interested Party acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian (i) shall not be responsible for any of the agreements referred to or described herein (including without limitation any Issuer's Declaration or Indenture relating to such Issuer's Securities), or for determining or compelling compliance therewith, and shall not otherwise be bound thereby, (ii) shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement on its part to be performed, each of which are ministerial (and shall not be construed to be fiduciary) in nature, and no implied duties or obligations of any kind shall be read into this Agreement against or on the part of the Custodian, (iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might in its judgment involve or cause it to incur any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with acceptable indemnification, (iv) may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, instrument, statement, certificate, request or other document furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof, and (v) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, including in-house counsel, and the opinion or advice of such counsel in any instance shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel. (b) The Custodian shall not be liable to anyone for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder except in the case of the Custodian's negligence or willful misconduct in breach of the terms of this Agreement. In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if the Custodian has been informed of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. (c) The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability on account of any action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian employed by the Custodian than any such book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian has to the Custodian, except to the extent that such action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian was caused by the Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in breach of this Agreement. (d) The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of each of the Issuers and the Purchaser, and the Custodian assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Custodian makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Securities. The Custodian shall not be accountable for the use or application by any of the Issuers or the Purchaser of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities. 5. Compensation, Expense Reimbursement and Indemnification. ------------------------------------------------------- (a) The Custodian shall be compensated pursuant to a separate fee agreement. (b) Each of the Interested Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Custodian on demand for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this Agreement or the performance or observance of its duties hereunder which are in excess of its customary compensation for normal services hereunder, including without limitation, payment of any legal fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with resolution of any claim by any party hereunder. (c) Each of the Interested Parties covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Custodian (and its directors, officers and employees) and hold it (and such directors, officers and employees) harmless from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense of any nature incurred by the Custodian arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or with the administration of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to attorney's fees and other costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim of liability unless and except to the extent such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense shall be caused by the Custodian's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The provisions in this paragraph 5 shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Custodian. 6. Voting Rights. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to preserve, -------------- protect or exercise rights in the Original Securities, and shall be responsible only for reasonable measures to maintain the physical safekeeping thereof, and otherwise to perform and observ e such duties on its part as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be responsible for forwarding to any Interested Party, notifying any Interested Party with respect to, or taking any action with respect to, any notice, solicitation or other document or information, written or otherwise, received from an issuer or other person with respect to the Original Securities, including but not limited to, proxy material, tenders, options, the pendency of calls and maturities and expiration of rights. 7. Resignation. The Custodian may at any time resign as Custodian ----------- hereunder by giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice of resignation to each of the Interested Parties. Prior to the effective date of the resignation as specified in such notice, the Interested Parties will issue to the Custodian a written instruction authorizing redelivery of the Original Securities and the Replacement Securities to a bank or trust company that they select as successor to the Custodian hereunder. If, however, the Interested Parties shall fail to name such a successor custodian within twenty days after the notice of resignation from the Custodian, the Purchasers shall be entitled to name such successor custodian. If no successor custodian is named by the Interested Parties or the Purchasers, the Custodian may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor custodian. 8. Dispute Resolution. It is understood and agreed that should any ------------------- dispute arise with respect to the delivery, ownership, right of possession, and/or disposition of the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities, or should any claim be made upon the Custodian, the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities by a third party, the Custodian upon receipt of notice of such dispute or claim is authorized and shall be entitled (at its sole option and election) to retain in its possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Original Securities and Replacement Securities until such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court in the United States of America, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order, decree or judgment having expired. The Custodian may, but shall be under no duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings which relate to the Original Securities and Replacement Securities. 9. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service. Each of the Interested Parties ----------------------------------- hereby absolutely and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts in the State of Delaware and of any Federal court located in said State in connection with any actions or proceedings brought against any of the Interested Parties (or each of them) by the Custodian arising out of or relating to this Agreement. In any such action or proceeding, the Interested Parties each hereby absolutely and irrevocably (i) waives any objection to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waives personal service of any summons, complaint, declaration or other process, and (iii) agrees that the service thereof may be made by certified or registered first-class mail directed to such party, as the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with paragraph 10 hereof. 10. Force Majeure. The Custodian shall not be responsible for delays or ------------- failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. 11. Notices. ------- (a) Any notice permitted or required hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent by personal delivery, overnight delivery by a recognized courier or delivery service, mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by confirmed facsimile accompanied by mailing of the original on the same day by first class mail, postage prepaid, in each case the parties at their address set forth below (or to such other address as any such party may hereafter designate by written notice to the other parties). If to an Issuer, to the address appearing on such Issuer's Joinder Agreement If to the Purchaser, to the address appearing on such Purchaser's Joinder Agreement If to the Custodian: Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Chris Slaybaugh - Corporate Trust Administration Fax: 302-636-4140 12. Miscellaneous. ------------- (a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the --------------- respective parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns. (b) Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered or modified ------------- without the express written consent of the parties hereto. No course of conduct shall constitute a waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless such waiver is specified in writing, and then only to the extent so specified. A waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement on one occasion shall not constitute a waiver of the other terms of this Agreement, or of such terms and conditions on any other occasion. (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and -------------- construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware. (d) Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents ------------------------- relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several ------------ counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ----------------------------- Print Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------ Title: Financial Services Officer -------------------------- EXHIBIT A TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT ------------------------- September 28, 2007 This Joinder Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of September 28, 2007 by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser") and First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Issuer"). RECITALS A. Wilmington Trust Company (the "Custodian") is party to that certain Master Custodian Agreement dated as of May 27, 2004, as amended (the "Custodian Agreement"). B. The Custodian Agreement provides that certain financial institutions that have issued securities (or whose statutory trust subsidiaries have issued securities) and the Purchaser of such securities will join into the Custodian Agreement pursuant to the terms of a joinder agreement. C. On the date hereof, Issuer is issuing securities to the Purchaser and the Issuer and the Purchaser desire to enter into this Agreement to facilitate the subsequent transfer of the Issuer's securities by the Custodian. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Issuer by its execution hereof), the Issuer agrees as follows: 1. Joinder. The Issuer and Purchaser hereby join in the Custodian ------- Agreement and agree to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions of the Custodian Agreement that are ascribed to "Issuers" and "Purchasers" respectively therein to the same extent as if the Issuer and Purchaser had signed the Custodian Agreement as an original party thereto. 2. Notice. Any notice permitted or required to be sent to an ------ Issuer under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Bank Statutory Trust XI c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Any notice permitted or required to be sent to a Purchaser under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work 3. Termination. This Agreement and the Purchaser's and Issuer's ----------- respective rights and obligations under the Custodian Agreement shall terminate upon the transfer of all of Issuer's securities pursuant to the Custodian Agreement. 4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Custodian Agreement ---------------- constitute the entire agreement among the Purchaser, Issuer and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and Purchaser have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: Administrator FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ EXHIBIT B TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE [DATE] Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Dear Sir or Madam: The undersigned hereby notifies you of the transfer of [________] of the Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI, such transfer to be effective on [DATE OF TRANSFER]. Capitalized terms used in this notice and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Placement Agreement dated September 27, 2007 between the Offerors and the placement agents named therein. The undersigned hereby instructs you as Custodian to deliver the Original Securities certificate to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee (the "Trustee") under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated September 28, 2007 among the Trustee, First Banks, Inc. and the administrative trustees named therein (the "Trust Agreement") for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and to deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. By copy of this notice, the Institutional Trustee is hereby instructed to make the Replacement Securities certificate registered to [NAME, ADDRESS AND IDENTITY OF TRANSFEREE] in the liquidation amount of [_________] and bearing the identification number "CUSIP NO. [__________]" and to authenticate and deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to [_____________]. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------ cc: First Banks, Inc. Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee EXHIBIT B-1 ----------- FORM OF COMPANY COUNSEL OPINION ------------------------------- September 28, 2007 First Tennessee Bank National Association FTN Financial Capital Markets 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Wilmington Trust Company Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. Rodney Square North 787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor 1100 North Market Street New York, New York 10019 Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel to First Banks, Inc. (the "Company"), a Missouri corporation in connection with a certain Placement Agreement, dated September 27, 2007, (the "Placement Agreement"), between the Company and First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust"), on one hand, and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (the "Placement Agents"), on the other hand. Pursuant to the Placement Agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions stated therein, the Trust will issue and sell to First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser"), $10,000,000.00 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same meanings ascribed to them in the Placement Agreement. The law covered by the opinions expressed herein is limited to the law of the United States of America and of the State of Missouri. We have made such investigations of law as, in our judgment, were necessary to render the following opinions. We have also reviewed (a) the Company's Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and its By-Laws, as amended; and (b) such corporate documents, records, information and certificates of the Company and the Subsidiaries, certificates of public officials or government authorities and other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. As to certain facts material to our opinions, we have relied, with your permission, upon statements, certificates or representations, including those delivered or made in connection with the above-referenced transaction, of officers and other representatives of the Company and the Subsidiaries and the Trust. As used herein, the phrases "to the best of our knowledge" or "known to us" or other similar phrases mean the actual knowledge of the attorneys who have had active involvement in the transactions described above or who have prepared or signed this opinion letter, or who otherwise have devoted substantial attention to legal matters for the Company. Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion as of the date hereof that: 1. The Company is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Missouri and is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended. Each of the Significant Subsidiaries is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization. Each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries has full corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as such business is currently conducted in all material respects. To the best of our knowledge, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable except to the extent such shares may be deemed assessable under 12 U.S.C. Section 1831o or 12 U.S.C. Section 55, and are owned of record and beneficially, directly or indirectly, by the Company. 2. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Debentures in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of the Company. The issuance, sale and delivery of the Debentures by the Company and the issuance, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities by the Trust do not give rise to any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase any shares of capital stock or equity securities of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to the corporate Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents of the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries, or, to the best of our knowledge, any agreement or other instrument to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or the Significant Subsidiaries may be bound. 3. The Company has all requisite corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, and the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy or other laws affecting creditors' rights generally, and except as the indemnification and contribution provisions thereof may be limited under applicable laws and certain remedies may not be available in the case of a non-material breach. 4. Each of the Indenture, the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and is a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of general principles of equity. 5. The Debentures have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium and other laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and of general principles of equity. 6. To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company, the Trust, nor any of the Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of, or default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, its Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents (including without limitation, the Trust Agreement). The execution, delivery and performance of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents do not and will not (i) result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, claim, charge, encumbrance or restriction upon any property or assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (ii) conflict with, constitute a material breach or violation of, or constitute a material default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of (A) the Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (B) to the best of our knowledge, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease, franchise, license or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or (C) any order, decree, judgment, franchise, license, permit, rule or regulation of any court, arbitrator, government, or governmental agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, known to us having jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties which, in the case of each of (i) or (ii) above, is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 7. Except for filings, registrations or qualifications that may be required by applicable securities laws, no authorization, approval, consent or order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any person (including, without limitation, any court, governmental body or authority) is required under the laws of the State of Missouri in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents in connection with the offer and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents. 8. To the best of our knowledge (i) no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity is pending or threatened to which the Company, the Trust or the Subsidiaries are or may be a party, and (ii) no action, suit or proceeding is pending or threatened against or affecting the Company, the Trust or the Subsidiaries or any of their properties, before or by any court or governmental official, commission, board or other administrative agency, authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents or the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated therein or the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business, or results of operations of the Company, the Trust and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. 9. Assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Placement Agents in the Placement Agreement and the Purchaser in the Subscription Agreement, it is not necessary in connection with the offering, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities, the Debentures and the Guarantee Agreement (or the Guarantee) to register the same under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, under the circumstances contemplated in the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement. 10. Neither the Company nor the Trust is or after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the transactions described in the Placement Agreement will be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, without regard to Section 3(c) of such Act. The opinion expressed in the first two sentences of numbered paragraph 1 of this opinion is based solely upon certain certificates and confirmations issued by the applicable governmental officer or authority with respect to each of the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries. With respect to the foregoing opinions, since no member of this firm is actively engaged in the practice of law in the States of Delaware or New York, we do not express any opinions as to the laws of such states and have (i) relied, with your approval, upon the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. with respect to matters of Delaware law and (ii) assumed, with your approval and without rendering any opinion to such effect, that the laws of the State of New York, in all respects material to this opinion, are substantively identical to the laws of the State of Missouri, without regard to conflict of law provisions. The opinions expressed herein are rendered to you solely pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the Placement Agreement. As such, they may be relied upon by you only and may not be used or relied upon by any other person for any purpose whatsoever without our prior written consent. Very truly yours, EXHIBIT B-2 ----------- FORM OF DELAWARE COUNSEL OPINION -------------------------------- To Each of the Persons Listed on Schedule A Hereto Re: First Bank Statutory Trust XI ----------------------------- Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special Delaware counsel for First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Trust"), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you. For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following: (a) The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the "Certificate of Trust"), as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "Secretary of State") on [FILE DATE], 2007; (b) The Declaration of Trust, dated as of [FILE DATE], 2007, among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation ("WTC"), as trustee and the administrators named therein (the "Administrators"); (c) The Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, dated as of September 28, 2007 (including the form of Capital Securities Certificate attached thereto as Exhibit A-1 and the terms of the Capital Securities attached as Annex I) (the "Declaration of Trust"), among the Company, as sponsor, WTC, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee") and institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), the Administrators and the holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; (d) The Placement Agreement, dated September 27, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Company, the Trust, and FTN Financial Capital Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., as placement agents; (e) The Subscription Agreement, dated September 28, 2007 (the "Subscription Agreement"), among the Trust, the Company and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the documents identified in items (c) through (e) being collectively referred to as the "Operative Documents"); (f) The Capital Securities being issued on the date hereof (the "Capital Securities"); (g) The Common Securities being issued on the date hereof (the "Common Securities") (the documents identified in items (f) and (g) being collectively referred to as the "Trust Securities"); and (h) A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated September 27, 2007, obtained from the Secretary of State. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Declaration of Trust, except that reference herein to any document shall mean such document as in effect on the date hereof. This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 3.1 of the Placement Agreement. For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above. In particular, we have not reviewed any document (other than the documents listed in paragraphs (a) through (h) above) that is referred to in or incorporated by reference into the documents reviewed by us. We have assumed that there exists no provision in any document that we have not reviewed that is inconsistent with the opinions stated herein. We have conducted no independent factual investigation of our own but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures. For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Declaration of Trust constitutes the entire agreement among the parties thereto with respect to the subject matter thereof, including with respect to the creation, operation, and termination of the Trust, and that the Declaration of Trust and the Certificate of Trust are in full force and effect and have not been amended further, (ii) that there are no proceedings pending or contemplated, for the merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or termination of the Trust, (iii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 1 below, the due creation, due formation or due organization, as the case may be, and valid existence in good standing of each party to the documents examined by us under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, formation or organization, (iv) that each party to the documents examined by us is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required generally or necessary in order for such party to enforce its rights under the documents examined by us, (v) the legal capacity of each natural person who is a party to the documents examined by us, (vi) except to the extent set forth in paragraph 2 below, that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (vii) except to the extent provided in paragraph 3 below, that each of the parties to the documents examined by us has duly authorized, executed and delivered such documents, (viii) the receipt by each Person to whom a Capital Security is to be issued by the Trust (the "Capital Security Holders") of a Capital Security Certificate for the Capital Security and the payment for the Capital Securities acquired by it, in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and the Subscription Agreement, (ix) that the Capital Securities are issued and sold to the Holders of the Capital Securities in accordance with the Declaration of Trust and the Subscription Agreement, (x) the receipt by the Person (the "Common Securityholder") to whom the common securities of the Trust representing common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities") are to be issued by the Trust of a Common Security Certificate for the Common Securities and the payment for the Common Securities acquired by it, in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (xi) that the Common Securities are issued and sold to the Common Securityholder in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, (xii) that each of the parties to the documents reviewed by us has agreed to and received the stated consideration for the incurrence of its obligations under such documents, (xiii) that each of the documents reviewed by us (other than the Declaration of Trust) is a legal, valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the parties thereto in accordance with the terms thereof and (xiv) that the Trust derives no income from or connected with sources within the State of Delaware and has no assets, activities (other than having a trustee and the filing of documents with the Secretary of State) or employees in the State of Delaware. We have not participated in the preparation of any offering materials with respect to the Trust Securities and assume no responsibility for its contents. This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the securities laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and orders thereunder that are currently in effect. We express no opinion as to (i) the effect of suretyship defenses, or defenses in the nature thereof, with respect to the obligations of any applicable guarantor, joint obligor, surety, accommodation party, or other secondary obligor or any provisions of the Declaration of Trust with respect to indemnification or contribution and (ii) the accuracy or completeness of any exhibits or schedules to the Operative Documents. No opinion is given herein as to the choice of law or internal substantive rules of law that any court or other tribunal may apply to the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular provision of the Declaration of Trust or the other Operative Documents relating to remedies after default. We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular provision of any of the Operative Documents relating to (i) waivers of rights to object to jurisdiction or venue, or consents to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waivers of rights to (or methods of) service of process, or rights to trial by jury, or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation of law, (iii) waivers of any applicable defenses, setoffs, recoupments, or counterclaims, (iv) waivers or variations of provisions which are not capable of waiver or variation under the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") of the State, (v) the grant of powers of attorney to any person or entity, or (vi) exculpation or exoneration clauses, indemnity clauses, and clauses relating to releases or waivers of unmatured claims or rights. We have made no examination of, and no opinion is given herein as to the Trustee's or the Trust's title to or other ownership rights in, or the existence of any liens, charges or encumbrances on, or adverse claims against, any asset or property held by the Institutional Trustee or the Trust. We express no opinion as to the creation, validity, attachment, perfection or priority of any mortgage, security interest or lien in any asset or property held by the Institutional Trustee or the Trust. We express no opinion as to the effect of events occurring, circumstances arising, or changes of law becoming effective or occurring, after the date hereof on the matters addressed in this opinion letter, and we assume no responsibility to inform you of additional or changed facts, or changes in law, of which we may become aware. We express no opinion as to any requirement that any party to the Operative Documents (or any other persons or entities purportedly entitled to the benefits thereof) qualify or register to do business in any jurisdiction in order to be able to enforce its rights thereunder or obtain the benefits thereof. Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that: 1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (12 Del. C. ss. 3801, et seq.) (the "Act"). All filings required under the laws of - ------ -- --- the State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid existence of the Trust as a statutory trust have been made. 2. Under the Declaration of Trust and the Act, the Trust has the trust power and authority to (A) execute and deliver the Operative Documents, (B) perform its obligations under such Operative Documents and (C) issue the Trust Securities. 3. The execution an delivery by the Trust of th Operative Documents, and the performance by the Trust of its obligations thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action on the part of the Trust. 4. The Declaration of Trust constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, the Trustees and the Administrators, and is enforceable against the Company, the Trustees and the Administrators, in accordance with its terms. 5. Each of the Operative Documents constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the Trust, in accordance with its terms. 6. The Capital Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by the Declaration of Trust, and, when duly executed and delivered to and paid for by the purchasers thereof in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, the Subscription Agreement and the Placement Agreement, the Capital Securities will be validly issued, fully paid and, subject to the qualifications set forth in paragraph 8 below, nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will entitle the Capital Securities Holders to the benefits of the Declaration of Trust. The issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights under the Act or the Declaration of Trust. 7. The Common Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by the Declaration of Trust and, when duly executed and delivered to the Company as Common Security Holder in accordance with the Declaration of Trust, will be validly issued, fully paid and, subject to paragraph 8 below and Section 9.1(b) of the Declaration of Trust (which provides that the Holder of the Common Securities are liable for debts and obligations of Trust), nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will entitle the Common Security Holder to the benefits of the Declaration of Trust. The issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights under the Act or the Declaration of Trust. 8. Under the Declaration of Trust and the Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. We note that the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Holder of the Common Securities may be obligated, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust, (A) to provide indemnity and/or security in connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from transfers or exchanges of Capital Security Certificates and the issuance of replacement Capital Security Certificates, and (B) to provide security or indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the Institutional Trustee to exercise its rights and powers under the Declaration of Trust. 9. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Trust of the Operative Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of any of the transactions contemplated thereby, requires the consent or approval of, the authorization of, the withholding of objection on the part of, the giving of notice to, the filing, registration or qualification with, or the taking of any other action in respect of, any governmental authority or agency of the State of Delaware, other than the filing of the Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State (which Certificate of Trust has been duly filed). 10. Neither the execution, delivery and performance by the Trust of the Trust Documents, nor the consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby, (i) is in violation of the Declaration of Trust or of any law, rule or regulation of the State of Delaware applicable to the Trust or (ii) to the best of our knowledge, without independent investigation, violates, contravenes or constitutes a default under, or results in a breach of or in the creation of any lien (other than as permitted by the Operative Documents) upon any property of the Trust under any indenture, mortgage, chattel mortgage, deed of trust, conditional sales contract, bank loan or credit agreement, license or other agreement or instrument to which the Trust is a party or by which it is bound. 11. Assuming that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for federal income tax purposes, but rather will be classified for such purposes as a grantor trust under Subpart E, Part I of Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, the Trust will not be subject to any tax, fee or governmental charge under the laws of the State of Delaware. The opinions expressed in paragraph 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 above are subject, as to enforcement, to the effect upon the Declaration of Trust of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation, fraudulent conveyance and transfer, and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) the effect of applicable public policy on the enforceability of provisions relating to indemnification or contribution. Circular 230 Notice. Any advice contained in this communication with respect to any federal tax matter was not intended or written to be used, and it cannot be used by any taxpayer, for the purpose of avoiding penalties that the Internal Revenue Service may impose on the taxpayer. If any such advice is made to any person other than to our client for whom the advice was prepared, the advice expressed above is being delivered to support the promotion or marketing (by a person other than Richards, Layton & Finger) of the transaction or matter discussed or referenced, and such taxpayer should seek advice based on the taxpayer's particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. In basing the opinions set forth herein on "our knowledge," the words "our knowledge" signify that no information has come to the attention of the attorneys in the firm who are directly involved in the representation of the Trust in this transaction that would give us actual knowledge that any such opinions are not accurate. Except as otherwise stated herein, we have undertaken no independent investigation or verification of such matters. We consent to your relying as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with the Placement Agreement. We also consent to Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C.'s and Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP's relying as to matters of Delaware law upon this opinion in connection with opinions to be rendered by them on the date hereof pursuant to the Placement Agreement. Except as stated above, without our prior written consent, this opinion may not be furnished or quoted to, or relied upon by, any other Person for any purpose. Very truly yours, SCHEDULE A ---------- Wilmington Trust Company FTN Financial Capital Markets Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. First Tennessee Bank National Association First Banks, Inc. EXHIBIT B-3 ----------- TAX COUNSEL OPINION ITEMS ------------------------- 1. The Debentures will be classified as indebtedness of the Company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 2. The Trust will be characterized as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, L.C. 500 N. Broadway, Suite 2000 St. Louis, Missouri 63102 Re: Representations Concerning the Issuance of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") to First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust") and Sale of Trust Securities (the "Trust Securities") of the Trust Ladies and Gentlemen: In accordance with your request, First Banks, Inc. (the "Company") hereby makes the following representations in connection with the preparation of your opinion letter as to the United States federal income tax consequences of the issuance by the Company of the Debentures to the Trust and the sale of the Trust Securities. Company hereby represents that: 1. The sole assets of the Trust will be the Debentures, any interest paid on the Debentures to the extent not distributed, proceeds of the Debentures, or any of the foregoing. 2. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debentures for general corporate purposes and future acquisitions. 3. The Trust was not formed to conduct any trade or business and is not authorized to conduct any trade or business. The Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of Trust Securities to acquire the Debentures, and (iii) engaging only in activities necessary or incidental thereto. 4. The Company has not entered into an agency agreement with the Trust or authorized the trustee to act as its agent in dealing with third parties. To Company's knowledge, after due inquiry, the Trust has not acted as the agent of the Company or of anyone else in dealing with third parties. 5. The Trust was formed to facilitate direct investment in the assets of the Trust, and the existence of multiple classes of ownership is incidental to that purpose. There is no intent to provide holders of such interests in the Trust with diverse interests in the assets of the Trust. 6. The Company intends to create a debtor-creditor relationship between the Company, as debtor, and the Trust, as a creditor, upon the issuance and sale of the Debentures to the Trust by the Company. The Company will (i) record and at all times continue to reflect the Debentures as indebtedness on its separate books and records for financial accounting purposes, and (ii) treat the Debentures as indebtedness for all United States tax purposes. 7. During each year, the Trust's income will consist solely of payments made by the Company with respect to the Debentures. Such payments will not be derived from the active conduct of a financial business by the Trust. Both the Company's obligation to make such payments and the measurement of the amounts payable by the Company are defined by the terms of the Debentures. Neither the Company's obligation to make such payments nor the measurement of the amounts payable by the Company is dependent on income or profits of Company or any affiliate of the Company. 8. The Company expects that it will be able to make, and will make, timely payment of amounts identified by the Debentures as principal and interest in accordance with the terms of the Debentures with available capital or accumulated earnings. 9. The Company presently has no intention to defer interest payments on the Debentures, and it considers the likelihood of such a deferral to be remote because, if it were to exercise its right to defer payments of interest with respect to the Debentures, it would not be permitted to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any capital stock of the Company or any affiliate of the Company (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase, or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any affiliate of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures, in each case subject to limited exceptions stated in Section 2.11 of the Indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of the Debentures. 10. The Company has no present intention (a) to take the position that a deferral of interest payments on the Debentures is not a remote contingency, or (b) to make an explicit disclosure on the Company's tax return, under Reg. ss. 1.1275-2(h)(5) that its determination as holder with respect to remote contingency status is different from its determination as issuer. 11. Immediately after the issuance of the Debentures, the debt-to-equity ratio of the Company (as determined for financial accounting purposes, but excluding deposit liabilities from the Company's debt) will be within standard depository institution industry norms and, in any event, will be no higher than four to one (4 : 1). 12. To the est of our knowledge, the Company is currently in compliance with all federal, state, and local capital requirements, except to the extent that failure to comply with any such requirements would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its affiliates. 13. The Company will not issue any class of common stock or preferred stock senior to the Debentures during their term. 14. The Internal Revenue Service has not challenged the interest deduction on any class of the Company's subordinated debt in the last ten (10) years on the basis that such debt constitutes equity for federal income tax purposes. The above representations are accurate as of the date below and will continue to be accurate through the issuance of the Trust Securities, unless you are otherwise notified by us in writing. The undersigned understands that you will rely on the foregoing in connection with rendering certain legal opinions, and possesses the authority to make the representations set forth in this letter on behalf of the Company. Very truly yours, FIRST BANKS, INC. Date: September 27, 2007 By: __________________________________ Title: __________________________________ EXHIBIT C --------- SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES ------------------------ First Bank The San Francisco Company EX-4 26 fbstxijrsub.txt EXHIBIT 4.21 EXHIBIT 4.21 FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE THIS SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION. THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture of First Banks, Inc. September 28, 2007 First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company" which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received promises to pay to Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Holder") or registered assigns, the principal sum of ten million three hundred ten thousand dollars ($10,310,000.00) on December 15, 2037, and to pay interest on said principal sum from September 28, 2007, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, at an annual rate equal to 8.08063% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Interest Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Interest Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the principal amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be fifteen Business Days prior to the day on which the relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special record date. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The Interest Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). The principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company) maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made by check -------- ------- mailed to the registered holder at such address as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the holder hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee. So long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable). No Extension Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date. During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). At the end of any such Extension Period the -------------------- Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no -------- ------- Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however, -------- ------- ------- that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the Indenture. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin or extend an Extension Period by the close of business at least 15 Business Days prior to the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or extend such Extension Period. The indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes. Each holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions. This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of the Trustee. The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANKS, INC. By --------------------------------------- Name: Title: CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Debentures referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee By: -------------------------------------- Authorized Officer REVERSE OF DEBENTURE This Debenture is one of the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated as of September 28, 2007 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Debentures. The Debentures are limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture. Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price. In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in December 2012, at the Redemption Price. Prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price. If all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be redeemed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals. In case an Acceleration Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture. The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall -------- ------- without the consent of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, -------- ------- that if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further, that -------- ------- if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required, such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed. The Company has agreed that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or its Affiliates' capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company or payments of dividends from direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company to their parent corporations, which also shall be direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (1) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the Company's capital stock or of any class or series of the Company's indebtedness for any class or series of the Company's capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, (6) payments of principal or interest on debt securities or payments of cash dividends or distributions on any capital stock issued by an Affiliate that is not, in whole or in part, a subsidiary of the Company (or any redemptions, repurchases or liquidation payments on such stock or securities), or (7) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee). The Debentures are issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company. Upon due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount. All Debentures presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing. No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issue of the Debentures. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture between the Trustee and the Company. THE INDENTURE AND THE DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF. EX-4 27 fbstxisubsrp.txt EXHIBIT 4.22 EXHIBIT 4.22 FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI FIRST BANKS, INC. SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT September 28, 2007 THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the Delaware Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. ss.ss. 3801, et seq.), First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation, with its principal offices located at 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard, Mail Stop - M1-199-014, Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the "Offerors"), and First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser"). RECITALS: A. The Trust desires to issue 10,000 of its Floating Rate Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, Wilmington Trust Company ("WTC"), the administrators named therein, and the holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and B. The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an indenture to be executed by the Company and WTC, as trustee (the "Indenture"); and C. In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows: ARTICLE I PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES 1.1. Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to purchase from the Trust 10,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00 per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available funds on September 28, 2007, or such other business day as may be designated by the Purchaser, but in no event later than October 5, 2007 (the "Closing Date"). The Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1 day following the date hereof. 1.2. As a condition to its purchase of the Capital Securities, Purchaser shall enter into the Joinder Agreement to the Master Custodian Agreement, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Custodian Agreement") and, in accordance therewith, the certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the Trust on the Closing Date to the custodian in accordance with the Custodian Agreement. Purchaser shall not transfer the Capital Securities to any person or entity except in accordance with the terms of the Custodian Agreement. 1.3. The Placement Agreement, dated September 27, 2007 (the "Placement Agreement"), among the Offerors and the placement agents identified therein (the "Placement Agents") includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement. 1.4. Anything herein or in the Placement Agreement notwithstanding, the Offerors acknowledge and agree that, so long as Purchaser holds some or all of the Capital Securities, the Purchaser may in its discretion from time to time transfer or sell, or sell or grant participation interests in, some or all of such Capital Securities to one or more parties, provided that any such transaction complies, as applicable, with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and any other applicable securities laws, is pursuant to an exemption therefrom, or is otherwise not subject thereto. ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER 2.1. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that none of the Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee have been registered under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto. 2.2. The Purchaser represents and warrants that, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it is purchasing the Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law. 2.3. The Purchaser represents and warrants that neither the Offerors nor the Placement Agents are acting as a fiduciary or financial or investment adviser for the Purchaser. 2.4. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is not relying (for purposes of making any investment decision or otherwise) upon any advice, counsel or representations (whether written or oral) of the Offerors or of the Placement Agents. 2.5. The Purchaser represents and warrants that (a) it has consulted with its own legal, regulatory, tax, business, investment, financial and accounting advisers in connection herewith to the extent it has deemed necessary, (b) it has had a reasonable opportunity to ask questions of and receive answers from officers and representatives of the Offerors concerning their respective financial condition and results of operations and the purchase of the Capital Securities, and any such questions have been answered to its satisfaction, (c) it has had the opportunity to review all publicly available records and filings concerning the Offerors and it has carefully reviewed such records and filings that it considers relevant to making an investment decision, and (d) it has made its own investment decisions based upon its own judgment, due diligence and advice from such advisers as it has deemed necessary and not upon any view expressed by the Offerors or the Placement Agents. 2.6. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined under Rule 144A under the Securities Act. If the Purchaser is a dealer of the type described in paragraph (a)(1)(ii) of Rule 144A under the Securities Act, it owns and invests on a discretionary basis not less than U.S. $25,000,000.00 in securities of issuers that are not affiliated with it. The Purchaser is not a participant-directed employee plan, such as a 401(k) plan, or any other type of plan referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(D) or (a)(1)(i)(E) of Rule 144A, or a trust fund referred to in paragraph (a)(1)(i)(F) of Rule 144A that holds the assets of such a plan, unless investment decisions with respect to the plan are made solely by the fiduciary, trustee or sponsor of such plan. 2.7. The Purchaser represents and warrants that on each day from the date on which it acquires the Capital Securities through and including the date on which it disposes of its interests in the Capital Securities, either (i) it is not (a) an "employee benefit plan" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the United States Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) ----- which is subject to the provisions of Part 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (an "ERISA Plan"), (b) any other "plan" (as defined in Section 4975(e)(1) of the ----------- United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) which is ---- subject to the provisions of Section 4975 of the Code or any entity whose underlying assets include the assets of any such plan (a "Plan"), (c) an entity ---- whose underlying assets include the assets of any such ERISA Plan or other Plan by reason of Department of Labor regulation section 2510.3-101 or otherwise, or (d) a governmental or church plan that is subject to any federal, state or local law which is substantially similar to the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (a "Similar Law"); or (ii) the purchase, holding and ------------ disposition of the Capital Securities by it will satisfy the requirements for exemptive relief under Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14, ---- PTCE 90-1, PTCE 91-38, PTCE 95-60, PTCE 96-23 or a similar exemption, or, in the case of a plan subject to a Similar Law, will not result in a non-exempt violation of such Similar Law. 2.8. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is acquiring the Capital Securities as principal for its own account for investment and, except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, not for sale in connection with any distribution thereof. It was not formed solely for the purpose of investing in the Capital Securities, and additional capital or similar contributions were not specifically solicited from any person owning a beneficial interest in it for the purpose of enabling it to purchase any Capital Securities. The Purchaser is not a (i) partnership, (ii) common trust fund or (iii) special trust, pension, profit sharing or other retirement trust fund or plan in which the partners, beneficiaries or participants, as applicable, may designate the particular investments to be made or the allocation of any investment among such partners, beneficiaries or participants, and except as contemplated under Section 1.4 hereof, it agrees that it shall not hold the Capital Securities for the benefit of any other person and shall be the sole beneficial owner thereof for all purposes and that it shall not sell participation interests in the Capital Securities or enter into any other arrangement pursuant to which any other person shall be entitled to a beneficial interest in the distribution on the Capital Securities. The Capital Securities purchased directly or indirectly by the Purchaser constitute an investment of no more than 40% of its assets. The Purchaser understands and agrees that any purported transfer of the Capital Securities to a purchaser which would cause the representations and warranties of Section 2.6 and this Section 2.8 to be inaccurate shall be null and void ab initio and the Offerors retain the right to resell any Capital Securities sold to non-permitted transferees. 2.9. The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement. 2.10. The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. 2.11. The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser. 2.12. The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments, representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it shall promptly notify the Company. 2.13. The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever exist for the Capital Securities. ARTICLE III MISCELLANEOUS 3.1. Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other parties as herein provided: To the Offerors: First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Fax: 314-592-6621 To the Purchaser: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work Fax: 901-435-7983 Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which shall be deemed to have been given when received. 3.2. This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing signed by the party to be charged. 3.3. Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser, this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided. 3.4. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW. 3.5. The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents, agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement. 3.6. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. 3.7. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law. Signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day and year first written above. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: /s/ David S. Work --------------------------------- Print Name: David S. Work ------------------------- Title: Executive Vice President ------------------------------ FIRST BANKS, INC. By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Title: SVP - Chief Financial Officer ------------------------------------- FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ---------------------------------------- Name: Lisa K. Vansickle -------------------------------------- Title: Administrator EXHIBIT A TO SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT ----------------------------------- MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT This Master Custodian Agreement (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of May 27, 2004 by and among each purchaser (each a "Purchaser" and collectively the "Purchasers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Joinder Agreement"), Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation (the "Custodian") and each issuing entity (each an "Issuer" and collectively the "Issuers") that enters into a Joinder Agreement. The Purchasers and the Issuers are sometimes referred to herein as the "Interested Parties". RECITALS A. The Purchasers intend to purchase from the Issuers or their respective statutory business trust subsidiaries Securities issued by such Issuers (the "Securities"). B. In order to facilitate any future transfer of all or any portion of the Securities by the Purchasers, the Interested Parties intend to provide for the custody of the Securities and certain other securities on the terms set forth herein. C. The Custodian is willing to hold and administer such securities and to distribute the securities held by it in accordance with the agreement of the Interested Parties and/or arbitral or judicial orders and decrees as set forth in this Agreement. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the parties by their execution hereof), the parties agree as follows: 1. Joinder Agreement. On or before the delivery to the Custodian of any ----------------- Securities issued by an Issuer, such Issuer and the applicable Purchaser or Purchasers shall enter into a Joinder Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, with such additional provisions as the Interested Parties may wish to add from time to time. An executed copy of each such Joinder Agreement shall be delivered to the Custodian on or before the date on which such Issuer's Securities are issued. This Agreement and each Joinder Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the Purchasers, Issuers and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. 2. Delivery of Securities. On or before each date on which an Issuer enters ---------------------- into a Joinder Agreement: (a) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian a signed, authenticated certificate representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities, with the Purchaser designated as owner thereof (the "Original Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Original Securities. (b) The applicable Issuer shall deliver to the Custodian five signed, unauthenticated and undated certificates with no holder designated, each of which when completed representing a beneficial interest in such Issuer's Securities (the "Replacement Securities"). The Custodian shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value, title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Replacement Securities. 3. Timing of Release from Custody. Upon receipt of a signed transfer notice ------------------------------ in the form of Exhibit B to be delivered in connection with the Purchaser's transfer of all or any portion of an Issuer's Securities, on the effective date set forth in such transfer notice, the Custodian shall: (a) Deliver the Original Securities certificate corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee under the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, among the Institutional Trustee, the Issuer and the administrators named therein (the "Declaration") or as Trustee under the Indenture, dated as of the date of the applicable Joinder Agreement, between the Issuer and the Trustee (the "Indenture"), as applicable, for the purpose of canceling the applicable Original Securities certificate in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust or Indenture, as applicable; and (b) Deliver the Replacement Securities certificate(s) corresponding to the Issuer identified in the transfer notice in the amount designated in and in accordance with the transfer notice for the purpose of completing and authenticating the applicable Replacement Securities certificate(s) in accordance with the terms of the Issuer's Declaration or Indenture, as applicable. The initial term of this Agreement shall be one year (the "Initial Term"). Unless FTN Financial Capital Markets or Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. shall otherwise notify the Custodian in writing, upon expiration of the Initial Term, this Agreement shall automatically renew for an additional one-year term and shall continue to automatically renew for succeeding one-year terms until terminated. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Custodian and the Interested Parties shall be released from all obligations hereunder, except for the indemnification obligations set forth in paragraphs 5(b) and 5(c) hereof. 4. Concerning the Custodian. ------------------------ (a) Each Interested Party acknowledges and agrees that the Custodian (i) shall not be responsible for any of the agreements referred to or described herein (including without limitation any Issuer's Declaration or Indenture relating to such Issuer's Securities), or for determining or compelling compliance therewith, and shall not otherwise be bound thereby, (ii) shall be obligated only for the performance of such duties as are expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement on its part to be performed, each of which are ministerial (and shall not be construed to be fiduciary) in nature, and no implied duties or obligations of any kind shall be read into this Agreement against or on the part of the Custodian, (iii) shall not be obligated to take any legal or other action hereunder which might in its judgment involve or cause it to incur any expense or liability unless it shall have been furnished with acceptable indemnification, (iv) may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any written notice, instruction, instrument, statement, certificate, request or other document furnished to it hereunder and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person, and shall have no responsibility for determining the accuracy thereof, and (v) may consult counsel satisfactory to it, including in-house counsel, and the opinion or advice of such counsel in any instance shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the opinion or advice of such counsel. (b) The Custodian shall not be liable to anyone for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder except in the case of the Custodian's negligence or willful misconduct in breach of the terms of this Agreement. In no event shall the Custodian be liable for indirect, punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to lost profits) whatsoever, even if the Custodian has been informed of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action. (c) The Custodian shall have no more or less responsibility or liability on account of any action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian employed by the Custodian than any such book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian has to the Custodian, except to the extent that such action or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other subcustodian was caused by the Custodian's own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct in breach of this Agreement. (d) The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of each of the Issuers and the Purchaser, and the Custodian assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Custodian makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Agreement or the Securities. The Custodian shall not be accountable for the use or application by any of the Issuers or the Purchaser of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities. 5. Compensation, Expense Reimbursement and Indemnification. ------------------------------------------------------- (a) The Custodian shall be compensated pursuant to a separate fee agreement. (b) Each of the Interested Parties agrees, jointly and severally, to reimburse the Custodian on demand for all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the administration of this Agreement or the performance or observance of its duties hereunder which are in excess of its customary compensation for normal services hereunder, including without limitation, payment of any legal fees and expenses incurred by the Custodian in connection with resolution of any claim by any party hereunder. (c) Each of the Interested Parties covenants and agrees, jointly and severally, to indemnify the Custodian (and its directors, officers and employees) and hold it (and such directors, officers and employees) harmless from and against any loss, liability, damage, cost and expense of any nature incurred by the Custodian arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or with the administration of its duties hereunder, including but not limited to attorney's fees and other costs and expenses of defending or preparing to defend against any claim of liability unless and except to the extent such loss, liability, damage, cost and expense shall be caused by the Custodian's negligence, bad faith, or willful misconduct. The provisions in this paragraph 5 shall survive the expiration of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Custodian. 6. Voting Rights. The Custodian shall be under no obligation to preserve, ------------- protect or exercise rights in the Original Securities, and shall be responsible only for reasonable measures to maintain the physical safekeeping thereof, and otherwise to perform and observe such duties on its part as are expressly set forth in this Agreement. The Custodian shall not be responsible for forwarding to any Interested Party, notifying any Interested Party with respect to, or taking any action with respect to, any notice, solicitation or other document or information, written or otherwise, received from an issuer or other person with respect to the Original Securities, including but not limited to, proxy material, tenders, options, the pendency of calls and maturities and expiration of rights. 7. Resignation. The Custodian may at any time resign as Custodian hereunder ----------- by giving thirty (30) days' prior written notice of resignation to each of the Interested Parties. Prior to the effective date of the resignation as specified in such notice, the Interested Parties will issue to the Custodian a written instruction authorizing redelivery of the Original Securities and the Replacement Securities to a bank or trust company that they select as successor to the Custodian hereunder. If, however, the Interested Parties shall fail to name such a successor custodian within twenty days after the notice of resignation from the Custodian, the Purchasers shall be entitled to name such successor custodian. If no successor custodian is named by the Interested Parties or the Purchasers, the Custodian may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor custodian. 8. Dispute Resolution. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute ------------------ arise with respect to the delivery, ownership, right of possession, and/or disposition of the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities, or should any claim be made upon the Custodian, the Original Securities or the Replacement Securities by a third party, the Custodian upon receipt of notice of such dispute or claim is authorized and shall be entitled (at its sole option and election) to retain in its possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Original Securities and Replacement Securities until such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court in the United States of America, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order, decree or judgment having expired. The Custodian may, but shall be under no duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings which relate to the Original Securities and Replacement Securities. 9. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service. Each of the Interested Parties ------------------------------------ hereby absolutely and irrevocably consents and submits to the jurisdiction of the courts in the State of Delaware and of any Federal court located in said State in connection with any actions or proceedings brought against any of the Interested Parties (or each of them) by the Custodian arising out of or relating to this Agreement. In any such action or proceeding, the Interested Parties each hereby absolutely and irrevocably (i) waives any objection to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waives personal service of any summons, complaint, declaration or other process, and (iii) agrees that the service thereof may be made by certified or registered first-class mail directed to such party, as the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with paragraph 10 hereof. 10. Force Majeure. The Custodian shall not be responsible for delays or ------------- failures in performance resulting from acts beyond its control. Such acts shall include but not be limited to acts of God, strikes, lockouts, riots, acts of war, epidemics, governmental regulations superimposed after the fact, fire, communication line failures, computer viruses, power failures, earthquakes or other disasters. 11. Notices. ------- (a) Any notice permitted or required hereunder shall be in writing, and shall be sent by personal delivery, overnight delivery by a recognized courier or delivery service, mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by confirmed facsimile accompanied by mailing of the original on the same day by first class mail, postage prepaid, in each case the parties at their address set forth below (or to such other address as any such party may hereafter designate by written notice to the other parties). If to an Issuer, to the address appearing on such Issuer's Joinder Agreement If to the Purchaser, to the address appearing on such Purchaser's Joinder Agreement If to the Custodian: Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Chris Slaybaugh - Corporate Trust Administration Fax: 302-636-4140 12. Miscellaneous. ------------- (a) Binding Effect. This Agreement shall be binding upon the -------------- respective parties hereto and their heirs, executors, successors and assigns. (b) Modifications. This Agreement may not be altered or modified ------------- without the express written consent of the parties hereto. No course of conduct shall constitute a waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, unless such waiver is specified in writing, and then only to the extent so specified. A waiver of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement on one occasion shall not constitute a waiver of the other terms of this Agreement, or of such terms and conditions on any other occasion. (c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed ------------- in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware. (d) Reproduction of Documents. This Agreement and all documents -------------------------- relating thereto, including, without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and modifications which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other information previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any photographic, photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature photographic or other similar process. The parties agree that any such reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further reproduction of such reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence. (e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several ------------ counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. signatures appear on the following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ----------------------------- Print Name: Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------ Title: Financial Services Officer -------------------------- EXHIBIT A TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF JOINDER AGREEMENT ------------------------- September 28, 2007 This Joinder Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into as of September 28, 2007 by First Tennessee Bank National Association (the "Purchaser") and First Bank Statutory Trust XI (the "Issuer"). RECITALS A. Wilmington Trust Company (the "Custodian") is party to that certain Master Custodian Agreement dated as of May 27, 2004, as amended (the "Custodian Agreement"). B. The Custodian Agreement provides that certain financial institutions that have issued securities (or whose statutory trust subsidiaries have issued securities) and the Purchaser of such securities will join into the Custodian Agreement pursuant to the terms of a joinder agreement. C. On the date hereof, Issuer is issuing securities to the Purchaser and the Issuer and the Purchaser desire to enter into this Agreement to facilitate the subsequent transfer of the Issuer's securities by the Custodian. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual covenants herein contained and other good and valuable consideration (the receipt, adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by the Issuer by its execution hereof), the Issuer agrees as follows: 1. Joinder. The Issuer and Purchaser hereby join in the Custodian ------- Agreement and agree to be subject to, and bound by, the terms and provisions of the Custodian Agreement that are ascribed to "Issuers" and "Purchasers" respectively therein to the same extent as if the Issuer and Purchaser had signed the Custodian Agreement as an original party thereto. 2. Notice. Any notice permitted or required to be sent to an Issuer ------ under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Bank Statutory Trust XI c/o First Banks, Inc. 600 James S. McDonnell Boulevard Mail Stop - M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle Any notice permitted or required to be sent to a Purchaser under the Custodian Agreement shall be sent to the following address: First Tennessee Bank National Association 845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150 Memphis, Tennessee 38117 Attention: David Work 3. Termination. This Agreement and the Purchaser's and Issuer's ----------- respective rights and obligations under the Custodian Agreement shall terminate upon the transfer of all of Issuer's securities pursuant to the Custodian Agreement. 4. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the Custodian Agreement ---------------- constitute the entire agreement among the Purchaser, Issuer and the Custodian pertaining to the subject matter hereof. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Issuer and Purchaser have executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: -------------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------------ Title: Administrator FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: --------------------------------------------- Name: ------------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------------ EXHIBIT B TO MASTER CUSTODIAN AGREEMENT --------------------------------------- FORM OF TRANSFER NOTICE [DATE] Wilmington Trust Company Rodney Square North 1100 North Market Street Wilmington, Delaware 19890-1600 Attention: Corporate Trust Administration Dear Sir or Madam: The undersigned hereby notifies you of the transfer of [________] of the Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI, such transfer to be effective on [DATE OF TRANSFER]. Capitalized terms used in this notice and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Placement Agreement dated September 27, 2007 between the Offerors and the placement agents named therein. The undersigned hereby instructs you as Custodian to deliver the Original Securities certificate to Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee (the "Trustee") under the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated September 28, 2007 among the Trustee, First Banks, Inc. and the administrative trustees named therein (the "Trust Agreement") for cancellation in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement and to deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. By copy of this notice, the Institutional Trustee is hereby instructed to make the Replacement Securities certificate registered to [NAME, ADDRESS AND IDENTITY OF TRANSFEREE] in the liquidation amount of [_________] and bearing the identification number "CUSIP NO. [__________]" and to authenticate and deliver the Replacement Securities certificate to [_____________]. FIRST TENNESSEE BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By: ---------------------------------------- Name: -------------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------------- cc: First Banks, Inc. Wilmington Trust Company, as Trustee EX-4 28 fbstxicertp1.txt EXHIBIT 4.23 EXHIBIT 4.23 Certificate Number P-1 10,000 Capital Securities THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW. NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE SPONSOR'S AND THE TRUST'S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DECLARATION OF TRUST, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SPONSOR OR THE TRUST. HEDGING TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE CONDUCTED UNLESS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SECURITIES ACT. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED ("ERISA"), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE "CODE") (EACH A "PLAN"), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE "PLAN ASSETS" BY REASON OF ANY PLAN'S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING "PLAN ASSETS" OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER (I) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (II) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION. THIS SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 (100 SECURITIES) AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF. ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF SECURITIES IN A BLOCK HAVING A LIQUIDATION AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY THE DECLARATION TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS. September 28, 2007 Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities of First Bank Statutory Trust XI (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security) First Bank Statutory Trust XI, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that First Tennessee Bank National Association is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"). Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of September 28, 2007, among Terrance M. McCarthy, Peter D. Wimmer and Lisa K. Vansickle, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, First Banks, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"). Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business. Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder. By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures. This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws. Signature appears on following page IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate. FIRST BANK STATUTORY TRUST XI By: /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle ------------------------------ Name: Lisa K. Vansickle Title: Administrator CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION ----------------------------- This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration. WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as the Institutional Trustee By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh ------------------------------- Authorized Officer REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 8.08063% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 2.85% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted. A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor. As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period. The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period and multiplying each such number by the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360. "3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority: (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Reuters Page LIBOR01" means the display designated as "LIBOR01" on Reuters or such other page as may replace Reuters Page LIBOR01 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date. If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period. If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Reuters Page LIBOR01 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date. The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law. All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)). Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in December 2007. The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable. During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may -------- ------- extend beyond the Maturity Date. Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements. No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest. During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period. If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust. The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer. The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee. The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration. ASSIGNMENT FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to: - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) ---------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her. Date: ------------------------------------------------- Signature: ---------------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate) Signature Guarantee:1 - ----------------------------- (1) Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit union meeting the requirements of the Security registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. EX-10 29 secureagreeex.txt EXHIBIT 10 EXHIBIT 10 SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT ($125,000,000 Revolving Credit Facility, Including $10,000,000 Swingline Sub-Facility and $5,000,000 Letter of Credit Sub-Facility) dated as of August 8, 2007 among FIRST BANKS, INC. and THE LENDERS SIGNATORY HERETO and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Agent WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Book Runner
TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS...............................................................2 Section 1.1 Defined Terms............................................................................2 Section 1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions...........................................................11 ARTICLE II. COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING, CONVERSION AND LETTER OF CREDIT PROCEDURES...........................................................12 Section 2.1 Commitments............................................................................12 2.1.1. Revolving Loan Commitment.............................................................12 2.1.2. Increase of the Revolving Loan Commitments............................................12 2.1.3. Letter of Credit Sub-Facility Commitment..............................................14 2.1.4. Swingline Commitment..................................................................14 2.1.5. Term Loan Conversion and Sub-Facility Commitment......................................14 Section 2.2 Revolving Loan Procedures.............................................................14 2.2.1 Borrowing Procedures..................................................................14 2.2.2 Conversion of Principal to Eurodollar Rates...........................................16 Section 2.3 Letter of Credit Procedures...........................................................18 2.3.1 Issuance/Lender Participation.........................................................18 2.3.2 Payment of Amounts Drawn Under Letters of Credit......................................19 2.3.3 Special Account.......................................................................19 2.3.4 Authorization for Borrowing...........................................................20 Section 2.4 Swingline Loan Procedures.............................................................20 2.4.1 Borrowing Procedures..................................................................20 2.4.2 Refinancing of Swingline Loans........................................................21 2.4.3 Repayment of Participations...........................................................22 Section 2.5 Term Loan Procedures..................................................................23 2.5.1. Initial Term Loans....................................................................23 2.5.2. Additional Term Loan Procedure........................................................23 Section 2.6 Use of Proceeds.......................................................................24 ARTICLE III. EVIDENCING OF LOANS.........................................................................24 Section 3.1 Notes.................................................................................24 Section 3.2 Payment of Initial and Additional Term Loan Notes.....................................24 Section 3.3 Recordkeeping.........................................................................24 ARTICLE IV. INTEREST.....................................................................................25 Section 4.1 Interest Rates........................................................................25 Section 4.2 Default Interest Rate.................................................................25 Section 4.3 Interest and Principal Payments.......................................................25 4.3.1 Interest..............................................................................25 4.3.2 Principal........................................................................... 26 4.3.3 Swingline Loans.......................................................................26 Section 4.4 Making of Payments....................................................................26 Section 4.5 Payment on Nonbusiness Days...........................................................26 Section 4.6 Computation of Interest and Fees......................................................27 Section 4.7 Generally.............................................................................27 ARTICLE V. FEES, REDUCTIONS AND PREPAYMENTS.............................................................27 Section 5.1 Commitment Fee........................................................................27 Section 5.2 Letter of Credit Fees.................................................................28 Section 5.3 Termination or Reduction of the Revolving Credit Commitments..........................28 Section 5.4 Voluntary Prepayments.................................................................28 Section 5.5 Fees on Advances and Indemnity........................................................29 Section 5.6 Capital Adequacy......................................................................30 Section 5.7 Failure of Any Lender to Make Advances................................................31 Section 5.8 Annual Agent's Fees...................................................................31 ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.........................................................................32 Section 6.1 Initial Conditions Precedent..........................................................32 Section 6.2 Conditions Precedent to All Advances..................................................33 ARTICLE VII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................................34 Section 7.1 Corporate Existence and Power.........................................................34 Section 7.2 Authorization of Borrowing; No Conflict as to Law or Agreements.......................34 Section 7.3 Legal Agreements......................................................................35 Section 7.4 Subsidiaries..........................................................................35 Section 7.5 Financial Condition...................................................................35 Section 7.6 Adverse Change........................................................................35 Section 7.7 Litigation............................................................................35 Section 7.8 Regulation U..........................................................................35 Section 7.9 Taxes.................................................................................36 Section 7.10 Titles................................................................................36 Section 7.11 ERISA.................................................................................36 Section 7.12 Regulatory Matters....................................................................36 ARTICLE VIII. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.......................................................................36 Section 8.1 Reporting Requirements................................................................37 Section 8.2 Books and Records; Inspection and Examination.........................................38 Section 8.3 Compliance with Laws..................................................................38 Section 8.4 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.....................................................39 Section 8.5 Operations............................................................................39 Section 8.6 Insurance.............................................................................39 Section 8.7 Preservation of Corporate Existence...................................................39 Section 8.8 Additional Collateral.................................................................39 Section 8.9 Notice of Permitted Acquisition.......................................................40 ARTICLE IX. NEGATIVE COVENANTS...........................................................................40 Section 9.1 Liens.................................................................................40 Section 9.2 Indebtedness..........................................................................40 Section 9.3 Guaranties............................................................................41 Section 9.4 Shareholder Redemptions...............................................................41 Section 9.5 Acquisitions..........................................................................41 Section 9.6 Subordinated Debt.....................................................................41 Section 9.7 Restrictions on Nature of Business....................................................41 Section 9.8 Negative Pledges; Subsidiary Restrictions.............................................42 Section 9.9 Issuance of Additional Stock..........................................................42 Section 9.10 Regulatory Matters....................................................................42 Section 9.11 Dividends.............................................................................42 ARTICLE X. FINANCIAL COVENANTS..........................................................................42 Section 10.1 Total Risk Based Capital Ratio........................................................42 Section 10.2 Tier I Risk Based Capital Ratio.......................................................43 Section 10.3 Leverage Ratio........................................................................43 Section 10.4 Minimum Return on Assets..............................................................43 Section 10.5 Maximum Non-Performing Assets.........................................................43 Section 10.6 Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses...................................................43 ARTICLE XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.......................................................43 Section 11.1 Events of Default.....................................................................43 Section 11.2 Rights and Remedies...................................................................46 Section 11.3 Offset................................................................................47 ARTICLE XII. THE AGENT...................................................................................47 Section 12.1 Authorization.........................................................................47 Section 12.2 Distribution of Payments and Proceeds.................................................47 Section 12.3 Expenses..............................................................................48 Section 12.4 Payments Received Directly by Lenders.................................................48 Section 12.5 Indemnification.......................................................................49 Section 12.6 Limitations on Agent's Power..........................................................49 Section 12.7 Exculpation...........................................................................49 Section 12.8 Agent and Affiliates..................................................................49 Section 12.9 Credit Investigation..................................................................50 Section 12.10 Resignation...........................................................................50 Section 12.11 Assignments...........................................................................50 Section 12.12 Participations........................................................................51 Section 12.13 Disclosure of Information.............................................................52 ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS..............................................................................52 Section 13.1 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies........................................................52 Section 13.2 Amendments, Etc.......................................................................53 Section 13.3 Notice................................................................................53 Section 13.4 Costs and Expenses....................................................................53 Section 13.5 Indemnification by Borrower...........................................................53 Section 13.6 Execution in Counterparts.............................................................54 Section 13.7 Binding Effect, Assignment............................................................54 Section 13.8 Governing Law.........................................................................54 Section 13.9 Consent to Jurisdiction/Jury Waiver...................................................54 Section 13.10 Severability of Provisions............................................................55 Section 13.11 Prior Agreements......................................................................55 Section 13.12 Headings..............................................................................55 Section 13.13 No Oral Agreements....................................................................55 Exhibit 1.1 A -- Additional Term Loan Note Exhibit 1.1 B -- Borrower Pledge Agreement Exhibit 1.1 C -- Compliance Certificate Exhibit 1.1 D -- Initial Term Loan Note Exhibit 1.1 E1 -- Application for Standby Letter of Credit Exhibit 1.1 E2 -- Standby Letter of Credit Agreement Exhibit 1.1 F -- Revolving Loan Commitment Amounts and Percentage Exhibit 1.1 G -- Revolving Note Exhibit 1.1 H -- San Francisco Company Guaranty Exhibit 1.1 I -- San Francisco Company Security Agreement Exhibit 1.1 J -- Swingline Loan Note Exhibit 2.1.2 A -- Form of Request For Increase in Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount Exhibit 2.1.2 B -- Form of Request for Consent to Increase Exhibit 2.1.2 C -- Form of Request for Additional Lender Exhibit 2.2.1 -- Notice of Borrowing Exhibit 2.2.2 -- Form of Notice of Conversion/Continuation Exhibit 2.2.3 -- Permissible Securities Exhibit 2.4.1 -- Notice of Swingline Borrowing Exhibit 2.5.2 -- Form of Term Loan Notice Exhibit 8.9 -- Notice of Permitted Acquisition Schedule 7.4 -- Subsidiaries Schedule 7.7 -- Litigation Schedule 9.2 -- Indebtedness Schedule 9.3 -- Guaranties
SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT THIS SECURED CREDIT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") dated as of August 8, 2007, is entered into by and among FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri corporation ("Borrower"), the financial institutions that have executed this Agreement as lenders (each individually a "Lender" and collectively the "Lenders"), and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Agent. WITNESSETH THAT: WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 14, 2003, as amended by First Amendment to Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 12, 2004, Amended and Restated Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 11, 2005, and First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of August 10, 2006 (the foregoing collectively the "Existing Credit Agreement"), each made by and between Borrower, Agent, and the lenders who were partner thereto (the "Existing Credit Agreement Lenders"); WHEREAS the Existing Credit Agreement Lenders most recently severally agreed to make available to Borrower a term loan facility in the amount of One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000), a revolving credit facility in the amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and a revolving letter of credit facility in the amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Existing Credit Agreement; WHEREAS, Borrower has requested that Lenders, severally, make available (i) a revolving credit facility in the amount of One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) including (a) a revolving letter of credit sub-facility in the amount of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000), and (b) a swingline loan sub-facility (from Swingline Lender only) in the amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), with certain term loan conversion privileges as hereinafter described; and (ii) the right to increase the credit facilities described at (i) above by an amount up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000), all as hereinafter described (collectively the "Requested Facilities"); WHEREAS, Borrower, Lenders and Agent desire to enter into this Agreement and, by doing so, amend and replace the Existing Credit Agreement, in its entirety, thereby making available to Borrower the Requested Facilities; and WHEREAS, the Lenders are willing, severally, to provide to Borrower the Requested Facilities, all subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS Section 1.1 Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the -------------- following terms have the following meanings (terms defined in the singular to have the same meaning when used in the plural and vice versa): "Acquisition" shall mean any of (i) the acquisition by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of stock or other equity interest in any Person, (ii) the acquisition by any Person of stock or other equity interest in Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) the consolidation or merger of any Person into Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) the consolidation or merger of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries into any Person, and (v) the transfer, outside of the ordinary course of business, of any assets of any other Person to Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or of Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any other Person. "Additional Lender" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 12.11(a). "Additional Term Loan" means a Term Loan made by a Lender pursuant to Section 2.5.2. "Additional Term Loan Maturity Date" means, with respect to each Additional Term Loan, the date that is three (3) years from date of the related Additional Term Loan Note. "Additional Term Loan Note" means a promissory note evidencing an Additional Term Loan made by a Lender and in the form of Exhibit 1.1 A. "Advance" means any advance by the Lenders to the Borrower pursuant to Article II. "Affiliate" means any Person (1) which directly or indirectly Controls, or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, the Borrower or any Subsidiary; (2) which directly or indirectly beneficially owns or holds five percent (5%) or more of any class of voting stock of Borrower or any Subsidiary; or (3) five percent (5%) or more of the voting stock of which is directly or indirectly beneficially owned or held by Borrower or any Subsidiary. "Agent" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, acting either or both (i) in its capacity as Agent pursuant to Article XII hereof, or any duly appointed successor. "Agreement" has the meaning assigned to that term in the preamble of this Agreement. "Bank Business Day" means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday, United States national holiday or other day on which banks in Minnesota are permitted or required by law to close. "Bank Subsidiary" means any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Borrower which is a bank or thrift institution, including, without limitation the financial institutions listed in Schedule 7.4 hereof and, beginning one year following the acquisition thereof, any bank or thrift institution subsequently becoming a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Borrower. "Base Rate" means the rate of interest publicly announced from time to time by the Agent as its "prime" or "base" rate or, if the Agent ceases to announce a rate so designated, any similar successor rate designated by the Agent. Each change in the Base Rate shall be effective on the day the change in the "prime" or "base" rate is announced within Agent. "Borrower" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement. "Borrower Pledge Agreement" means the collateral pledge agreement in the form of Exhibit 1.1 B pledging to the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders all of the stock of San Francisco Company. "Borrowing" means any borrowing under Article II made by the Borrower from each of the Lenders severally (or, in the case of a Swingline Loan, from Swingline Lender). "Capitalized Lease" of a Person means any lease of property by such Person as lessee which would be capitalized on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP. "Closing Date" means the date upon which the last of the conditions precedent specified in Article VI shall be satisfied. "Collateral" means collectively Borrower's Special Account and all property which is subject or is to be subject to the Liens granted by the Borrower Pledge Agreement and the San Francisco Company Security Agreement. "Commitments" means the (i) several Revolving Credit Commitments of Lenders and (ii) Swingline Commitment of Swingline Lender. When used with reference to a particular Lender, "Commitment" means that Lender's obligation to make Advances in aggregate amounts equal to its Term and Revolving Credit Commitment Amounts. "Compliance Certificate" means a certificate in substantially the form of Exhibit 1.1 C, or such other form as the Borrower and the Required Lenders may from time to time agree upon in writing, executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Borrower and one (1) additional officer of the Borrower identified on the signature page to said Exhibit 1.1 C, stating (i) that any financial statements delivered therewith have been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to year-end audit adjustments, (ii) whether or not such officer has knowledge of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default and stating in reasonable details the facts with respect to such Default or Event of Default, (iii) all relevant facts in reasonable detail to evidence, and the computations as to, whether or not the Borrower is in compliance with the Financial Covenants, and (iv) all relevant facts in reasonable detail to evidence, and the computations as to, whether or not the Borrower is in compliance with the other covenants. "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. For the purposes of the foregoing definition, a shareholder of Borrower shall not be deemed to be directly or indirectly Controlling or Controlled by the Borrower or a Subsidiary, provided the Person in question will not receive any proceeds from the Loans. "Default" means any of the events specified in Section 11.1, whether or not any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other condition, has been satisfied. "Equity Capital" means, as to Borrower or any Bank Subsidiary, the aggregate of its perpetual preferred stock (and related surplus), common stock, surplus (excluding all surplus related to perpetual preferred stock), undivided profits and capital reserves, plus its net unrealized holding gains (or minus its net realized holding losses) on available-for-sale securities. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations and published interpretations thereof. "ERISA Affiliate" means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) which together with the Borrower would be treated as a single employer under Section 4001 of ERISA. "Eurodollar Business Day" means a Bank Business Day on which dealings in U.S. dollar deposits are carried on in the London interbank market. "Eurodollar Rate" means the annual rate equal to the sum of (i) the rate obtained by dividing (a) the rate (rounded up to the nearest 1/16 of 1%) determined by the Agent as of 11:00 a.m. London, England time on the second Eurodollar Business Day prior to the date such rate is to become effective to be the average rate at which U.S. dollar deposits are offered or available to banks in the London interbank market for funds to be made available on the first day of any Interest Period in an amount approximately equal to the amount for which a Eurodollar Rate quotation has been requested and maturing at the end of such Interest Period, by (b) a percentage equal to 100% minus the Federal Reserve System reserve requirement (expressed as a percentage) applicable to such deposits, and (ii) the applicable Margin. In making such determination, the Agent shall utilize Telerate page 3750 under the heading "British Bankers Association LIBOR rates" in the column designated "USD," as published by Bridge Information Systems, Inc., or such other comparable source as may be available to the Agent in the event such Telerate page is no longer published or readily available. "Eurodollar Rate Funding" means a Borrowing or any portion thereof, or any other portion of the principal balance of any of the Notes, that bears interest at a Eurodollar Rate. "Event of Default" has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 11.1, provided that any requirement for the giving of notice, the lapse of time, or both, or any other applicable condition, has been satisfied. "Existing Credit Agreement" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to this Agreement. "Existing Credit Agreement Lenders" has the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to this Agreement. "Existing Term Loan" means the aggregate of all term loans to Borrower outstanding, on the Closing Date, under the Existing Credit Agreement. "Federal Funds Rate" means at any time an interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates for overnight federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by federal funds brokers, as published for such day by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Bank Business Day, the average, determined by the Agent, of the quotations for such day for such transactions received by the Agent from three federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it, it being understood that the Federal Funds Rate for any day which is not a Bank Business Day shall be the Federal Funds Rate for the next preceding Bank Business Day. "Financial Covenants" means any covenant contained in Article X. "First Bank" means First Bank, a Missouri state bank. "Floating Rate" means, at any time, an annual rate equal to the greater of: (i) the Base Rate; or (ii) the Federal Funds Rate, plus fifty (50) basis points (0.50%). The Floating Rate shall change when and as the Base Rate or Federal Funds Rate changes. "Funded Debt" of the Borrower means (without duplication) (i) all indebtedness of the Borrower for borrowed money; (ii) indebtedness evidenced by bonds, notes or similar written debt instruments; and (iii) the face amount of all letters of credit and bankers' acceptances issued for the account of the Borrower, and, without duplication, all drafts drawn thereunder; provided, however, that in -------- ------- no event shall any calculation of Funded Debt include Subordinated Debt or debt of the type referred to in Section 9.2(b) or Section 9.2(c). "Funded Debt Ratio" means the ratio of Funded Debt to Net Income of the Borrower for the most recent period of four (4) fiscal quarters. "GAAP" means U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis consistent with the accounting practices applied in the financial statements described in Section 7.5. "Initial Term Loan" means the Term Loan to be made by Lenders pursuant to Section 2.5.1 and in the aggregate amount of the Existing Term Loan. "Initial Term Loan Maturity Date" means March 31, 2009. "Initial Term Loan Note" means a promissory note evidencing an Initial Term Loan made by a Lender, which is in the form of Exhibit 1.1 D. "Interest Period" means, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Funding (except as provided at Section 4.7 on the Closing Date of this Agreement), a period of one, two, three or six months beginning on a Eurodollar Business Day, as elected by the Borrower. Each Interest Period shall end on the day in the final month of such Interest Period that immediately precedes the date which numerically corresponds to the first day of such Interest Period, except that (i) if such final month has no numerically corresponding day, then the Interest Period shall end on the last Eurodollar Business Day of such month, and (ii) if an Interest Period would otherwise end on a day which is not a Eurodollar Business Day, such Interest Period shall end on the next following Eurodollar Business Day, unless such next following Eurodollar Business Day is the first Eurodollar Business Day of a month, in which case such Interest Period shall end on the next preceding Eurodollar Business Day. "L/C Application" means an Application for Standby Letter of Credit in the form of Exhibit 1.1 E1, and the master Standby Letter of Credit Agreement in the form of Exhibit 1.1 E2, which master Standby Letter of Credit Agreement is incorporated into each such Application for Standby Letter of Credit by reference. "L/C Margin" means an amount determined under Section 4.7 that is charged pursuant to Section 5.2. "Lender" or "Lenders" has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble to this Agreement. "Letter of Credit" has the meaning provided in Section 2.1.3. "Letter of Credit Commitment" means Agent's commitment to issue Letters of Credit as provided in Section 2.1.3 and subject to Section 2.3. "Letter of Credit Commitment Amount" means the lesser of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) and the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount. "Leverage Ratio" shall be defined and calculated in accordance with Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y in the case of the Borrower and in accordance with Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in the case of a Bank Subsidiary. "Lien" means any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, pledge, security interest or other charge or encumbrance, of any kind whatsoever, including but not limited to the interest of the lessor or titleholder under any Capitalized Lease, title retention contract or similar agreement. "Loan" means any loan or Advance made to Borrower pursuant to Article II. "Loan Documents" means this Agreement, the Notes, the Borrower Pledge Agreement, the San Francisco Company Guarantee and the San Francisco Company Security Agreement, as each may be renewed, extended, amended, rearranged, restructured, restated, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time. "Margin" means amounts determined pursuant to Section 4.7 that is added to other amounts to determine a Eurodollar Rate. "Multiemployer Plan" means a Plan described in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA which covers employees of the Borrower or any of its Affiliates. "Net Income" has the meaning assigned to such term by GAAP, without reference to extraordinary items or adjustments caused solely by changes in applicable accounting principles. "Non-Performing Assets" of any Person means the sum of: (i) all loans and leases classified as past due 90 days or more and still accruing interest; (ii) all loans and leases classified as "non-accrual" and no longer accruing interest; (iii) all loans and leases classified as "restructured loans and leases"; (iv) without duplication, all property acquired in repossession or foreclosure and property acquired pursuant to in-substance foreclosure; and (v) if such Person is a Bank Subsidiary, all other "Non-Performing Assets," as reported in the then most recent call report of such Bank Subsidiary. "Note" means either a Revolving Note, the Swingline Note, an Initial Term Loan Note or an Additional Term Loan Note, in each case including any new Note issued pursuant to Section 12.11(a). "Notes" means, collectively, the Revolving Notes, the Swingline Note, the Initial Term Loan Note and the Additional Term Loan Notes, in each case including any new Note issued pursuant to Section 12.11(a). "Notice of Swingline Borrowing" shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 2.4.1. "Obligation of Reimbursement" has the meaning given in Section 2.3.2(a). "Obligations" means all debts, liabilities, obligations, covenants and duties of the Borrower arising under any of the Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect, absolute or contingent, due or to become due, and whether now existing or hereafter arising. "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA. "Percentage" means, with respect to each Lender, the percentage so designated next to such Lender's name in Exhibit 1.1 F, as such percentage may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 12.11. "Permitted Acquisition" means any Acquisition by Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case so long as: (i) no Default or Event of Default is continuing at the time of such Acquisition, or would be caused by such Acquisition; (ii) all authorizations of governmental agencies, bodies or authorities which are necessary to approve the Acquisition have been obtained and are in full force and effect, or will be obtained contemporaneously with the earlier to occur of closing of such Acquisition and the making of any Advance for such purpose, and no further approval, consent, order or authorization of or designation, registration, declaration or filing with any governmental authority is required in connection therewith; (iii) in the case of any Acquisition that is a consolidation or merger, the continuing or surviving corporation shall be controlled by the Borrower immediately following the transaction; provided, however, that (A) -------- ------- a Subsidiary may merge with and into the Borrower or another Subsidiary, but (B) under no circumstances may the Borrower merge into or consolidate with any Subsidiary; and (iv) any notice required in connection with such Acquisition pursuant to Section 8.9 shall have been timely given. "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority, or other juridical entity of whatever nature. "Plan" means any employee benefit or other plan established, maintained, or to which contributions have been made by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate. "Primary Equity Capital" of an entity means the aggregate of the allowance for loan and lease losses of such entity, as reported in the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K filed by the Borrower with the SEC plus the Equity Capital of such entity; provided however that if Borrower shall cease to be required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and/or annual reports on Form 10-K, thereafter the Primary Equity Capital shall be as set forth in Borrower's quarterly financial report, certified by Borrower's Chief Financial Officer, and annual audit report, certified by the auditor of such annual audit report. "Reportable Event" means any of the events set forth in Section 4043 of ERISA. "Requested Facilities" have the meaning ascribed to such term in the recitals to this Agreement. "Required Lenders" means Lenders (including, where relevant, Additional Lenders) having an aggregate Percentage of 66 2/3% or more or, if the Commitments shall have been terminated, having 66 2/3% or more of the aggregate principal amount of all then outstanding Advances. "Return on Assets" of a Person means the percentage determined by dividing the Net Income of such Person for the four calendar quarters immediately preceding the date of determination by its total average assets during such period. The total average assets of a Person shall be as reported in quarterly financial statements for such period. "Revolving Credit Commitment" means Lenders' Commitments, severally, to provide revolving loans as provided in Section 2.1.1. "Revolving Credit Commitment Amount" means, with respect to each Lender, the Revolving Credit Commitment amount set forth opposite that Lender' s name on Exhibit 1.1F, as that amount may be adjusted from time to time pursuant to Section 5.3 or any assignment made pursuant to Section 12.11. "Revolving Credit Termination Date" means August 7, 2008. "Revolving Loans" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1.1. "Revolving Loan Margin" means an amount determined under Section 4.7 that is charged pursuant to Section 4.1. "Revolving Note" means a Note evidencing a Revolving Loan made by a Lender, which Note is in the form of Exhibit 1.1 G attached hereto. "San Francisco Company" means The San Francisco Company, a Delaware corporation. "San Francisco Company Guaranty" means the Guaranty, in the form of Exhibit 1.1 H, whereby San Francisco Company guarantees to the Lenders payment of the Obligations. "San Francisco Company Security Agreement" means the San Francisco Company Security Agreement, in the form of Exhibit 1.1 I, pledging to the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Lenders all of the stock of First Bank. "SEC" means the federal Securities and Exchange Commission. "Subordinated Debt" means indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries which is subordinated in right of payment to all indebtedness of the Borrower to any Lender, on terms that have been approved in writing by the Required Lenders and that have been noted by appropriate legend on all instruments evidencing the Subordinated Debt. "Subsidiary" means, as to Borrower, any business entity, including, but not limited to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, business trust, or any similar entity, with total assets exceeding $1,000,000 of which shares of stock having ordinary voting power (other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of such corporation are at the time owned, or the management of which corporation is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, or both, by the Borrower or a Subsidiary of Borrower. "Swingline Advance" means any advance made by Agent pursuant to Section 2.4. "Swingline Borrowing" means any borrowing made by Borrower under Section 2.4. "Swingline Commitment" means Agent's commitment to provide Swingline Advances as provided in Section 2.1.4. "Swingline Sub-Facility" means the credit facility provided pursuant to Section 2.1.4. "Swingline Lender" means Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, a national banking association, in its capacity as provider of the Swingline Sub-Facility. "Swingline Loan Commitment Amount" means, with respect to Agent only, the lesser of (i) the amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), and (ii) the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount. The Swingline Loan Commitment Amount is a part of and not in addition to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount. "Swingline Note" means a note evidencing the Swingline Loan made by Swingline Lender in the form of Exhibit 1.1 J. "Term Loan" shall have the meaning provided in Section 2.1.5. "Term Loan Margin" means an amount determined under Section 4.7 that is charged pursuant to Section 4.1. "Term Note" means a note evidencing a Term Loan made by a Lender. "Tier I Risk Based Capital Ratio" shall be defined and calculated in accordance with Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y in the case of the Borrower and in accordance with Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in the case of a Bank Subsidiary. "Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount" means the sum of One Hundred Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($125,000,000) as that amount may be increased from time to time pursuant to Section 2.1.2, and reduced by all Swingline Loans, Revolving Loans, Term Loans, Letters of Credit, and Obligation of Reimbursement at any time outstanding, as well as Section 5.3. "Total Risk Based Capital Ratio" shall be defined and calculated in accordance with Federal Reserve Board Regulation Y in the case of the Borrower and in accordance with Section 38 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act in the case of a Bank Subsidiary. Section 1.2 Other Interpretive Provisions. ----------------------------- (a) All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with GAAP as applied in the preparation of the financial statements and reports referred to in Section 8.1, and all financial data submitted pursuant to this Agreement shall be prepared in accordance with such principles. (b) the amount of all Loans from time to time outstanding shall include all accrued and unpaid interest, fees and charges. (c) Section references are to this Agreement unless otherwise specified. (d) Schedules and Exhibits referred to herein are attached to and made a part hereof unless otherwise specified. (e) The term "including" is not limiting and means "including without limitation." (f) In the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including"; the words "to" and "until" each mean "to but excluding", and the word "through" means "to and including." (g) Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, (i) references to agreements (including this Agreement and the other Loan Documents) and other contractual instruments shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments, restatements, supplements and other modifications thereto, but only to the extent such amendments, restatements, supplements and other modifications are not prohibited by the terms of any Loan Document, and (ii) references to any statute or regulation shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions amending, replacing, supplementing or interpreting such statute or regulation. (h) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents may use several different limitations, tests or measurements to regulate the same or similar matters. All such limitations, tests and measurements are cumulative and each shall be performed in accordance with its terms. (i) This Agreement and the other Loan Documents are the result of negotiations among and have been reviewed by counsel to the Borrower, Lenders and Agent and the other parties thereto and are the products of all parties. Accordingly, they shall not be construed against Borrower, Agent or Lenders merely because of Borrower's, Agent's or any Lender's involvement in their preparation. ARTICLE II. COMMITMENTS OF THE LENDERS; BORROWING, CONVERSION AND LETTER OF CREDIT PROCEDURES Section 2.1 Commitments. On and subject to the terms and ----------- conditions of this Agreement, each of the Lenders, severally and for itself alone, agrees to make loans to, and to issue or participate in letters of credit for the account of, the Borrower as follows: 2.1.1. Revolving Loan Commitment. Subject to Section 2.2, each -------------------------- Lender shall make a loan to Borrower, on a revolving basis (collectively, the "Revolving Loans"), from time to time through the Revolving Credit Termination Date, to the extent of such Lender's Percentage of the aggregate amount requested by Borrower from all Lenders in accordance with this Agreement; provided however that the aggregate of all Revolving Loans outstanding shall at no time exceed the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount. 2.1.2 Increase of the Revolving Loan Commitments. ------------------------------------------ (a) The Borrower may, at its election at any time or from time to time after the date hereof, and prior to thirty (30) days before the Revolving Credit Termination Date, increase the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount by the aggregate amount of up to Twenty-Five Million Dollars ($25,000,000); provided and subject to the express conditions precedent that: (i) each proposed increase in the Revolving Credit Commitment Amount of any Lender shall be subject to the written consent of such Lender (it being expressly agreed and understood by the Borrower that no Lender has agreed or committed or otherwise undertaken to agree or commit to increase the Revolving Credit Commitment Amount of such Lender above such Lender's Revolving Credit Commitment Amount as in effect on August 8, 2007, and set forth on Exhibit 1.1 F), (ii) each such increase of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be in an amount that is an integral multiple of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) and not less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), (iii) the Borrower shall not request to increase the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount if, after giving effect to any permanent reduction of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount in accordance with Section 5.3, the sum of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount would exceed the amount of One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($150,000,000), (iv) the Borrower shall not request to increase the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount more than twice, (v) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such increase or as a result of such increase, (vi) each increase of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount may be made ratably among the Lenders participating in such increase in accordance with their respective Percentages, or may be made in such other increments satisfactory to each such Lender, in each case subject to the written consent of each such Lender (provided, however, -------- ------- that the Lenders' respective Percentages in connection with any outstanding Term Loans as of the effective date of such increase shall remain the same), and (vii) notwithstanding Article XII hereof, additional Persons may become Lenders under this Agreement to accommodate such increase, subject to the consent of the Borrower and the Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. (b) The Borrower shall notify the Agent in writing of any request to increase the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount under this Section 2.1.2 at least thirty (30) days prior to the desired effective date of such increase, specifying such election and the effective date thereof, in the form of Exhibit 2.1.2 A. Such notice shall be accompanied by the resolutions of the board of directors of the Borrower and The San Francisco Company approving such increase, as certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower and The San Francisco Company. Within five (5) Bank Business Days after receipt of any such notice, the Agent shall advise the Lenders of the contents thereof. Each Lender shall have the option, in its sole discretion, to subscribe for its Percentage of such requested increase. The Lenders shall respond in writing to the Borrower's request through the Agent within ten (10) Bank Business Days from notification by the Agent of the Borrower's request for increase. Any Lender not responding within ten (10) Bank Business Days shall be deemed to have declined to participate in the Borrower's request for increase to the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount. At the option of the Borrower, any part of the increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount not so subscribed may be assumed by one or more existing Lenders or assumed by another financial institution or institutions designated by the Borrower and acceptable to the Agent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, upon submission of the notice to Agent in the form of Exhibit 2.1.2 B, in the case of an existing Lender, or Exhibit 2.1.2 C, in the case of a new lender. Each notice delivered by the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.1.2 shall be irrevocable. (c) If the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount shall be increased as provided at this Section 2.1.2, before there shall be made any Advance that would cause the Revolving Loans by any Lender to exceed such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment Amount(as the same existed immediately before such increase), the Borrower shall execute and deliver to such Lender a Revolving Note in the amount of such increase. 2.1.3. Letter of Credit Sub-Facility Commitment. Subject to ------------------------------------------- Section 2.3, Agent shall, from time to time, issue one or more letters of credit (each a "Letter of Credit"), for the account of Borrower, through the Revolving Credit Termination Date, in an aggregate amount at any time outstanding not to exceed the Letter of Credit Commitment Amount. Letters of Credit provided pursuant to this Agreement, together with all Obligations of Reimbursement, shall, while outstanding, reduce the amount otherwise available pursuant to the Letter of Credit Commitment. Each Letter of Credit shall be at the request and for the account of Borrower pursuant to a separate L/C Application entered into by Borrower, as applicant. The terms and conditions set forth in each L/C Application shall supplement the terms and conditions hereof, but, in the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of any such L/C Application, and the terms of the Agreement, the terms hereof shall control. Each Lender shall be deemed to purchase and hold a participation in each Letter of Credit to the extent of such Lender's Percentage thereof. 2.1.4. Swingline Sub-Facility Commitment. Subject to Section ---------------------------------- 2.4, Swingline Lender shall make loans (each a "Swingline Loan" and collectively the "Swingline Loans") to Borrower from time to time during the period from the Closing Date through the Revolving Credit Termination Date notwithstanding the fact that any Swingline Loans, when aggregated with Swingline Lender's Percentage of all outstanding Revolving Loans (in its capacity as a Lender) may exceed the amount of such Lender's Revolving Loan Commitment; provided however that, after giving effect to any Swingline Loan, the aggregate of all Swingline Loans shall at no time exceed the Swingline Loan Commitment Amount; and provided further that no Swingline Loan shall be made to refinance an outstanding Swingline Loan. Within the limits herein set forth, Borrower may repay and reborrow Swingline Loans. Each Lender hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to, purchase from Swingline Lender a participation in each Swingline Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of such Swingline Loan. 2.1.5. Term Loan Conversion and Sub-Facility Commitment. Subject ------------------------------------------------ to Section 2.5, (i) on the Closing Date each Lender shall make the Initial Term Loan to Borrower to the extent of such Lender's Percentage thereof and (ii) from time to time through the Revolving Credit Termination Date, at the election to Borrower, Borrower may request that all or any portion of any then outstanding Revolving Loans be converted to an Additional Term Loan and/or a new Advance made as an Additional Term Loan, which Additional Term Loan, if and to the extent a Revolving Loan, shall be deemed made to Borrower by each Lender in such Lender's Percentage that was applicable to the converted Revolving Loan and, if and to the extent it is a new Advance, shall be made by each Lender's then Percentage. Each Lender's Initial Term Loan and all such Lender's Additional Term Loans shall collectively comprise such Lender's "Term Loan" to Borrower. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the aggregate of all Revolving Loans, Term Loans, Swingline Loans, Letter of Credits, and Obligation of Reimbursement exceed the aggregate Revolving Credit Commitment Amounts. Section 2.2 Revolving Loan Procedures. ------------------------- 2.2.1 Borrowing Procedures. -------------------- (a) Each Revolving Loan shall occur following written request via such form as is attached as Exhibit 2.2.1 or telephonic request to the Agent from the Borrower, with any such telephonic request to be confirmed by fax in such form as is attached as Exhibit 2.2.1. Each such notice or request shall specify: (i) the date of the requested Revolving Loan; (ii) the amount thereof; and (iii) if any portion of such Revolving Loan will bear interest at a Eurodollar Rate, the Interest Period selected by the Borrower with respect thereto. Such notice or request must be received by the Agent not later than 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the Bank Business Day prior to the day on which such Revolving Loan is to occur or, if all or any portion of the Revolving Loan will bear interest at a Eurodollar Rate, not later than three Eurodollar Business Days prior to the date on which such Revolving Loan is to occur. Each Borrowing shall be in the amount of (i) not less than $1,000,000 or (ii) in an integral multiple of $100,000 greater than $1,000,000. The Borrower shall be obligated to repay all Revolving Loans made to it notwithstanding the fact that the Person requesting the same was not in fact authorized so to do. Any request for a Revolving Loan shall be deemed to be a representation that the statements set forth in Article VII are correct except to the extent that the same relate specifically to an earlier date. (b) Upon receiving a request for a Borrowing under this Section 2.2.1, and in any event not later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the day that the request is received, the Agent will notify the Lenders of the amount of the requested Borrowing, the amount of each Lender's Revolving Loan with respect thereto, and, if applicable, the fact that the Borrower has elected a Eurodollar Rate and the Interest Period selected by the Borrower. Upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article VI, each Lender shall remit its Percentage of the requested Revolving Loan to the Agent in immediately available funds. Each Lender shall make each Advance to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. (California time) to the account of the Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders. The Agent will make such Advances available to the Borrower by wire transferring the same to an account designated by the Borrower at First Bank or in such other manner as the Agent and the Borrower may from time to time agree in writing, prior to 12:00 noon (California time) on the day of the requested Revolving Loan. The Agent shall have no obligation to disburse the requested Borrowing if any condition set forth in Article VI has not been satisfied on the day of the requested Revolving Loan. Unless the Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Agent such Lender's Percentage of such Revolving Loan, the Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with this Section 2.2.1 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower a corresponding amount. In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its Percentage of the applicable Revolving Loan available to the Agent, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender pays such amount to the Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Percentage in such Revolving Loan. (c) In the event that any one or more Lenders' obligations to make Advances at the Eurodollar Rate are suspended pursuant to Section 2.2.2(c) following a request for a Borrowing that specifies that a Eurodollar Rate is to apply, such Lenders shall nevertheless be obliged to fund their respective Advances, and such Advances shall bear interest at the Floating Rate until they are repaid or until such Lenders may again make, maintain or fund Advances at the Eurodollar Rate and the Borrower requests pursuant to Section 2.2.2(a) that a Eurodollar Rate be applicable to such Advances. 2.2.2 Conversion of Principal to Eurodollar Rates. ------------------------------------------- (a) At the election of the Borrower, which election may be exercised from time to time, the Borrower may request in writing via such form as attached as is Exhibit 2.2.2 or by telephonic request to be confirmed by fax in such form as is attached as Exhibit 2.2.2 that a Eurodollar Rate be applicable for the portion of the outstanding principal balance of the Term or Revolving Notes (including any Revolving Loan requested or to be requested) and for the Interest Period indicated by the Borrower in its request. The portion of the outstanding balance of the Notes for which a Eurodollar Rate is requested must, on the first day of the applicable Interest Period, either (A) bear interest at the applicable Floating Rate, or (B) bear interest at an applicable Eurodollar Rate with respect to which the Interest Period expires on such first day. A request for a Eurodollar Rate must be received by the Agent before 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the day three (3) Eurodollar Business Days before the first day of the proposed Interest Period. Upon receiving a request for a Eurodollar Rate, and in any event not later than the close of business on the day that the request is received, the Agent will notify the Lenders of the Note (Term or Revolving) subject to such Eurodollar Rate and the amount and Interest Period applicable thereto. Not later than 2:00 p.m. (California time) on the second (2nd) Eurodollar Business Day prior to the date on which such Eurodollar Rate is to become effective, the Agent will notify the Lenders and the Borrower of the interest rate to be applicable thereto. Following a request for a Eurodollar Rate under this Section 2.2.2, or pursuant to Section 2.2.1, the Eurodollar Rate as determined hereunder shall be the interest rate applicable for the proposed Interest Period to the portion of the outstanding principal balance of the Notes to which the quotation related, subject to fluctuations in the applicable Margin (and the remaining part of the principal balance of those Notes (and any other Notes), if any, shall continue to bear interest at the rate or rates previously applicable to such amounts). At the termination of such Interest Period, the interest rate applicable to that portion of the principal balance of those Notes to which the Eurodollar Rate quotation was applicable shall revert to the Floating Rate unless a new Eurodollar Rate quotation with respect thereto is requested by the Borrower in accordance with this Section 2.2.2. (b) The Eurodollar Rate applicable to each Eurodollar Rate Funding shall be determined by the Agent between the opening of business and 9:00 a.m. (California time) on the second (2nd) Eurodollar Business Day prior to the beginning of the applicable Interest Period. Promptly following such determination, the Agent shall give notice thereof (which may be by telephone if promptly confirmed by fax) to the Borrower and each Lender. Each such determination of the applicable Eurodollar Rate shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto, in the absence of demonstrable error. The Agent, upon written request of the Borrower or any Lender, shall deliver to the Borrower or such requesting Lender a statement showing the computations used by the Agent in determining the applicable Eurodollar Rate hereunder. (c) In no event shall more than six (6) Eurodollar Rate Fundings be outstanding at any one time. In no event may the Borrower request a Eurodollar Rate Funding if, after giving effect to such Eurodollar Rate Funding, the Borrower would be required to prepay the Eurodollar Rate Funding in order to pay the principal amount of the related Revolving or Term Loans on the (as applicable) Revolving Credit or Term Loan Termination Date. In no event may the Borrower rescind any request for a Eurodollar Rate Funding once made. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Agent and the Lenders shall have no obligation to honor any request for a Eurodollar Rate Funding if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing when such request is made or on the first (1st) day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. If on or prior to the first day of any Interest Period the Agent reasonably determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that, by reason of circumstances affecting the relevant market, adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period, or the Required Lenders both reasonably determine (which determination shall be conclusive) and notify the Agent that the Eurodollar Rate will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to the Lenders of funding the requested Eurodollar Rate Funding for such Interest Period, then the Agent shall give the Borrower prompt notice thereof specifying the amounts or periods and, so long as such condition remains in effect, the Lenders shall be under no obligation to fund any Eurodollar Rate Fundings and the Borrower shall, on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for the outstanding Eurodollar Rate Fundings, either prepay such Eurodollar Rate Fundings or convert such Eurodollar Rate Fundings into Floating Rate Borrowings in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that it becomes unlawful for any Lender to make, maintain, or fund Advances at the Eurodollar Rate hereunder, then such Lender shall promptly notify the Borrower thereof and such Lender's obligation to make, maintain or fund Advances at the Eurodollar Rate shall be suspended until such time as such Lender may again make, maintain, and fund Advances at the Eurodollar Rate. If the obligation of any Lender to make, maintain or fund Advances at the Eurodollar Rate shall be suspended pursuant to this Section 2.2.2(c), such Lender's affected Advances shall be automatically converted into Floating Rate Advances on the last day(s) of the then current Interest Period(s) for the affected Advances. (d) Absent error, the records of the Agent shall be conclusive evidence as to the amount of each Eurodollar Rate Funding and the interest rate and Interest Period applicable thereto. Section 2.3 Letter of Credit Procedures. --------------------------- 2.3.1 Issuance/Lender Participation. ----------------------------- (a) Each Letter of Credit, if any, shall be issued pursuant to a separate L/C Application entered into by the Borrower, as applicant, completed in a manner satisfactory to the Agent, and delivered to the Agent at least five (5) Bank Business Days prior to the date such Letter of Credit is to be issued. The terms and conditions set forth in each such L/C Application shall supplement the terms and conditions hereof, but in the event of inconsistency between the terms of any such L/C Application and the terms hereof, the terms hereof shall control. (b) Each Lender shall be deemed to hold a participation interest in each Letter of Credit equal to that Lender's Percentage of the face amount of that Letter of Credit. If the Agent makes any payment pursuant to the terms of any Letter of Credit and is not promptly reimbursed, the Agent may request that each Lender pay such Lender's Percentage of the unreimbursed amount. Upon receipt of any such request prior to 11:00 a.m. (California time) on a Bank Business Day, the recipient shall be unconditionally and irrevocably obligated to pay its Percentage of the unreimbursed amount to the Agent in immediately available funds prior to 1:00 p.m. (California time) on such date. Notices received after 11:00 a.m. (California time) shall be deemed to have been received on the following Bank Business Day. If full payment is not made by a Lender when due hereunder, then the applicable Lender agrees to pay to the Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation. If such Lender pays such amount to the Agent, then such amount shall constitute such Lender's Percentage in such Letter of Credit. After making any payment to the Agent under this subsection in connection with a particular Letter of Credit, a Lender shall be entitled to participate to the extent of its Percentage in the related reimbursements and any interest thereon received by the Agent from the Borrower or otherwise. Upon receiving any such reimbursement, the Agent will distribute to each Lender its Percentage of such reimbursement and any interest thereon. (c) No Letter of Credit shall be issued with an expiry date later than ninety (90) days after the Revolving Credit Termination Date. (d) Any request for the issuance of a Letter of Credit under this Section 2.3 shall be deemed to be a representation that the statements set forth in Article VII hereof are correct except to the extent that the same relate specifically to an earlier date. 2.3.2 Payment of Amounts Drawn Under Letters of Credit. The ---------------------------------------------------- Borrower shall pay the Agent any and all amounts required to be paid under the applicable L/C Application, when and as required to be paid thereby, including all amounts designated below, when and as designated: (a) The Borrower shall pay the Agent on the day a draft is honored under any Letter of Credit a sum equal to all amounts drawn under such Letter of Credit plus any and all reasonable charges and expenses that the Agent may pay or incur relative to such draw, plus interest on all such amounts, charges and expenses as set forth below (all such amounts are hereinafter referred to, collectively, as the "Obligation of Reimbursement"). (b) The Borrower shall pay the Agent on demand interest on all amounts, charges and expenses payable by the Borrower to the Agent under this Section 2.3.2, accrued from the date any such draft is paid, or any such charge or expense is paid or incurred, by the Agent until payment in full by the Borrower at the Floating Rate. (c) Upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, and so long as any such Default or Event of Default continues without written waiver thereof by the Required Lenders, the rate of interest on all amounts, charges and expenses payable by the Borrower to the Agent under this Section 2.3.2 shall be the Floating Rate plus four percent (4.00%). 2.3.3 Special Account. --------------- (a) If the Commitments are terminated in whole pursuant to Section 5.3, or if an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, and in any event on the Revolving Credit Termination Date, the Borrower shall pay the Agent in immediately available funds, for deposit in a deposit account established for the sole purpose of holding such funds, an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit then outstanding, assuming compliance with all conditions for drawing thereunder (the "Maximum Reimbursement Obligation"). Alternatively, the Borrower may transfer to the Agent cash and Permissible Securities for deposit in a securities account established for the sole purpose of holding such funds, of an aggregate Collateral Value equal to the Maximum Reimbursement Obligation; provided, however, that if the Borrower wishes to -------- ------- transfer Permissible Securities in lieu of cash, it must simultaneously deliver to the Agent such account and control agreements and such other documents as the Agent may reasonably determine are necessary in order to establish and perfect the security interest referred to in subsection (c), below. Any such deposit account or securities account shall be referred to herein as the "Special Account." (b) "Permissible Securities" means securities described in Exhibit 2.2.3, and the "Collateral Value" of a Permissible Security is its market value, as reasonably determined by the Agent, multiplied by the percentage determined pursuant to Exhibit 2.2.3. The "Collateral Value" of cash is its face value. (c) The Borrower hereby grants to the Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a security interest in the Special Account and all funds and Permissible Securities held therein from time to time and all proceeds thereof, as security for the payment of all Obligations. Any interest earned on funds and Permissible Securities deposited in the Special Account shall be credited to the Special Account. Amounts on deposit in the Special Account may be applied by the Agent at any time or from time to time to the Borrower's Obligation of Reimbursement or any other Obligations, in the Agent's sole discretion, and shall not be subject to withdrawal by the Borrower so long as the Agent maintains a security interest therein. The Agent agrees to transfer any balance of cash or Permissible Securities in the Special Account to the Borrower at such time as the Obligations have been paid in full. 2.3.4 Authorization for Borrowing. In the event that the --------------------------- Borrower shall be obligated to make any payment pursuant to Section 2.3.2 or any payment or transfer of securities pursuant to Section 2.3.3, and shall not have made other arrangements for payment or transfer of securities as of the due date, then the Agent will initiate an Advance in an amount not to exceed the amount available to be borrowed pursuant to Section 2.1.1 without request from the Borrower and use the proceeds to satisfy such payment Obligation. The procedure for such Borrowing, and the Agent's and Lenders' rights and Obligations with respect thereto, shall be in all respects identical to those applicable to an Advance initiated by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.1.1, and such Advance shall not itself cause a Default or Event of Default. The Borrowing in respect of such Advance shall bear interest at the Floating Rate. Section 2.4 Swingline Loan Procedures. ------------------------- 2.4.1 Borrowing Procedures. Each Swingline Borrowing shall -------------------- be made upon the Borrowers' written request to the Swingline Lender and the Agent via such form as is attached as Exhibit 2.4.1 or telephonic request to Swingline Lender and Agent with any telephonic request to be confirmed by fax in such form of Notice of Swingline Borrowing as is attached as Exhibit 2.4.1. Each such request must be received by the Swingline Lender and the Agent not later than 11:00 a.m. (California time), on the same Bank Business Day as the requested borrowing date and shall specify (i) the amount to be borrowed, which amount shall be a minimum amount of $100,000 or an integral multiple of $25,000 in excess thereof, and (ii) the requested borrowing date, which shall be a Bank Business Day. Promptly after receipt by the Swingline Lender of any telephonic Notice of Swingline Borrowing, the Swingline Lender will confirm with the Agent (by telephone or in writing) that the Agent has also received such Notice of Swingline Borrowing and, if not, the Swingline Lender will notify the Agent (by telephone or in writing) of the contents thereof. Unless the Swingline Lender has received notice (by telephone or in writing) from the Agent prior to 12:00 p.m. (California time), on the date of the proposed Swingline Borrowing (A) directing the Swingline Lender not to make such Swingline Loan as a result of the limitations set forth in Section 2.1.4 or (B) that one or more of the applicable conditions specified in Section 6.2 is not then satisfied, then, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Swingline Lender will, not later than 1:00 p.m. (California time), on the borrowing date specified in such Notice of Swingline Borrowing, make the amount of its Swingline Loan available to the Borrowers by wire transferring the same to the account designated by Borrower at First Bank or in such other manner as the Swingline Lender and Borrower may agree upon in writing prior to 1:00 p.m. (California time) on the day of the requested Swingline Loan. 2.4.2 Refinancing of Swingline Loans. ------------------------------ (a) The Swingline Lender at any time in its sole and absolute discretion may request, on behalf of the Borrower (which hereby irrevocably requests the Swingline Lender to act on its behalf for purposes of this Section 2.4.2), under this Section 2.4.2, that each Lender make a Revolving Loan in an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of the amount of Swingline loans then outstanding. Such request shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Section 2.2.1, without regard to the minimum and multiples specified therein for the principal amount of Revolving Loans, but subject to the unutilized portion of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount and the conditions set forth in Section 6.2. Each Lender shall make an amount equal to its Percentage of the amount specified in such notice available to the Agent in immediately available funds for the account of the Swingline Lender at the Agent's Office not later than 12:00 p.m. (California time), on the day specified in such notice, whereupon, subject to Section 2.4.2(b), each Lender that so makes funds available shall be deemed to have made a Revolving Loan to the Borrower in such amount. The Agent shall remit the funds so received to the Swingline Lender. (b) If for any reason any Revolving Loan Borrowing cannot be requested in accordance with Section 2.4.2(a or any Swingline Loan cannot be refinanced by such a Revolving Loan Borrowing, the request submitted by the Swingline Lender shall be deemed to be a request by the Swingline Lender that each of the Lenders fund its participation in the relevant Swingline Loan and each Lender's payment to the Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender pursuant to Section 2.4.2(a) shall be deemed payment in respect of such participation. (c) If any Lender fails to make available to the Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender any amount required to be paid by such Lender pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4.2 by the time specified in Section 2.4.2(a), the Swingline Lender shall be entitled to recover from such Lender (acting through the Agent), on demand, such amount with interest thereon for the period from the date such payment is required to the date on which such payment is immediately available to the Swingline Lender at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from time to time in effect. A certificate of the Swingline Lender submitted to any Lender (through the Agent) with respect to any amounts owing under this clause (c) shall be conclusive absent manifest error. (d) Each Lender's obligation to make Revolving Loans or to purchase and fund participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this Section 2.4.2 shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by any circumstance, including (i) any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment, defense or other right which such Lender may have against the Swingline Lender, the Borrower or any other Person for any reason whatsoever, (ii) the occurrence or continuance of a Default or Event of Default, or (iii) any other occurrence, event or condition, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. Any such purchase of participations shall not relieve or otherwise impair the Obligation of the Borrower to repay Swingline Loans, together with interest as provided herein. 2.4.3 Repayment of Participations. --------------------------- (a) At any time after any Lender has purchased and funded a participation in a Swingline Loan, if the Swingline Lender receives any payment on account of such Swingline Loan, the Swingline Lender will distribute to such Lender such Lender's Percentage of such payment (appropriately adjusted, in the case of interest payments, to reflect the period of time during which such Lender's participation was outstanding and funded) in the same funds as those received by the Swingline Lender. (b) If any payment received by the Swingline Lender in respect of principal or interest on any Swingline Loan is required to be returned by the Swingline Lender, each Lender shall pay to the Swingline Lender such Lender's Percentage thereof on demand of the Agent, plus interest thereon from the date of such demand to the date such amount is returned, at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate. The Agent will make such demand upon the request of the Swingline Lender. (c) Until each Lender funds its Revolving Loan or participation, in each case pursuant to this Section 2.4 to refinance such Lender's Percentage of any Swingline Loan, interest in respect of such Lender's Percentage thereof shall be solely for the account of the Swingline Lender. Borrower shall make payments of interest on each Swingline Loan at the time and in the manner referred on Revolving Loan. (d) Borrower shall make all payments of principal and interest in respect of the Swingline Loans directly to the Swingline Lender. Section 2.5 Term Loan Procedures. -------------------- 2.5.1. Initial Term Loans. Each Initial Term Loan shall be -------------------- represented by an Initial Term Loan Note. 2.5.2. Additional Term Loan Procedure. ------------------------------ (a) Each Additional Term Loan shall occur following written request via such form as is attached in Exhibit 2.5.2 (a "Term Loan Notice") or telephonic request to be confirmed by fax in such form as is attached in Exhibit 2.5.2. Each such request shall specify: (i) the effective date of the requested Additional Term Loan; (ii) the amount thereof; and (iii) the portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans to which such Additional Term Loan is to be applied, if any, including the rate(s) of interest currently applicable thereto and, if a Eurodollar rate is applicable to any portion thereof, the Interest Period(s) that was/were selected by Borrower at inception of the related Revolving Loan. If and to the extent the Additional Term Loan is to be an initial Advance (i.e. not being applied to any outstanding Revolving Loans), then the Term Loan Notice or request shall specify whether any portion(s) of such Term Loan that is an initial Advance will bear interest at a Eurodollar rate, and the interest period(s) selected by the Borrower with respect thereto. No such Term Loan Notice or request shall be effective unless and until Agent shall have received the Additional Term Loan Notes in respect thereof specified at Section 6.2 (c). If and to the extent any Additional Term Loan is not an initial Advance, it shall bear interest at the same rate(s) of interest applicable to the Revolving Loans that are satisfied thereby provided however that, in determining such Eurodollar rate(s), the applicable Margin shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.7. If such Term Loan Notice is being applied to Revolving Loans in the exact amount of such Revolving Loans, then any request must be received by 10:00 a.m. (California time) on the Bank Business Day that the Term Loan is to occur. If and to the extent any Additional Term Loan that is the subject of a Term Loan Notice represents an additional Advance, it shall be funded as provided in the final sentence of Section 2.5.2(b). Each Additional Term Loan shall be in an amount of not less than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000). Any request for any Additional Term Loan shall be deemed to be a representation that all statements set forth in Article VII are correct except to the extent the same relate specifically to an earlier date. (b) Upon receiving a request for a Term Loan Notice, and in any event not later than 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the day such Term Loan Notice is received, Agent will notify each of the Lenders of the effective date of the requested Additional Term Loan, the amount thereof and the portion of the outstanding Revolving Loan to which such Additional Term Loan is to be applied, if any, including the interest rate(s) currently applicable thereto, if applicable, if any Eurodollar Rate(s) is/are applicable to any portion thereof, the Interest Period(s) that had been selected by Borrower at inception thereof, or that are being selected, at the initial Advance of such Term Loans, and a copy of the related Additional Term Loan Note payable to such Lender duly executed on behalf of Borrower. Promptly thereafter Agent shall deliver such Additional Term Loan Note to such Lender. In the event all or any part of any Term Loan that is the subject of a Term Loan Notice is an initial Advance, the funding procedures set forth in Section 2.2.1(b) (excepting the first sentence thereof and substituting the term "Term Loan" for "Revolving Loan" throughout) shall apply. Section 2.6 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds of the Advances shall --------------- be used by the Borrower (i) to refinance existing indebtedness under the Existing Credit Agreement including the Existing Term Loan; (ii) for its general corporate purposes, including redemption of Subordinated Debt in connection with redemption of trust preferred securities guaranteed by Borrower; and (iii) for Permitted Acquisitions. ARTICLE III. EVIDENCING OF LOANS Section 3.1 Notes. The Revolving Loans made by each Lender ----- shall be evidenced by and repayable in accordance with a single promissory note of Borrower payable to the order of such Lender substantially in the form of a Revolving Note. The Swingline Loans made by Swingline Lender shall be evidenced by a single promissory note of Borrower payable to the order of Swingline Lender substantially in the form of the Swingline Note. The Initial Term Loan made by each Lender shall be evidenced by and repayable in accordance with a single promissory note of Borrower payable to the order of such Lender substantially in the form of an Initial Term Loan Note. Each Additional Term Loan made by each Lender shall be evidenced by and repayable in accordance with a separate promissory note of Borrower payable to the order of such Lender substantially in the Form of an Additional Term Loan Note. Section 3.2 Payment of Initial and Additional Term Loan Notes. -------------------------------------------------- The entire principal balance of each Initial Term Loan made by each Lender shall be repaid in seven (7) equal quarterly installments, each equal to one-seventh (1/7th) of such original principal balance and a final payment, equal to the entire remaining principal balance of such Initial Term Loan (and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon and other sums payable in connection therewith) due on the Initial Term Loan Maturity Date. The entire original principal balance of each Additional Term Loan made by each Lender shall be repaid in equal calendar quarterly installments, each equal to six and twenty-five hundredths percent (6.25%) of such original principal balance, and a final payment, equal to the entire remaining principal balance (and all accrued and unpaid interest and other sums payable in connection with such Additional Term Loan under this Agreement), due on the related Additional Term Loan Maturity Date, which is the absolute and final due date of such Additional Term Loan. The first such quarterly installment (on all Initial Term Loans and any Additional Term Loans that may then be outstanding) shall be due on September 30, 2007; thereafter quarterly installments on any Initial Term Loans and Additional Term Loans then outstanding shall be due on the last day of each calendar quarter, until the latest occurring Additional Term Loan Maturity Date. Section 3.3 Recordkeeping. The Agent shall record in its ------------- records the date and amount of each Advance made by each Lender, shall record in its records the date and amount of each such Advance, each repayment or conversion thereof and, the case of each Borrowing that will bear interest (or is converted to bear interest) at a Eurodollar Rate, the dates on which each Interest Period for Borrowing shall begin and end. The aggregate unpaid principal amount so recorded shall be rebuttably presumptive evidence of the principal amount of the Borrowings owing and unpaid. The failure to so record any such amount, or any error in so recording any such amount, shall not limit or otherwise affect the Obligations of Borrower hereunder or under any Note to pay the principal amount of all Borrowings hereunder, together with all interest accruing thereon. ARTICLE IV. INTEREST Section 4.1 Interest Rates. Subject to Section 4.7, Borrower --------------- shall pay interest on the unpaid principal balance of each Borrowing, for the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing until such Borrowing is repaid in full, as follows: (a) for each Revolving Loan, Term Loan, or Obligation of Reimbursement, at all times and to the extent the Eurodollar Rate is not applicable thereafter, the Floating Rate; (b) for each Revolving or Term Loan to which the Eurodollar Rate is applicable, the Eurodollar Rate; provided however that, in determining such Eurodollar Rate, the applicable Margin shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.7; and (c) for each Swingline Loan, the Floating Rate. Section 4.2 Default Interest Rate. Upon the occurrence of any ---------------------- Default or Event of Default, and so long as such Default or Event of Default continues without written waiver thereof by the Required Lenders, each Note shall bear interest at an annual rate that shall be four percent (4.00%) plus the annual rate at which interest would otherwise accrue on that Note. Accrual of interest at such increased rate shall not be deemed a waiver or excuse of any such Default or Event of Default. Section 4.3 Interest and Principal Payments. ------------------------------- 4.3.1 Interest. Interest accruing on the principal -------- balance of the Notes shall be due and payable as follows: (a) Interest accruing on the outstanding principal balance of the Notes at the Floating Rate each calendar quarter shall be due and payable on the last day of that calendar quarter, with the first quarterly payment of interest due on the last day of September, 2007; and the last payment of interest shall be due on the Revolving Credit Termination Date with respect to Revolving Notes and on the applicable Initial and Additional Term Loan Maturity Dates with respect to Term Notes. (b) Interest on each Eurodollar Rate Funding shall be due and payable on the last day of the applicable Interest Period or, if such Interest Period is six months, on the last day of the third month during such Interest Period, and on the last day of such Interest Period. 4.3.2 Principal. The principal balance of the Revolving --------- Notes shall be due and payable in full on the Revolving Credit Termination Date. The principal balance of the Term Notes shall be due and payable on the applicable Initial and Additional Term Loan Maturity Date. 4.3.3 Swingline Loans. The full principal balance of ---------------- all then outstanding Swingline Loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, shall be due and payable on the next to occur following a Swingline Loan of the fifteenth (15th) day of the month (or the next Bank Business Day if such day is a Saturday, Sunday, United States national holiday or other day on which banks in Minnesota are permitted or required by law to close) and the last Bank Business Day of the month, and shall be paid as provided in Section 2.4. Section 4.4 Making of Payments. All payments of principal and ------------------ interest under the Notes and of all fees hereunder shall be made to the Agent in immediately available funds. Payments received after 11:00 a.m. (California time) on any day shall be deemed received on the next succeeding Bank Business Day. The Borrower and the Lenders agree that the amount shown on the books and records of the Agent as being the principal balance of each Lender's Note shall be prima facie evidence of such principal amount. Borrower shall pay to Agent an amount equal to the accrued interest and fees from time to time due and payable to the Agent under the Notes or hereunder, or (at the option of the Required Lenders) to make an Advance in such amount, as follows: (a) upon Agent's receipt of written request by Borrower, the Borrower authorizes the Agent to charge against any account the Borrower may maintain with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association; or (b) the Borrower shall transfer by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 11:00 a.m. (California time) on the date such accrued interest and fees are due and payable to the account of the Agent most recently designated by it in writing for such purpose. Section 4.5 Payment on Nonbusiness Days. Payments of interest --------------------------- on Eurodollar Rate Fundings shall be governed by Section 4.3.1(b). With respect to all other payments to be made hereunder or under the Notes, whenever such payments shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Bank Business Day, such payment may be made on the next succeeding Bank Business Day, and such extension of time shall in each case be included in the computation of payment of interest on such Note or the fees hereunder, as the case may be. Section 4.6 Computation of Interest and Fees. All interest ---------------------------------- under all Notes, and all fees under this Agreement, shall be computed on the basis of actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days. Section 4.7 Generally. The Revolving Loan Margin, the Term Loan --------- Margin and the L/C Margin, shall be adjusted each quarter on the basis of the Funded Debt Ratio as at the end of the previous fiscal quarter, in accordance with the following table:
Funded Revolving Loan Margin Term Loan Margin L/C Margin Debt Ratio (in Basis Points) (in Basis points) (in Basis Points) - ---------- ----------------- ----------------- ----------------- Less than 1.00 to 1.00 75.0 87.5 87.5 1.00 to 1.00 or more, but 87.5 100.0 100.0 less than 1.75 to 1.00 1.75 to 1.00 or more 100.0 112.5 112.5
Reductions and increases in the Margins will be made quarterly on the first day of the month following the date the Borrower's financial statements and Compliance Certificate required under Section 8.1 are due. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) if the Borrower fails to deliver any financial statements or Compliance Certificates when required under Section 8.1, the Agent may (and, upon request of the Required Lenders, shall), by notice to the Borrower, increase the Margins to the highest rates set forth above until such time as the Agent has received all such financial statements and Compliance Certificates, and (ii) no reduction in any of the Margins will be made if a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time that such reduction would otherwise be made. ARTICLE V. FEES, REDUCTIONS AND PREPAYMENTS Section 5.1 Commitment Fee. The Borrower shall pay to the -------------- Agent, for the benefit of the Lenders, a commitment fee at an annual rate equal to 17.5 basis points (0.175%) applied to the aggregate daily average Unused Amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment Amounts, as defined hereunder. Outstanding Swingline Loans will be deemed utilizations of the Revolving Credit Commitment Amounts for purposes of determining availability but not for purposes of determining any commitment fee due hereunder. This commitment fee shall be due and payable quarterly in arrears, with the first payment due September 30, 2007 for the period from the Closing Date through September 30, 2007, and payments due quarterly thereafter. Any such commitment fee remaining unpaid on the Revolving Credit Termination Date shall be due and payable on that date. As used herein, the "Unused Amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment Amount" shall mean, at any time, (a) the Revolving Credit Commitment Amounts at such time minus (b) the sum of the then outstanding Revolving Loans, the then outstanding - ----- Term Loans, and the then sum of issued Letters of Credit and any then unpaid drawings under any Letters of Credit. For the avoidance of doubt, Swingline Loans shall not be counted as Revolving Loans for purposes of determining the Unused Amount of the Revolving Credit Commitment Amount. Section 5.2 Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay ------------------------ fees as follows: (a) Letter of Credit Fees. The Borrower shall pay the Agent for the benefit of the Lenders a fee with respect to each Letter of Credit, if any, accruing on a daily basis and computed at an annual rate equal to the L/C Margin of the aggregate amount that may then be drawn on all issued and outstanding Letters of Credit from and including the date of issuance of each such Letter of Credit until such date as each such Letter of Credit shall terminate by its terms or be fully drawn, due and payable quarterly in arrears on the last day of each calendar quarter, commencing September 30, 2007, and on the date when the last Letter of Credit expires or is fully drawn. The foregoing fee shall be in addition to any and all fees, commissions and charges of the Agent with respect to or in connection with any such Letter of Credit. Upon the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, and so long as such Default or Event of Default continues without written waiver thereof by the Required Lenders, the annual rate at which such fee accrues shall be four percent (4.00%) plus the L/C Margin. Accrual of such fee at such increased rate shall not be deemed a waiver or excuse of any such Default or Event of Default. (b) Letter of Credit Administrative Fees. The Borrower shall pay the Agent, on demand, the administrative fees charged by the Agent in connection with issuing Letters of Credit, honoring drafts under Letters of Credit, amendments thereto, transfers thereof and all other activity with respect to Letters of Credit at the then-current rates published by the Agent for such services rendered on behalf of customers of the Agent generally and provided to the Borrower. Section 5.3 Termination or Reduction of the Revolving Credit --------------------------------------------------- Commitments. The Borrower may at any time and from time to time upon ten (10) - ----------- calendar days' prior notice to the Agent permanently terminate the entire Revolving Credit Commitment or permanently reduce such Commitment in part, without penalty or premium, provided that (i) such Commitments may not be terminated while any Advances remain outstanding, (ii) each partial reduction shall be in the amount of $1,000,000 or a multiple thereof, (iii) any partial reduction of such Commitments shall be pro rata as to each Lender in accordance with that Lender's Percentage, and (iv) no reduction shall reduce such Commitments to an amount less than the aggregate amount of the Advances outstanding at the time. Section 5.4 Voluntary Prepayments. The Borrower may prepay all --------------------- or a portion of the principal balance of the Revolving and/or Term Loans bearing interest at a Floating Rate (the "Floating Rate Portion") in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time; provided that (i) prepayment of any Lender's such Loan must be accompanied by pro rata prepayment of each other Lender's such Loan, (ii) any prepayment of the full amount of any such Loan shall include accrued interest thereon, and (iii) each partial prepayment of the Floating Rate Portion of such Loans shall be in the principal amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 greater than $1,000,000. The Borrower may prepay the portion of the principal balance of the Revolving and/or Term Loans bearing interest at a Eurodollar Rate (the "Eurodollar Rate Portion") in whole or in part, at any time from time to time; provided that (i) prepayment of any Lender's such Loan must be accompanied by pro rata prepayment of each other Lender's such Loan, (ii) any prepayment of the full amount of any such Loan shall include accrued interest thereon, (iii) each partial prepayment of the Eurodollar Rate Portion of the Loans shall be in the principal amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple of $100,000 greater than $1,000,000, (iv) any prepayment of the Eurodollar Rate Portion of such Loans shall be made only upon three Bank Business Days' notice to the Agent, and (v) if the prepayment is made on a date other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period, such prepayment must be accompanied by a written agreement from Borrower to reimburse the Lenders for any amounts due to the Lenders pursuant to Section 5.5(b). Section 5.5 Fees on Advances and Indemnity. The Borrower shall ------------------------------ pay the following (in addition to any interest payable on Advances and any fees or other amounts payable hereunder): (a) If at any time the enactment of any new generally applicable law, rule or regulation or the issuance of a generally applicable interpretation or administration thereof by any governmental authority (including, without limitation, Regulation D of the Federal Reserve Board): (i) shall subject any Lender to any tax, duty or other charges including but not limited to any tax designed to discourage the purchase or acquisition of foreign securities or debt instruments by United States nationals) with respect to this Agreement, or shall materially change the basis of taxation of payments to any Lender of the principal of or interest on any portion of the principal balance of the Notes bearing interest at a Eurodollar Rate (except for the imposition of or changes in respect of the rate of tax on the overall net income of that Lender); or (ii) shall impose or deem applicable or increase any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by any Lender because of any portion of the principal balance of any Note bearing interest at a Eurodollar Rate; and the result of any of the foregoing would be to increase the cost to that Lender of making or maintaining any such portion or to reduce any sum received or receivable by that Lender with respect to such portion, then, within 30 days after demand by any Lender specifying the basis of the Lender's assertion in reasonable detail, the Borrower shall pay that Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate that Lender for such increased cost or reduction; provided, however, that no -------- ------- amount shall be payable by Borrower if the reason for the additional charges, reserves, special deposit or similar requirements against a particular Lender arises from a change in the status of the Lender, rather than from the imposition of such requirements against commercial lending institutions generally. (b) The Borrower shall also compensate any Lender, upon written request by that Lender (which request shall set forth the basis for requesting such amounts), for all losses and expenses in respect of any interest or other consideration paid by that Lender to lenders of funds borrowed by it or deposited with it to maintain any portion of the principal balance of any Note at a Eurodollar Rate which that Lender may sustain to the extent not otherwise compensated for hereunder and not mitigated by the reemployment of such funds to the extent such loss or expense arises (i) as a consequence of any failure by the Borrower to make any payment when due of any amount due hereunder in connection with any Eurodollar Rate Fundings, (ii) due to any failure of the Borrower to borrow or convert any Eurodollar Rate Fundings on a date specified therefor in a notice thereof, or (iii) due to any payment or prepayment of any Eurodollar Rate Funding on a date other than the last day of the applicable Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Funding. A certificate as to any such loss or expense (including calculations, in reasonable detail, showing how that Lender computed such loss or expense) shall be promptly submitted by that Lender to the Borrower. Such loss or expense may be computed as though that Lender acquired deposits in the London interbank market to fund that portion of the principal balance whether or not that Lender actually did so. (c) A notice from any Lender under this Section 5.5 claiming compensation and setting forth the additional amount or amounts to be paid to it hereunder shall be conclusive in the absence of error. In determining any such amount, a Lender may use any reasonable averaging and attribution methods. Section 5.6 Capital Adequacy. In addition to any interest on ----------------- Advances, if any Lender determines at any time that its Return has been reduced as a result of any Capital Adequacy Rule Change, that Lender may require that the Borrower pay it the amount necessary to restore its Return to what it would have been had there been no Capital Adequacy Rule Change. For purposes of this Section: (a) "Return," for any period, means the percentage determined by dividing (i) the sum of interest and ongoing fees earned by a Lender under this Agreement during such period, by (ii) the average capital that Lender is required to maintain during such period as a result of its being a party to this Agreement, as reasonably determined in good faith by that Lender based upon its total capital requirements pursuant to the Capital Adequacy Rules then in effect. Return may be calculated for each calendar quarter and for the shorter period between the end of a calendar quarter and the date of termination in whole of this Agreement. (b) "Capital Adequacy Rule" means any law, rule, regulation or guideline regarding capital adequacy that applies to any Lender, or the interpretation thereof by any governmental or regulatory authority with supervisory authority over such Lender. Capital Adequacy Rules include rules requiring financial institutions to maintain total capital in amounts based upon percentages of outstanding loans, binding loan commitments and letters of credit. (c) "Capital Adequacy Rule Change" means any change applicable to banks generally in any Capital Adequacy Rule occurring after the date of this Agreement, but the term does not include any changes in applicable requirements that at the date hereof are scheduled to take place under the existing Capital Adequacy Rules or any increases in the capital that any Lender is required to maintain to the extent that the increases are required due to a regulatory authority's action affecting only that Lender. (d) For purposes of this Section, "Lender" includes (but is not limited to) the Agent, the Lenders, as defined elsewhere in this Agreement, any assignee of any interest of any Lender hereunder and any participant in the loans made hereunder. The initial notice sent by a Lender shall be sent as promptly as practicable after that Lender learns that its Return has been reduced, shall include a demand for payment of the amount necessary to restore that Lender's Return for the quarter in which the notice is sent, and shall state in reasonable detail the cause for the reduction in its Return and its calculation of the amount of such reduction. Thereafter, that Lender may send a new notice during each calendar quarter setting forth the calculation of the reduced Return for that quarter and including a demand for payment of the amount necessary to restore its Return for that quarter. Section 5.7 Failure of Any Lender to Make Advances. Should any -------------------------------------- Lender default in making an Advance, the other Lenders shall not be released from their several obligations to make Advances as agreed hereunder, and, in the event such defaulting Lender is the Agent, the other Lenders shall forthwith appoint one of themselves to act as Agent. However, such default shall not obligate any of the Lenders to increase their Commitment Amounts. Without limiting any other remedies to which the Borrower may be entitled, Borrower shall be released from all liability to pay such defaulting Lender any accrued or future fees under Section 5.1 and the other Obligations of the Borrower to such defaulting Lender under the Loan Documents, except the Obligation to repay any outstanding Swingline Loan, Term Loan and Revolving Loans theretofore made by such Lender and interest accrued thereon as provided in the Loan Documents, shall terminate; provided, however, once such default is cured, then such -------- ------- defaulting Lender shall, subsequent thereto, have all rights under the Loan Documents. Section 5.8 Annual Agent's Fees. On each anniversary of the -------------------- Closing Date, so long as any Obligation shall then be outstanding, Borrower shall pay to Agent, as an Agent's fee and for Agent's sole benefit, the sum of $4,000 multiplied by the number of Lenders who hold Obligations on such anniversary date. The fee provided for at this Section 5.8 shall be in addition to all fees provided for either elsewhere at this Article V or at Section 6(l). ARTICLE VI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT Section 6.1 Initial Conditions Precedent. The obligation of the ---------------------------- Lenders to make any Advance and the obligation of the Agent to issue its initial Letter of Credit (whichever first occurs) is, in addition to the conditions precedent specified in Section 6.2, subject to the condition precedent that the Agent shall have received all of the following, each dated (unless otherwise indicated) as of the date hereof, in form and substance satisfactory to each Lender: (a) The Notes, properly executed on behalf of the Borrower. (b) Current searches of appropriate filing offices showing that (i) no state or federal tax liens have been filed and remain in effect against any of the Borrower, First Bank or San Francisco Company, (ii) no financing statements have been filed and remain in effect against any of the Borrower, First Bank or San Francisco Company except financing statements perfecting only Liens permitted under Section 9.1, and (iii) no judgment liens are in effect against any of the Borrower, First Bank or San Francisco Company. (c) Separate certificates of the secretaries of the Borrower and San Francisco Company certifying, in the case of each such corporation, (i) that the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents and other documents contemplated hereunder to which such corporation is a party have been duly approved by all necessary action of the Board of Directors of such corporation, and attaching true and correct copies of the applicable resolutions granting such approval, (ii) that attached to such certificate are true and correct copies of the current articles of incorporation and bylaws of such corporation, as amended, together with such copies, and (iii) the names of the officers of such corporation who are authorized to sign the Loan Documents and other documents contemplated hereunder to which such corporation is a party, including, with respect to the Borrower, requests for Advances and L/C Applications, together with the true signatures of such officers. The Agent and the Lenders may conclusively rely on each such certificate until they shall receive a further certificate of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the applicable corporation canceling or amending the prior certificate and submitting the signatures of the officers named in such further certificate. (d) A certificate of good standing of the Borrower, San Francisco Company and First Bank, dated not more than twenty (20) days before the date of the first Advance. (e) A signed copy of an opinion of counsel for the Borrower and San Francisco Company, addressed to the Lenders as to matters referred to in Sections 7.1, 7.2, 7.3 and 7.7, and as to such other matters as the Lenders may reasonably request, with that opinion being subject to customary assumptions and limitations and reasonably acceptable to each Lender's counsel. In the case of Section 7.7, the opinion may be to the best knowledge of such counsel, and, in the case of Section 7.3, insofar as it relates to enforcement of remedies, it may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally from time to time, and to usual equity principles. (f) The Borrower Pledge Agreement, duly executed by the Borrower. (g) Certificates representing, in the aggregate, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of San Francisco Company and one blank stock power executed by Borrower for each such certificate. (h) The San Francisco Company Security Agreement, duly executed by San Francisco Company. (i) Certificates representing, in the aggregate, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of First Bank and one blank stock power executed by San Francisco Company for each such certificate. (j) The San Francisco Company Guaranty, duly executed by San Francisco Company. (k) Evidence that all of the Borrower's obligations under the Existing Credit Agreement have been paid and discharged in full, or will be so paid and discharged from proceeds of the first Borrowing. (l) The Borrower shall have paid to Agent for the benefit of the Lenders and the Agent any fees provided for in the Fee Letter agreement between Borrower and Agent dated July 9th, 2007. Fees provided for at this Section 6.1(l) shall be in addition to all fees provided for at Article V hereof. (m) The Borrower shall have paid to Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus PC, counsel for the Agent ("PSFS"), all fees and expenses of PSFS relating to the preparation and negotiation of the Loan Documents. It is acknowledged that Agent currently maintains possession of the documents described in subsections (g) and (i) pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement; and that such possession will satisfy the requirements of such subsections. Section 6.2 Conditions Precedent to All Advances. The -------------------------------------------- obligation of each Lender to make any Advance (including the initial Advance) and the obligation of the Agent to issue any Letter of Credit shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Advance: (a) The representations and warranties contained in Article VII are correct on and as of the date of such Advance as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent that such representations and warranties relate solely to an earlier date. (b) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Advance, which constitutes a Default or an Event of Default. (c) In the case of any Additional Term Loan, Agent shall have received all Additional Term Loan Notes therefor, payable to Lenders, all properly executed by Borrower. ARTICLE VII. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES The Borrower represents and warrants to the Lenders as follows: Section 7.1 Corporate Existence and Power. ----------------------------- (a) The Borrower (i) is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation, and is duly licensed or qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions where the character of the property owned or leased or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary and where failure to be so licensed or qualified would have a materially adverse impact on its business or properties; (ii) is in compliance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, the noncompliance with which would materially and adversely affect its business or financial condition; and (iii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business, to own its properties and to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its Obligations under, the Loan Documents. (b) Each Subsidiary (i) is a business entity, including, but not limited to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, business trust, or any similar entity, duly incorporated or organized, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation, organization, or formation, as applicable, and is duly licensed or qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions where the character of the property owned or leased or the nature of the business transacted by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary and where failure to be so licensed or qualified would have a materially adverse impact on its business or properties; (ii) is in compliance with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, the noncompliance with which would materially and adversely affect its business or financial condition; and (iii) has all requisite power and authority to conduct its business, to own its properties and to execute and deliver, and to perform all of its Obligations under, the Loan Documents. Section 7.2 Authorization of Borrowing; No Conflict as to Law --------------------------------------------------- or Agreements. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower and each - ------------- of its Subsidiaries of the Loan Documents to which it is a party and the Borrowings and requests for Letters of Credit from time to time hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will not (i) require any consent or approval of the stockholders of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, or any authorization, consent or approval by any governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, except such as have already been obtained, (ii) violate any provision of any law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, Regulation X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) or of any order, writ, injunction or decree presently in effect having applicability to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries (or Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement, or any other governing document of a Subsidiary in the case of a Subsidiary that is organized as a business entity other than a corporation), (iii) result in a breach of or constitute a default under any indenture or loan or credit agreement or any other material agreement, lease or instrument to which the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or its properties may be bound or affected, or (iv) result in, or require, the creation or imposition of any Lien or other charge or encumbrance of any nature upon or with respect to any of the properties now owned or hereafter acquired by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 7.3 Legal Agreements. This Agreement and the other Loan ---------------- Documents to which it is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, enforceable against each such party in accordance with their respective terms. Section 7.4 Subsidiaries. Except as listed in Schedule 7.4, as ------------ of the date of this Agreement the Borrower has no direct or indirect Subsidiaries. The percentage of the capital stock of each Subsidiary owned by the Borrower or by one or more other Subsidiaries is as set forth in Schedule 7.4. Section 7.5 Financial Condition. The Borrower has heretofore -------------------- furnished to the Lenders its audited financial statements as of December 31, 2006, and call reports of the Bank Subsidiaries dated as of March 31, 2007. Those financial statements fairly present the financial condition of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries on the dates thereof and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, and were prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject, in the case of the interim financial statements, to year-end audit adjustments. Section 7.6 Adverse Change. There has been no material adverse -------------- change in the business, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries since the date of the latest financial statements referred to in Section 7.5. Section 7.7 Litigation. Except as disclosed in Schedule 7.7, as ---------- of the date of this Agreement, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Borrower, threatened against or affecting the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries or the properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries before any court or governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which, if determined adversely to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, properties, or operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 7.8 Regulation U. No part of the proceeds of any ------------ Advance will be used by the Borrower or any Bank Subsidiary directly or indirectly, (i) to purchase or carry any margin stock (as defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; herein, the "Board") or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin stock or (ii) for any purpose which entails a violation of, or which is inconsistent with, the provisions of Regulation U issued by the Board. Section 7.9 Taxes. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries ----- has paid or caused to be paid to the proper authorities when due all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by it. The Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has filed all federal, state and local tax returns which to the knowledge of the officers of the Borrower are required to be filed, and the Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries has paid or caused to be paid to the respective taxing authorities all taxes as shown on said returns or on any assessment received by it to the extent such taxes have become due, other than taxes whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, has provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. Section 7.10 Titles. The Borrower or its Subsidiaries, as ------ applicable, have good title to each of the material properties and assets reflected in the latest audited financial statements referred to in Section 7.5. Section 7.11 ERISA. As of the date of this Agreement, no Plan ----- established or maintained by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate that is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA had an accumulated funding deficiency (as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA) in excess of $1,000,000 as of the last day of the most recent fiscal year of such Plan ended prior to the date hereof, and no liability to the PBGC or the Internal Revenue Service in excess of such amount has been, or is expected by the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate to be, incurred with respect to any Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate. Neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries has any contingent liability with respect to any post-retirement benefit under a Welfare Plan as described in Section 3(1) of ERISA, other than liability for continuation coverage described in Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA. Section 7.12 Regulatory Matters. Borrower is registered as a ------------------ bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act, as amended ("BHCA"). First Bank is an "insured depository institution" as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as amended ("FDIA"), and the applicable regulations thereunder and the deposits of First Bank are insured by the Bank Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the maximum extent permitted under the FDIA. ARTICLE VIII. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Note or L/C Application or any other Obligation shall remain unpaid, any Commitment shall be outstanding or the Agent shall have any obligation to issue Letters of Credit, the Borrower will comply, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with the following requirements, unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing: Section 8.1 Reporting Requirements. The Borrower will deliver ---------------------- to each Lender: (a) As soon as available, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual audit report of the Borrower with the unqualified opinion of independent certified public accountants selected by the Borrower and to which the Agent and the Required Lenders do not reasonably object. (b) As soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrower, a copy of the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC with respect to such fiscal quarter, provided however that, if Borrower shall cease to be required to file Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, then its internally prepared quarterly financial report, certified by its chief financial officer, shall be provided within the same time period as Form 10-Q reports were required. (c) As soon as available, and in any event within ninety (90) days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, the Complete Annual Report of Domestic Holding Companies (FRY-6 Report) required by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. (d) As soon as available, and in any event no later than forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, the complete FRY-9LP and FRY-9C reports required to be filed by the Borrower and its Subsidiaries quarterly with the Federal Reserve Banks of the districts where they report. (e) As soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, the complete call report prepared by each Bank Subsidiary at the end of such calendar quarter in compliance with the requirements of any federal or state regulatory agency which has authority to examine such Bank Subsidiary, prepared in accordance with the requirements imposed by the applicable regulatory authorities and applied on a basis consistent with the accounting practices reflected in any previous call reports and similar statements delivered to the Agent prior to the date of this Agreement. (f) As soon as available, and in any event within forty-five (45) days after the end of each calendar quarter, a Compliance Certificate, duly executed by the chief financial officer of the Borrower and one (1) additional officer of the Borrower identified on the signature page of the form of Compliance Certificate of which Exhibit 1.1 C is a copy. (g) Promptly after the Borrower learns of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings before any governmental or regulatory agency that would be required to be disclosed by Borrower pursuant to any applicable provision of either the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any applicable regulation under either thereof (assuming that such litigation or proceeding had then been determined adversely to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries), notice in writing thereof. An 8K SEC filing will be considered prompt and written notice under this requirement. (h) As promptly as practicable (but in any event not later than five (5) business days) after the Borrower or an executive officer of any of its Subsidiaries obtains knowledge of the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default, notice of such occurrence, together with a detailed statement by a responsible officer of the Borrower of the steps being taken by the Borrower to cure the effect of such event. (i) Promptly upon the filing thereof, copies of all registration statements and all annual and quarterly reports which the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower shall have filed with the SEC. (j) Such other information respecting the financial condition and results of operations of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as any Lender may from time to time reasonably request. (k) Promptly after learning of the commencement of any regulatory action involving safety or soundness issues with respect to the Borrower or any Subsidiary, and, unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, not less than five (5) Business Days before entering into any agreement or understanding involving any such issues, notice in writing thereof. Section 8.2 Books and Records; Inspection and Examination. The --------------------------------------------- Borrower and each of its Subsidiaries will keep accurate books of record and account for itself in which true and complete entries will be made in accordance with GAAP and, upon request of any Lender, will give any representative of that Lender reasonable access to, and permit such representative to examine, copy or make extracts from, any and all books, records and documents in its possession, to inspect any of its properties and to discuss its affairs, finances and accounts with any of its principal officers, all at such times during normal business hours and as often as any Lender may reasonably request; provided, -------- however, that with respect to the loans made by any Bank Subsidiary, a Lender - ------- may only review and make copies of summaries of the watch lists prepared on a quarterly basis and loan credit reports; review of specific loan accounts and loan review reports may be requested by any Lender, whereupon the Borrower and such Lender shall within ten (10) days agree to the number of such accounts and reports that are reasonable and appropriate to review; provided further, ----------------- however, that during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default, there - ------- shall be no restrictions upon the scope of the review, inspection and reproduction rights of the Lenders concerning the loans of any Bank Subsidiary. Section 8.3 Compliance with Laws. The Borrower and each of its -------------------- Subsidiaries will comply with the requirements of applicable laws and regulations, the noncompliance with which would materially and adversely affect its business or the financial condition of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 8.4 Payment of Taxes and Other Claims. The Borrower and --------------------------------- each of its Subsidiaries will pay or discharge, when due, (a) all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any properties belonging to it, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto, (b) all federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by it, and (c) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a Lien or charge upon any properties of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that neither the Borrower nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to pay any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, has provided adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP. Section 8.5 Operations. The Borrower will, and will cause each ---------- of its Subsidiaries to, operate and maintain its business and property in the ordinary course in a prudent manner consistent with sound banking practices and in such a manner that the performance by the Borrower of its Obligations hereunder is not jeopardized or impaired. Section 8.6 Insurance. The Borrower and each of its --------- Subsidiaries will obtain and maintain insurance with insurers believed by it to be responsible and reputable, in such amounts and against such risks as the Borrower considers prudent and economical. Without limiting the foregoing, the Borrower will cause the Bank Subsidiaries to maintain blanket bond coverage, property and casualty coverage, and errors and omissions coverage as customary for banks. Section 8.7 Preservation of Corporate Existence. The Borrower ----------------------------------- and each of its Subsidiaries will preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its material rights, privileges and franchises; provided, however, -------- ------- that neither the Borrower nor its Subsidiaries shall be required to preserve any of its rights, privileges and franchises if its Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to any Lender as a holder of a Note. Section 8.8 Additional Collateral. The Borrower will deliver, --------------------- and cause San Francisco Company to deliver, to the Agent any shares of capital stock of any FDIC-insured financial institution or its holding company acquired in whole or in part with the proceeds of Advances if either (A) 20 percent or more of any class of the voting securities of such entity are acquired (including for such purpose any such voting securities then owned by Borrower and any Subsidiary), or (B) the Borrower's investment therein is $2 million or more (including for such purpose any outstanding investment theretofore made); provided, however, that the Borrower need not deliver such shares if such entity - -------- ------- is immediately merged with or consolidated into a Subsidiary. Any shares of capital stock so delivered shall constitute additional Collateral under the Borrower Pledge Agreement (if delivered by the Borrower) or the San Francisco Company Security Agreement (if delivered by San Francisco Company). The Borrower need not deliver to the Agent any shares of capital stock of any FDIC-insured financial institution or its holding company acquired in whole or in part with the proceeds of Advances unless and until it either has acquired 20 percent or more of any class of the voting securities or its investment therein becomes at least $2 million or more; however the Borrower will not, and will not permit San Francisco Company to, grant any security interest in such shares to any third party. Section 8.9 Notice of Permitted Acquisition. Within five (5) ------------------------------- days after the Borrower or a Subsidiary enters into a definitive agreement in connection with a Permitted Acquisition of an entity whose assets are equal to or in excess of $500,000,000, the Borrower will notify the Agent of such acquisition in writing. Any notice required by the immediately preceding sentence shall be accompanied by a Schedule in the form of Exhibit 8.9, duly completed and executed on behalf of the Borrower, demonstrating that the subject Permitted Acquisition will not result in an Event of Default. ARTICLE IX. NEGATIVE COVENANTS So long as any Note or any other Obligation shall remain unpaid, any Commitments shall be outstanding, or the Agent shall have any obligation to issue Letters of Credit, the Borrower will comply, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to comply, with the following covenants unless the Required Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing: Section 9.1 Liens. The Borrower will not create, incur, assume ----- or suffer to exist, or permit San Francisco Company to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist, any Lien or other charge or encumbrance of any nature on any of the Collateral, now owned or hereafter acquired, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income with respect to the Collateral or give its consent to the subordination of any right or claim of the Borrower to any right or claim of any other Person. Section 9.2 Indebtedness. Neither the Borrower nor any of its ------------ Subsidiaries that are not Bank Subsidiaries will incur, create, assume or permit to exist any indebtedness or liability on account of deposits or advances or any indebtedness for borrowed money, or any other indebtedness or liability evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar obligations, except: (a) Indebtedness to the Lenders under the Notes. (b) Indebtedness of the Borrower or its Subsidiaries listed in Schedule 9.2 hereto, and any extensions or renewals thereof. (c) Indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries that may be treated as regulatory capital, or that is issued to provide a source of repayment of securities that may be treated as regulatory capital, of the Borrower or such Subsidiary. (d) Subordinated Debt, or renewals or extensions thereof. (e) Indebtedness not otherwise permitted under this Section 9.2, so long as all such indebtedness does not exceed $5,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time. Section 9.3 Guaranties. Neither the Borrower nor any of its ---------- Subsidiaries will assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become directly or contingently liable in connection with any obligations of any other Person, except: (a) The endorsement of negotiable instruments by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business. (b) Guaranties, endorsements and other direct or contingent liabilities in connection with the obligations of other Persons in existence on the date hereof and listed in Schedule 9.3 hereto. (c) Letters of credit and other obligations in the nature of guaranties incurred by the Bank Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their banking businesses. (d) Guaranties of obligations permitted by Section 9.2 (c). (e) Other assumptions, guarantees, endorsements and similar liabilities in connection with obligations of other Persons, not in excess of $5,000,000 in the aggregate outstanding at any one time. Section 9.4 Shareholder Redemptions. The Borrower will not make ----------------------- any payments on account of the purchase, redemption or other retirement of any of its common stock or preferred stock, directly or indirectly. Section 9.5 Acquisitions. Neither the Borrower nor any of its ------------ Subsidiaries will engage in an Acquisition with any Person, whether as acquirer or acquiree, or engage in any other transaction analogous in purpose or effect to an Acquisition, except that the foregoing shall not prohibit any Permitted Acquisition. Section 9.6 Subordinated Debt. Neither the Borrower nor any of ----------------- its Subsidiaries will (i) make any payment of, or acquire, any Subordinated Debt except as expressly permitted by the subordination provision thereof; (ii) give security for all or any part of such Subordinated Debt; (iii) amend or cancel the subordination provisions of such Subordinated Debt; (iv) take or omit to take any action as a result of which the subordination of such Subordinated Debt or any part thereof to the Notes might be terminated, impaired or adversely affected; or (v) omit to give the Lenders prompt written notice of any default under any agreement or instrument relating to such Subordinated Debt by reason whereof such Subordinated Debt might become or be declared to be immediately due and payable. Section 9.7 Restrictions on Nature of Business. The Borrower ----------------------------------- will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, change the nature of its business substantially, and will not engage, or permit any of its Subsidiaries to engage, in any line of business if, as a result thereof, the business of the Borrower and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, would not be predominantly the banking and thrift business (including activities deemed closely related to banking and/or thrift business by applicable regulatory authorities) as currently constituted. Section 9.8 Negative Pledges; Subsidiary Restrictions. The -------------------------------------------- Borrower will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary (including Bank Subsidiaries) to, enter into any agreement, bond, note or other instrument with or for the benefit of any Person other than the Lenders which would (i) prohibit the Borrower or such Subsidiary from granting, or otherwise limit the ability of the Borrower or such Subsidiary to grant, to the Lenders any Lien on any assets or properties of the Borrower or such Subsidiary (it being agreed, however, that nothing herein shall preclude the Bank Subsidiaries from granting security interests to secure deposits or secured obligations to a Federal Home Loan Bank), or (ii) require the Borrower or such Subsidiary to grant a Lien to any other Person if the Borrower or such Subsidiary grants any Lien to the Lenders. Except pursuant to any applicable law or regulation, the Borrower will not permit any Subsidiary to place or allow any restriction, directly or indirectly, on the ability of such Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or any distributions on or with respect to such Subsidiary's capital stock or (b) make loans or other cash payments to the Borrower. Section 9.9 Issuance of Additional Stock. Neither the Borrower ---------------------------- nor any Subsidiary whose shares are pledged pursuant to either the Borrower Pledge Agreement or the San Francisco Company Security Agreement will (and Borrower will not permit any of the same) to issue any additional shares of capital stock unless such additional shares are immediately pledged pursuant to the Borrower Pledge Agreement or the San Francisco Company Security Agreement, as applicable. Section 9.10 Regulatory Matters. Borrower shall not cease to be ------------------ registered as a bank holding company under the BHCA. First Bank shall not cease to be an insured depository institution as defined in the FDIA nor shall its deposits cease to be insured by the Bank Insurance Fund of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the maximum extent permitted under the FDIA. Section 9.11 Dividends. Neither Borrower nor any Subsidiary --------- shall pay any dividends or make any distribution in respect of its common or preferred stock (other than dividends payable in the payor's own common stock or dividends paid to Borrower) excepting only that (i) the Borrower may declare or pay cash dividends to holders of the common or preferred stock of Borrower provided the aggregate amount of all such cash dividends declared or paid in such fiscal year do not exceed 25% of Borrower's consolidated net income for the immediately preceding fiscal year and (ii) a trust issuer may pay distributions on both its trust preferred securities and its common securities, in each case in accordance with their respective terms; provided however that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no cash dividends or other distribution may be declared or paid if either a Default exists on the date of such declaration or payment or a Default will result therefrom. ARTICLE X. FINANCIAL COVENANTS Section 10.1 Total Risk Based Capital Ratio. The Borrower shall ------------------------------ maintain on a consolidated basis, and shall cause each Bank Subsidiary to maintain, its Total Risk Based Capital Ratio at not less than ten percent (10%), determined as of each quarter end. Section 10.2 Tier I Risk Based Capital Ratio. The Borrower shall ------------------------------- maintain on a consolidated basis, and shall cause each Bank Subsidiary to maintain, its Tier I Risk Based Capital Ratio at not less than six percent (6%), determined as of each quarter end. Section 10.3 Leverage Ratio. The Borrower shall maintain on a -------------- consolidated basis, and shall cause each Bank Subsidiary to maintain, a minimum Tier I Leverage Ratio of not less than 5%, determined as of each quarter end. Section 10.4 Minimum Return on Assets. The Borrower will ---------------------------- maintain (on a consolidated basis) its Return on Assets, determined as of each calendar quarter end, at not less than .70%. Section 10.5 Maximum Non-Performing Assets. The Borrower will ------------------------------ maintain on a consolidated basis, its Non-Performing Assets at an amount not greater than twenty percent (20%) of its Primary Equity Capital, determined as of the end of each calendar quarter. Section 10.6 Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses. The Borrower ------------------------------------ will maintain, on a consolidated basis, its allowance for loan and lease losses at not less than 100% of its Non-Performing Assets. The allowance for loan and lease losses at any time shall be the amount set forth in the most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q or annual report on Form 10-K filed by the Borrower with the SEC (or any successor report); provided however that if Borrower shall cease to be required to file quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and/or annual reports on Form 10-K, thereafter the allowance for loan and lease losses at any time shall be as set forth in Borrower's quarterly financial report, certified by Borrower's Chief Financial Officer, and annual audit report, certified by the auditor of such annual audit report. ARTICLE XI. EVENTS OF DEFAULT, RIGHTS AND REMEDIES Section 11.1 Events of Default. "Event of Default", wherever ------------------- used herein, means any one of the following events: (a) Default in the payment of principal of any Note when the same becomes due and payable. (b) Default in the payment of interest on any Note or of any fees or other amounts required to be paid under this Agreement, and the continuance of such default for a period of ten days or more. (c) Failure to pay when due any amount specified in Section 2.3.2 hereof relating to the Borrower's Obligation of Reimbursement, or failure to pay immediately when due any amounts required to be paid for deposit in the Special Account. (d) Default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Borrower contained in any Financial Covenant or in Article IX hereof. (e) Default in a material respect in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Borrower in this Agreement (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere specifically dealt with in this Section), and the continuance of such default or breach for a period of 30 days after the date on which an executive officer of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries first obtains knowledge of such default or breach. (f) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower in this Agreement or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) or any of its Subsidiaries (or any of its officers) in any other Loan Document, certificate, instrument, or statement contemplated by or made or delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made. (g) A default under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in excess of $2,000,000 (other than to the Lenders) or under any indenture or other instrument under which any such evidence of indebtedness has been issued or by which it is governed where a party thereto has the right to accelerate any indebtedness owing thereunder to such party from the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such default, or any default by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the payment of required principal or interest under any of the foregoing agreements or instruments. (h) An event of default shall occur under any security agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, assignment or other instrument or agreement directly or indirectly securing any Obligations of the Borrower hereunder or under any Note or under any guaranty of such Obligations. (i) Default in the payment of any amount in excess of $2,000,000 owed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries to any Lender other than hereunder or under the Notes and the expiration of the applicable period of grace, if any, with respect thereto; provided, however, that if such default shall be cured by the -------- ------- Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, as may be permitted by the terms of such indebtedness, or waived by the Lender holding such indebtedness, in each case prior to the commencement of any action under Section 11.2, then the Event of Default hereunder by reason of such default shall be deemed likewise to have been thereupon cured or waived. (j) The Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or admit in writing its inability to pay its debts as they mature, or make an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall apply for or consent to the appointment of any receiver, trustee, or similar officer for it or for all or any substantial part of its property; or such receiver, trustee or similar officer shall be appointed without the application or consent of the Borrower or its Subsidiary, as applicable, and such appointment shall continue undischarged for a period of thirty (30) days; or the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries shall institute (by petition, application, answer, consent or otherwise) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or similar proceeding relating to it under the laws of any jurisdiction; or any such proceeding shall be instituted (by petition, application or otherwise) against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and shall continue without dismissal for a period of thirty (30) calendar days; or any judgment, writ, warrant of attachment or execution or similar process shall be issued or levied against a substantial part of the property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries and such judgment, writ, or similar process shall not be released, vacated or fully bonded within thirty (30) days after its issue or levy. (k) A petition shall be filed by the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor; or an involuntary petition shall be filed against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries under the United States Bankruptcy Code, and such petition shall not have been dismissed within forty-five (45) days after the Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary has received notice of such filing; or an order for relief shall be entered in any case under the United States Bankruptcy Code naming the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries as debtor. (l) The rendering against the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries of a final judgment, decree or order for the payment of money in excess of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and the continuance of such judgment, decree or order unsatisfied and in effect for any period of thirty (30) consecutive days without a stay of execution or other similar relief. (m) A writ of attachment, garnishment, levy or similar process shall be issued against or served upon the Agent or any Lender with respect to (i) any property of the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries in the possession of the Agent or such Lender, or (ii) any indebtedness of the Agent or such Lender to the Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries, and the same shall not be lifted within 30 days. (n) A trustee shall have been appointed by an appropriate United States District Court to administer any Plan, or the PBGC, shall have instituted proceedings to terminate any Plan or to appoint a trustee to administer any Plan, or withdrawal liability shall have been asserted against the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate by a Multiemployer Plan; or the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate shall have incurred liability to the PBGC, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor or Plan participants in excess of $2,000,000 with respect to any Plan; or any Reportable Event that the Required Lenders may determine in good faith might constitute grounds for the termination of any Plan, for the appointment by the appropriate United States District Court of a trustee to administer any Plan or for the imposition of withdrawal liability with respect to a Multiemployer Plan, shall have occurred and be continuing thirty (30) days after written notice to such effect shall have been given to the Borrower by the Lenders. (o) The issuance against the Borrower or any Subsidiary of the Borrower (including without limitation, any Bank Subsidiary) of any informal or formal administrative action, temporary or permanent, by any federal or state regulatory agency having jurisdiction or control over the Borrower or such Subsidiary, such action taking the form of, but not limited to: (i) any directive citing conditions or activities deemed to be unsafe or unsound or breaches of fiduciary duty or law or regulation; (ii) a memorandum of understanding; (iii) a cease and desist order; (iv) the termination of insurance coverage of customer deposits by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; (v) the suspension or removal of an executive officer or director, or the prohibition of participation by any others in the business affairs of the Borrower or such Subsidiary; (vi) a capital maintenance agreement; or (vii) any other regulatory action, agreement or understanding involving safety or soundness issues with respect to the Borrower or such Subsidiary which the Required Lenders reasonably believe may have a material adverse effect on Borrower or any Subsidiary. An Event of Default under clause (vii) above shall occur only upon written notice to Borrower of the Required Lenders' determination. (p) James F. Dierberg, Mary W. Dierberg, members of their immediate family, and trusts, partnerships and other organizations of which they have effective voting Control shall cease to own in the aggregate at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting shares of the Borrower. Section 11.2 Rights and Remedies. Upon the occurrence of an ------------------- Event of Default or at any time thereafter until such Event of Default is cured to the written satisfaction of the Required Lenders, the Agent may, with the consent of the Required Lenders, and shall, upon written request of the Required Lenders: (a) By notice to the Borrower, declare the Commitments and the Agent's obligation to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate. (b) By notice to the Borrower, declare the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Notes, all such accrued interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower. (c) By notice to the Borrower, require the Borrower to pay to the Agent in immediately available funds, for deposit in the Special Account, an amount equal to the maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit then outstanding. (d) Without notice to the Borrower and without further action, apply (and direct each Lender to apply) any and all money owing by any Lender to the Borrower to the payment of the Notes then outstanding, including interest accrued thereon, and of all other Obligations. (e) Exercise any other rights and remedies available to the Agent and the Lenders by law or agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default described in Section 11.1(j) or (k) hereof, the entire unpaid principal amount of the Notes then outstanding, all interest accrued and unpaid thereon, and all other Obligations shall be immediately due and payable without presentment, demand, protest or notice of any kind. Section 11.3 Offset. In addition to the remedies set forth in ------ Section 11.2, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default and thereafter while the same be continuing, the Borrower hereby irrevocably authorizes each Lender to set off any Obligations owed to such Lender (including for this purpose all participations in Letters of Credit owned by such Lender) against all deposits and credits of the Borrower with, and any and all claims of the Borrower against, such Lender. Such right shall exist whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand hereunder or under any other Loan Document, whether or not the Obligations, or any part thereof, or deposits and credits held for the account of the Borrower is or are matured or unmatured, and regardless of the existence or adequacy of any collateral, guaranty or any other security, right or remedy available to such Lender or Lenders. Each Lender agrees that, as promptly as is reasonably possible after the exercise of any such setoff right, it shall notify the Borrower of its exercise of such setoff right; provided, -------- however, that the failure of such Lender to provide such notice shall not affect - ------- the validity of the exercise of such setoff rights. ARTICLE XII. THE AGENT Section 12.1 Authorization. Each Lender and the holder of each ------------- Note irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act on behalf of such Lender or holder to the extent provided herein or in any document or instrument delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, and to take such other action as may be reasonably incidental thereto. Section 12.2 Distribution of Payments and Proceeds. ------------------------------------- (a) After deduction of any costs of collection as hereinafter provided, the Agent shall remit to each Lender that Lender's Percentage of all payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts for the account of the Lenders that are received by the Agent under the Loan Documents. Each Lender's interest in the Loan Documents shall be payable solely from payments, collections and proceeds actually received by the Agent under the Loan Documents; and the Agent's only liability to the Lenders hereunder shall be to account for each Lender's Percentage of such payments, collections and proceeds in accordance with this Agreement. If the Agent is ever required for any reason to refund any such payments, collections or proceeds, each Lender will refund to the Agent, upon demand, its Percentage of such payments, collections or proceeds, together with its Percentage of interest or penalties, if any, payable by the Agent in connection with such refund. The Agent may, in its sole discretion, make payment to the Lenders in anticipation of receipt of payment from the Borrower. If the Agent fails to receive any such anticipated payment from the Borrower, each Lender shall promptly refund to the Agent, upon demand, any such payment made to it in anticipation of payment from the Borrower, together with interest for each day on such amount until so refunded at a rate equal to the Federal Funds Rate for each such date. (b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Lender has wrongfully refused to fund its Percentage of any Borrowing or other Advance as required hereunder, or if the principal balance of any Lender's Note is for any other reason less than its Percentage of the aggregate principal balances of the Notes then outstanding, the Agent may remit all payments received by it to the other Lenders until such payments have reduced the aggregate amounts owed by the Borrower to the extent that the aggregate amount owing to such Lender hereunder is equal to its Percentage of the aggregate amount owing to all of the Lenders hereunder. The provisions of this paragraph are intended only to set forth certain rules for the application of payments, proceeds and collections in the event that a Lender has breached its obligations hereunder and shall not be deemed to excuse any Lender from such obligations. Section 12.3 Expenses. All payments, collections and proceeds -------- received or effected by the Agent may be applied, first, to pay or reimburse the Agent for all costs, expenses, damages and liabilities at any time incurred by or imposed upon the Agent in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document (including but not limited to all reasonable attorney's fees, foreclosure expenses and advances made to protect the security of any Collateral). If the Agent does not receive payments, collections or proceeds sufficient to cover any such costs, expenses, damages or liabilities within thirty (30) days after their incurrence or imposition, each Lender shall, upon demand, remit to the Agent its Percentage of the difference between (i) such costs, expenses, damages and liabilities, and (ii) such payments, collections and proceeds. Section 12.4 Payments Received Directly by Lenders. If any ----------------------------------------- Lender or other holder of a Note shall obtain any payment or other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or otherwise) on account of principal of or interest on any Note other than through distributions made in accordance with Section 12.2, such Lender or holder shall promptly give notice of such fact to the Agent and shall purchase from the other Lenders or holders such participations in the Notes held by them as shall be necessary to cause the purchasing Lender or holder to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any -------- ------- portion of the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender or holder, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchasing Lender restored to the extent of such recovery (but without interest thereon). Section 12.5 Indemnification. The Agent shall not be required to --------------- do any act hereunder or under any other document or instrument delivered hereunder or in connection herewith or take any action toward the execution or enforcement of the agency hereby created, or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect of this Agreement or the Notes or any documents or instrument delivered hereunder or in connection herewith unless indemnified to its satisfaction by the holders of the Notes against loss, cost, liability and expense; provided, -------- however, that no Lender shall be obligated to indemnify the Agent for any - ------- portion of any such loss, cost, liability or expense resulting from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Agent. If any indemnity furnished to the Agent for any purpose shall, in the opinion of the Agent, be insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call for additional indemnity and not commence or cease to do the acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is furnished. Section 12.6 Limitations on Agent's Power. Notwithstanding any ---------------------------- other provision of this Agreement, the Agent shall not have the power, without the consent of all of the Lenders, to (i) forgive any indebtedness of the Borrower arising under this Agreement or the Notes, (ii) agree to reduce the rate of interest charged under this Agreement or the commitment or Letter of Credit fees payable under Sections 5.1 and 5.2, (iii) agree to extend the maturity or decrease the amount of any payment (whether of principal, interest, fees or otherwise) due under this Agreement or the Notes, (iv) release any Collateral from the Lien created by the Borrower Pledge Agreement or the San Francisco Company Security Agreement, or (v) amend the definition of "Required Lenders" in Section 1.1. In addition, in no event may the Agent increase the total Commitment Amount (being the aggregate sum of all Commitment Amounts of all Lenders) hereunder without the consent of all Lenders (except as otherwise provided for in Section 2.1.2) or increase or decrease the Commitment Amount of any given Lender without the consent of that Lender. Section 12.7 Exculpation. The Agent shall be entitled to rely ----------- upon advice of counsel concerning legal matters, and upon this Agreement, any Loan Document and any schedule, certificate, statement, report, notice or other writing which it believes to be genuine or to have been presented by a proper Person. Neither the Agent nor any of its directors, officers, employees or agents shall (a) be responsible for any recitals, representations or warranties contained in, or for the execution, validity, genuineness, effectiveness or enforceability of this Agreement, any Loan Document, or any other instrument or document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith, (b) be responsible for the validity, genuineness, perfection, effectiveness, enforceability, existence, value or enforcement of any collateral security, (c) be under any duty to inquire into or pass upon any of the foregoing matters, or to make any inquiry concerning the performance by the Borrower or any other obligor of its Obligations, or (d) in any event, be liable as such for any action taken or omitted by it or them, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The agency hereby created shall in no way impair or affect any of the rights and powers of, or impose any duties or obligations upon, the Agent in its individual capacity. Section 12.8 Agent and Affiliates. The Agent shall have the same -------------------- rights and powers hereunder in its individual capacity as any other Lender, and may exercise or refrain from exercising the same as though it were not the Agent, and the Agent and its affiliates may accept deposits from and generally engage in any kind of business with the Borrower as fully as if the Agent were not the Agent hereunder. Section 12.9 Credit Investigation. Each Lender acknowledges that -------------------- it has made such inquiries and taken such care on its own behalf as would have been the case had its Commitment been granted and the Advances made directly by such Lender to the Borrower without the intervention of the Agent or any other Lender. Each Lender agrees and acknowledges that the Agent makes no representations or warranties about the creditworthiness of the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any other party to this Agreement or with respect to the legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of this Agreement, any Loan Document, or any other instrument or document delivered hereunder or in connection herewith. Section 12.10 Resignation. The Agent may resign as such at any ----------- time upon at least thirty (30) calendar days' prior notice to the Borrower and the Lenders. In the event of any resignation of the Agent, the Required Lenders shall as promptly as practicable appoint a successor Agent. If no such successor Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders and shall have accepted such appointment within thirty (30) calendar days after the resigning Agent's giving of notice of resignation, then the resigning Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States of America or of any State thereof. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Agent hereunder by a successor Agent, such successor Agent shall thereupon be entitled to receive from the prior Agent such documents of transfer and assignment as such successor Agent may reasonably request and the resigning Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any resignation pursuant to this Section, the provisions of this Section shall inure to the benefit of the resigning Agent as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was an Agent hereunder. Section 12.11 Assignments. ----------- (a) No Lender may assign any of its rights or obligations under any Loan Document without the prior written consent of the Borrower and the Agent, which consent may not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that the consent of the -------- ------- Borrower shall not be required in connection with any such assignment made at any time when a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. Any assignment permitted hereunder shall be by written assignment agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Agent which assignment agreement shall be acknowledged by both Agent and Borrower. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes and the portion of the Commitment Amounts so assigned in any assignment shall be not less than $5,000,000, and the assigning Lender shall retain at least $5,000,000 of such Notes and Commitment Amounts for its own account; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall -------- ------- not apply to a Lender assigning its entire Note and Commitment Amount to a single institution. Simultaneously with each assignment of Notes and Commitment Amounts, the assigning Lender shall be deemed to have assigned a proportional share of its obligations and rights under Section 2.3.1(b). If the Agent and (if applicable) the Borrower so consent, then, from and after the effective date of any such assignment, the assignee thereunder (an "Additional Lender") shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such assignment, have the rights and obligations so assigned to it, and the assigning Lender shall, to the extent that rights and obligations have been assigned by it pursuant to such assignment, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement. Within five (5) Bank Business Days after any request of the Agent following such assignment of Notes and Commitment Amounts, the Borrower will execute and deliver to the Agent new Notes to the order of such assignee in amounts corresponding to the interest in the assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement acquired by such assignee pursuant to such assignment and, if the assigning Lender has retained an interest in such rights and obligations, new Notes to the order of the assigning Lender in amounts corresponding to such interests retained by it hereunder. Such new Notes shall be in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be replaced by such new Notes, shall be dated the effective date of such assignment and shall otherwise be in the form of the Notes to be replaced thereby. Such new Notes shall be issued in substitution for, but not in satisfaction or payment of, the Notes being replaced thereby. The Agent shall bear the cost of preparation of such new Notes. Upon the issuance of such new Notes, the term, "Notes," as used herein, shall include all such new Notes issued pursuant to this Section 12.11. (b) Any Lender making an assignment under this Section shall pay the Agent a transfer fee in the amount of $3,000 simultaneous with such assignment. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, any Lender may at any time create a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement and that Lender's Notes in favor of any Federal Reserve Bank in accordance with Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (d) Except as set forth in this Section 12.11 and the following Section 12.12, no Lender may assign any of its rights or obligations under any Loan Document. Section 12.12 Participations. In addition to the rights granted -------------- in Section 12.11, each Lender may grant participations in a portion of its Notes, Commitments and obligations under Section 2.3.1(b) to any institutional investor, without the consent of the Borrower or the Agent, but only so long as (except in the case of a participation granted to an affiliate of a Lender, in which case the limitation and qualification set forth in clause (a) and (b) below shall not apply): (a) Within five (5) Bank Business Days after granting any participation, such Lender gives the Agent and the Borrower notice of such participation, including the name, address and telecopier number of the participant and the amount of the Notes and Commitments covered by the participation; and (b) The principal amount of the participations so granted is no less than $5,000,000. No holder of any such participation, other than an affiliate of such Lender, shall be entitled to require such Lender to take or omit to take any action hereunder, except that such Lender may agree with such participant that such Lender will not, without such participant's consent, (i) forgive any indebtedness of the Borrower under this Agreement or the Notes, (ii) agree to reduce the rate of interest charged under this Agreement, or (iii) agree to extend the final maturity of any indebtedness evidenced by the Notes, except as expressly provided by the terms of the Loan Documents. No Lender shall, as between the Borrower and such Lender, be relieved of any of its obligations hereunder as a result of any such granting of a participation. The Borrower hereby acknowledges and agrees that any participant described in this Section will, for purposes of Section 11.3, be considered to be a Lender hereunder (provided that such participant shall not be entitled to receive any more than the Lender selling such participation would have received had such sale not taken place) and may rely on, and possess all rights under, any opinions, certificates, or other instruments or documents delivered under or in connection with any Loan Document. Except as set forth in this Section 12.12, no Lender may grant any participation in any Loan Document or Commitment. Section 12.13 Disclosure of Information. The Borrower authorizes ------------------------- each Lender and the Agent to disclose to any participant, assignee or Additional Lender (each, a "Transferee") and any prospective Transferee any and all financial and other information in the possession of the Agent or any Lender concerning the Borrower which has been delivered to the Agent or such Lender by the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or which has been delivered to the Agent or such Lender by the Borrower in connection with the credit evaluation of the Borrower by the Agent or such Lender prior to entering into this Agreement; provided, however, that prior to disclosing such information to a Transferee or - -------- ------- prospective Transferee, the applicable Lender shall obtain from such Transferee or prospective Transferee a confidentiality agreement agreeing that such information shall be used only in connection with such Person's evaluation and, if applicable, administration of its interest in this Agreement and the loans hereunder, and shall not be disclosed to any other Person, subject to exceptions permitting disclosure to regulators and auditors, disclosure as required by law or judicial process, and disclosure under such other limited circumstances as that Lender and such Transferee or prospective Transferee may reasonably agree. ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS Section 13.1 No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies. No failure or delay ------------------------------ on the part of the Lenders in exercising any right, power or remedy under the Loan Documents shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any Lender's acceptance of payments while any Default or Event of Default is outstanding operate as a waiver of such Default or Event of Default, or any right, power or remedy under the Loan Documents; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right, power or remedy preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy under the Loan Documents. The remedies provided in the Loan Documents are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. Section 13.2 Amendments, Etc. No amendment, modification, ----------------- termination or waiver of any provision of any Loan Document or consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Required Lenders (or, in the case of any action described in Section 12.6, the number of Lenders specified for the applicable action in such Section) and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on the Borrower in any case shall entitle the Borrower to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances. Section 13.3 Notice. Except as otherwise expressly provided ------ herein, all notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be (i) personally delivered, (ii) transmitted by registered mail, postage prepaid, (iii) sent by Federal Express or similar expedited delivery service, or (iv) transmitted by telecopy (followed, in the case of any notice from the Agent or a Lender to the Borrower, pursuant to any of Sections 11.2(a), 11.2(b) or 11.3, by a notice transmitted by registered mail, postage prepaid), in each case addressed to the party to whom notice is being given at its address as set forth by its signature below, or, if telecopied, transmitted to that party at its telecopier number set forth by its signature below; or, as to each party, at such other address or telecopier number as may hereafter be designated in a notice by that party to the other party complying with the terms of this Section. All such notices or other communications shall be deemed to have been given on (i) the date received if delivered personally, by mail, or by Federal Express or similar expedited delivery service, or (ii) the date of transmission if delivered by telecopy, except that notices or requests to the Agent or any Lender pursuant to any of the provisions of Article II shall not be effective until received. Section 13.4 Costs and Expenses. The Borrower agrees to pay on ------------------ demand (i) all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent in connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, administration or amendment of the Loan Documents and the other instruments and documents to be delivered hereunder and thereunder, including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Agent with respect thereto, whether paid to outside counsel or allocated by in-house counsel, and (ii) all costs and expenses incurred by the Agent or any Lender in connection with the enforcement of the Loan Documents, including the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Agent or any Lender with respect thereto, whether paid to outside counsel or allocated by in-house counsel. Section 13.5 Indemnification by Borrower. The Borrower hereby ---------------------------- agrees to indemnify the Agent and the Lenders and each officer, director, employee and agent thereof (herein individually each called an "Indemnitee" and collectively called the "Indemnitees") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees) and liabilities (all of the foregoing being herein called the "Indemnified Liabilities") incurred by an Indemnitee in connection with or arising out of the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the performance by the parties hereto of their respective obligations hereunder or the use of the proceeds of any Advance (including but not limited to any such loss, claim, damage, expense or liability arising out of any claim in which it is alleged that any "Environmental Law" has been breached with respect to any activity or property of the Borrower), except for any portion of such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities incurred solely as a result of the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the applicable Indemnitee or the breach of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by that Indemnitee. "Environmental Law" shall mean (i) any federal, state or local law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, legal doctrine, order, directive, executive or administrative order, judgment, decree, injunction, legal requirement or agreement with any governmental entity relating to (A) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (which includes, without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, structures, soil, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or to human health or safety as it relates to hazardous materials, or (B) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of, hazardous materials, in each case as amended and as now in effect, including, without limitation, the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (including, but not limited to, the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments thereto and Subtitle I relating to underground storage tanks), the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 as it relates to hazardous materials, the Federal Hazardous Substances Transportation Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act or any so-called "Superfund" or "Superlien" law, each as amended and as now or hereafter in effect, and (ii) any common law or equitable doctrine (including, without limitation, injunctive relief and tort doctrines such as negligence, nuisance, trespass and strict liability) that imposes liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as a result of the presence of or exposure to any hazardous material. If and to the extent that the foregoing indemnity may be unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower hereby agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction of each of the Indemnified Liabilities which is permissible under applicable law. All obligations provided for in this Section shall survive any termination of this Agreement. Section 13.6 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement and the -------------------------- other Loan Documents may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed and delivered shall be deemed to be an original and all of which counterparts of this Agreement or such other Loan Document, as the case may be, taken together, shall constitute but one and the same instrument. Section 13.7 Binding Effect, Assignment. The Loan Documents ---------------------------- shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower and the Lenders and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights thereunder or any interest therein without the prior written consent of each of the Lenders. Section 13.8 Governing Law. The Loan Documents shall be governed ------------- by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Missouri. Section 13.9 Consent to Jurisdiction/Jury Waiver. The Borrower ------------------------------------ and the Lenders each irrevocably (i) agree that any suit, action or other legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any other Loan Document may be brought in a court of record in Hennepin County in the State of Minnesota or in the Courts of the United States located in such State, (ii) consent to the jurisdiction of each such court in any suit, action or proceeding, (iii) waive any objection which they may have to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding in any such courts and any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum, and (iv) agree that a final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. The Borrower and Lender each waives the right to a trial by jury in any action based on or pertaining to this Agreement. Section 13.10 Severability of Provisions. Any provision of this --------------------------- Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable shall be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof. Section 13.11 Prior Agreements. This Agreement and the other Loan ---------------- Documents and related documents described herein restate and supersede in their entirety any and all prior agreements and understandings, oral or written, between any of the Lenders and the Borrower. Section 13.12 Headings. Article and Section headings in this -------- Agreement are included herein for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement for any other purpose. Section 13.13 No Oral Agreements. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS ------------------ TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE, REGARDLESS OF LEGAL THEORY UPON WHICH IT IS BASED THAT IS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT. TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWER) AND US (LENDERS AND AGENT) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENTS WE REACH COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT. [The balance of this page is intentionally left blank.] (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 1 of 9) 3089976.10 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized as of the date first above written. Address: FIRST BANKS, INC. 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Mail Code M1-199-014 Hazelwood, Missouri 63042 Attention: Lisa K. Vansickle By /s/ Lisa K. Vansickle Telecopier: (314) 592-6621 ------------------------------------- Its Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 1 of 9) Address: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL MAC N2790-142 ASSOCIATION, as Agent 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Attention: Catherine M. Morrissey Telecopier: (314) 863-6815 By /s/ Catherine M. Morrissey ------------------------------------ Its Senior Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 2 of 9) Address: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL MAC N2790-142 ASSOCIATION, as both a Lender and 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 as Swingline Lender St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Attention: Catherine M. Morrissey Telecopier: (314) 863-6815 By /s/ Catherine M. Morrissey ------------------------------------ Its Senior Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 3 of 9) Address: JP MORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. Commercial Banking JP Morgan Chase IL1-1110 120 South LaSalle, 3rd Floor Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: Kristin Paszcak Telecopier: (312) 661-9511 By /s/ Kristin M. Paszcak ------------------------------------ Its Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 4 of 9) Address: LASALLE BANK NATIONAL SSOCIATION One North Brentwood, Suite 950 Clayton, Missouri 63105 Attention: Robert J. Mathias By /s/ Robert J. Mathias Telecopier: (314) 621-1612 ------------------------------------ Its Senior Banker ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 5 of 9) Address: THE NORTHERN TRUST 50 South LaSalle Street, L-09 COMPANY Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: Lisa McDermott Telecopier: (312) 444-4906 By /s/ Lisa McDermott ------------------------------------ Its Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 6 of 9) Address: UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. 445 South Figureroa Street Los Angeles, California 90071 Attention: Dennis A. Cattell Telecopier: (213) 236-5548 By /s/ Dennis A. Cattell ------------------------------------ Its Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 7 of 9) Address: FIFTH THIRD BANK (CHICAGO) 222 South Riverside Plaza, 33rd Floor MD GRVR3B Chicago, Illinois 60606 Attention: Peter Caligiuri Telecopier: (312) 704-4115 By /s/ Peter Caligiuri ------------------------------------ Its Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 8 of 9) Address: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Correspondent Banking One U.S. Bank Plaza Mailcode: SL-MO-T11S St. Louis, Missouri 63101 Attention: Jaycee D. Greene Telecopier: (314) 418-2173 By /s/ Jaycee D. Greene ------------------------------------ Its Vice President ---------------------------------- (Signature Page to Secured Credit Agreement Page 9 of 9) EXHIBIT 1.1 A ADDITIONAL TERM NOTE $ St. Louis, Missouri --------------------- --------------, ------ For value received, the undersigned FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of _________________, a _____________ (the "Lender"), at the office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent (the "Agent") at Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or at any other place designated at any time in accordance with the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of _______________ Dollars ($______________) or, together with interest on the principal amount hereunder remaining unpaid from time to time (the "Principal Balance"), computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year, from the date hereof until this Note is fully paid. The interest on this Note shall be determined, with reference to the Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time) by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders thereunder (the "Credit Agreement"), as follows: (a) at the rate determined from time to time under the Credit Agreement; except (b) as of the date of this Note, the following listed Eurodollar Rates as applied to the listed portion(s) of the Principal Balance and the date such interest rates expire; provided, however that, in determining such Eurodollar Rate(s), the applicable Margin shall be determined in accordance with Section 4.7 of the Credit Agreement: Portion of the Date of Expiration of Eurodollar Rate Principal Balance Eurodollar Rate --------------- ----------------- --------------- <________> $<_______> ________________, 20___ <________> $<_______> ________________, 20___ This Note may be prepaid only in accordance with the Credit Agreement. The Principal Balance shall be payable in equal quarterly installments, based on a four-year straight line amortization schedule, with the first such installment due on the last day of the calendar quarter ending after the date hereof and a final payment equal to the entire remaining principal balance (and all accrued and unpaid interest and other sums due under the Credit Agreement in respect of this Note) due on this Note's Additional Term Loan Maturity Date, as defined in the Credit Agreement. This Note is issued pursuant, and is subject, to the Credit Agreement. This Note is an "Additional Term Note" referred to in the Credit Agreement. This Note is secured, among other things, pursuant to the several security agreements delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may now or hereafter be secured by one or more other security agreements or other instruments or agreements. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses in the event this Note is not paid when due, whether or not legal proceedings are commenced. Presentment or other demand for payment, notice of dishonor and protest are expressly waived. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By ________________________________ Its _______________________________ EXHIBIT 1.1 B BORROWER PLEDGE AGREEMENT This Agreement is made as of the 8th day of August, 2007, by and between FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri Corporation ("Debtor") and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Agent for the "Lenders" pursuant to the Secured Credit Agreement described below ("Secured Party"). RECITALS Debtor, Secured Party and certain financial institutions have executed a Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which such financial institutions (the "Lenders") have agreed to lend up to $125,000,000 to Debtor (with Debtor having the right to increase the credit facilities by an amount up to $25,000,000) and pursuant to which Secured Party has agreed to issue up to $5,000,000 in face amount of standby letters of credit for the account of Debtor. One condition to the Lenders' and Secured Party's commitments under the Credit Agreement is that Debtor execute, deliver and perform this Collateral Pledge Agreement, thereby granting a security interest to Secured Party, as agent for the Lenders, in the Collateral described herein. Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 1. Security Interest and Collateral. To secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of the "Obligations," as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement, Debtor hereby grants Secured Party (for its own account and as agent for the Lenders) a security interest (the "Security Interest") in (i) all of the capital stock of The San Francisco Company, a Delaware corporation, owned by Debtor, (ii) any capital stock that Debtor may hereafter acquire and deliver to Secured Party pursuant to Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement, and (iii) all proceeds of such capital stock and all other rights in connection with such property (collectively the "Collateral"). 2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Debtor represents, warrants and covenants that: (a) Debtor will join with Secured Party in taking any action required by Secured Party in order to perfect the Security Interest and to protect the rights and priorities of Secured Party with respect to the Collateral. To that end, Debtor has delivered to Secured Party certificates representing all of the shares of capital stock constituting Collateral and executed and delivered one blank stock power for each such certificate. Debtor will, at Secured Party's request at any one or more times (i) duly endorse, in blank, each and every additional security certificate and instrument constituting Collateral by signing on such certificate or instrument or by signing a separate document of assignment or transfer and deliver to Secured Party each and every such additional security certificate and instrument; (ii) join with Secured Party in executing any instructions or agreements with securities intermediaries for the purpose of obtaining control of any investment property that may hereafter constitute Collateral; and (iii) instruct the issuer of any security that may hereafter constitute Collateral to register such security in the name of Secured Party. (b) Debtor is the owner of the Collateral free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and restrictions except the Security Interest and any restrictive legend appearing on any security certificate or any instrument constituting Collateral. (c) Debtor will keep the Collateral free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and security interests, except the Security Interest. (d) Debtor will pay, when due, all taxes and other governmental charges levied or assessed upon or against any Collateral. (e) Debtor will upon receipt deliver to Secured Party all investment property distributed on account of Collateral, such as stock dividends and securities resulting from stock splits, reorganizations and recapitalizations. The Security Interest shall attach to all such proceeds. 3. Events of Default. The occurrence of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement shall be an Event of Default hereunder. 4. Remedies Upon Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, Secured Party may exercise any one or more of the rights and remedies specified in the Credit Agreement, and also any one or more of the following rights or remedies: (i) notify the obligor on or issuer of any Collateral or any securities intermediary to make payment to Secured Party of any amounts due or distributable on any Collateral, (ii) in Debtor's name or Secured Party's name enforce collection of any Collateral by suit or otherwise, or surrender, release or exchange all or any part of it, or compromise, extend or renew for any period any obligation evidenced by the Collateral, (iii) receive and keep in its possession or under its control subject to the Security Interest all proceeds of Collateral, except that any money received from the Collateral may, at Secured Party's option, be applied in reduction of the Obligations; (iv) exercise all voting and other rights as a holder of any Collateral; (v) exercise and enforce any or all rights and remedies available upon default to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code, including the right to (A) order any securities intermediary to sell any Collateral on any established market or over the counter or to cause any Collateral to be redeemed; (B) give any transfer or redemption order to any issuer of Collateral; or (C) offer and sell Collateral privately to purchasers who will agree to take the Collateral for investment and not with a view to distribution and who will agree to the imposition of restrictive legends on any certificates representing Collateral, and the right to arrange for a sale which would otherwise qualify as exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933; and if notice to Debtor of any intended disposition of Collateral or any other intended action is required by law in a particular instance, such notice shall be deemed commercially reasonable if given at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of intended disposition or other action; and (vi) exercise or enforce any or all other rights or remedies available to Secured Party by law or agreement against any Collateral, against Debtor or against any other person or property. 5. Secured Party's Duties. Secured Party's duty of care with respect to Collateral in its possession (as imposed by law) shall be deemed fulfilled if Secured Party exercises reasonable care in physically safekeeping such Collateral, or in the case of Collateral in the custody or possession of a securities intermediary or other third person, exercises reasonable care in the selection of the securities intermediary or other third person and Secured Party need not otherwise preserve, protect, insure or care for any Collateral. Secured Party shall not be obligated to preserve any rights Debtor may have against prior parties, to exercise at all or in any particular manner any voting rights which may be available with respect to any Collateral, to realize on the Collateral at all or in any particular manner or order, or to apply any cash proceeds of Collateral in any particular order of application. Regardless of the manner in which Secured Party chooses to exercise control over Collateral (whether by possession, by agreement with an issuer or Securities Intermediary, by transferring security entitlements into its own account, or otherwise), Secured Party shall not be deemed to be under any obligation to Debtor, whether as fiduciary, trustee, agent or otherwise, except the duty of good faith, the duties specifically imposed upon Secured Party by this Agreement, and the duties imposed upon it as a secured party by Articles 1, 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in Missouri. 6. Miscellaneous. Any disposition of Collateral in the manner provided in Section 4 shall be deemed commercially reasonable. This Agreement can be waived, modified, amended, terminated or discharged, and the Security Interest can be released, only explicitly in a writing signed by Secured Party. A waiver signed by Secured Party shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose given. Mere delay or failure to act shall not preclude the exercise or enforcement of any of Secured Party's rights or remedies. All rights and remedies of Secured Party shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently, at Secured Party's option, and the exercise or enforcement of any one such right or remedy shall neither be a condition to nor bar the exercise or enforcement of any other. All notices to be given to Debtor shall be deemed sufficiently given if delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to Debtor at the address set forth following its signature on the signature page of this Agreement or at the most recent address shown on Secured Party's records. Debtor will reimburse Secured Party for all expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by Secured Party in the protection, defense or enforcement of the Security Interest, including expenses incurred in any litigation or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Debtor and Secured Party and their successors and assigns and shall take effect when signed by Debtor and delivered to Secured Party, and Debtor waives notice of Secured Party's acceptance hereof. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of Missouri and, unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein which are defined in Articles 1, 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in Missouri, shall have the meanings therein stated. If any provision or application of this Agreement is held unlawful or unenforceable in any respect, such illegality or unenforceability shall not affect other provisions or applications which can be given effect, and this Agreement shall be construed as if the unlawful or unenforceable provision or application had never been contained herein or prescribed hereby. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the creation and payment of the Obligations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Debtor has executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC. By ------------------------------------------ Its ---------------------------------------- Address: 600 James S. McDonnell Blvd. Mail Code M1-199-014 Hazelwood, MO 63042-2302 EXHIBIT 1.1 C COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE This Compliance Certificate is being submitted on this ___ day of __________________, 200__, for the quarter ending on the ___ day of __________________, 200__, pursuant to the terms of the Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, (the "Credit Agreement"), as the same may be thereafter amended from time to time, among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the "Agent"), the Lenders that are parties thereto, and First Banks, Inc., as Borrower. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. The undersigned officers of First Banks, Inc. jointly and severally certify to the Lenders that as of the date hereof: A. The representations and warranties contained in Article VII of the Credit Agreement are correct as of the date hereof, except to the extent that the same relate specifically to an earlier date; B. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; C. Attached is an accurate listing of the current Subsidiaries of First Banks, Inc.; and D. The computation of Margin and L/C Margin and compliance with the covenants contained in Article X of the Credit Agreement are supported by the following: 4.7 Funded Debt Ratio
Revolving (i) First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) (2) Ratio of Loan L/C Term Loan Net Income for the quarter ended: Funded Debt (2) to (1) Margin Margin Margin - --------------------------------- ----------- ---------- ------ ------ ------ $ - -------------- -------------- - -------------- -------------- - -------------- -------------- - -------------- -------------- Total Net Income $ (1) % bp bp bp -------------- -------- ------- ------ ------ ----- 10.1 Total Risk Based Capital Ratio ------------------------------ (2) Weighted-Risk Assets and Off- Minimum (1) Balance Sheet Ratio of Ratio Total Capital Items (1) to (2) Permitted ------------- ----- ---------- --------- First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) % 10.0% ----------- --------- ---------- ----- First Bank % 10.0% ----------- --------- ---------- ----- 10.2 Tier I Risk Based Capital Ratio ------------------------------- (2) Weighted-Risk Assets and Off- Minimum (1) Balance Sheet Ratio of Ratio Tier I Capital Items (1) to (2) Permitted -------------- ----- ---------- --------- First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) % 6.0% ------------ --------- ---------- ---- First Bank % 6.0% ------------ --------- ---------- ---- 10.3 Leverage Ratio -------------- (1) (2) Ratio of Minimum Tier I Capital Average Total (1) to (2) Ratio -------------- ------------- ---------- Permitted Assets --------- ------ First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) % 5.0% ------------ ----------- ---------- ---- First Bank % 5.0% ------------ ----------- ---------- ---- 10.4 Minimum Return on Assets ------------------------ Minimum Net Income for the quarter ended: Average Total Ratio of Ratio - --------------------------------- Assets (2) (1) to (2) Permitted ----------- ---------- --------- First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) $ - -------------- --------------- - -------------- --------------- - -------------- --------------- - -------------- --------------- Total Net Income $ (1) % 0.70% --------------- --------- ---------- ----- 10.5 Non-Performing Assets --------------------- (1) (2) Maximum Non-Performing Primary Equity Ratio of Ratio Assets Capital (1) to (2) Permitted ------ ------- ---------- --------- First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) 20% ---------- --------- ---------- --- 10.6 Allowance for Loan and ----------------------- Lease Losses ------------ (1) Allowance for (2) Minimum Loan and Non-Performing Ratio of Ratio Lease Losses Assets (1) to (2) Permitted ------------ ------ ---------- --------- First Banks, Inc. (consolidated) % 100% ---------- ---------- ---------- ----
Signed as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC. By: --------------------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer By: --------------------------------------------------- Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer By: --------------------------------------------------- Senior Vice President By: --------------------------------------------------- Chief Credit Officer EXHIBIT 1.1 D INITIAL TERM LOAN NOTE $_________________ St. Louis, Missouri August 8, 2007 For value received, the undersigned FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay to the order of _________________, a _____________ (the "Lender"), at the office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent (the "Agent") at Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or at any other place designated at any time in accordance with the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of _______________ Dollars ($______________) or, together with interest on the principal amount hereunder remaining unpaid from time to time (the "Principal Balance"), computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year, from the date hereof until this Note is fully paid at the rate determined from time to time under the Secured Credit Agreement of even date herewith (as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time) by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders thereunder (the "Credit Agreement"). This Note may be prepaid only in accordance with the Credit Agreement. The Principal Balance shall be repaid in seven (7) equal calendar quarterly installments, beginning September 30, 2007, equal to _______________ Dollars ($______________), with a final payment equal to the entire remaining principal balance (and all accrued and unpaid interest and other sums due under the Credit Agreement in respect of this Note) due on this Note's Initial Term Loan Maturity Date, as defined in the Credit Agreement. This Note is issued pursuant, and is subject, to the Credit Agreement. This Note is an "Initial Term Loan Note" referred to in the Credit Agreement. This Note is secured, among other things, pursuant to the several security agreements delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may now or hereafter be secured by one or more other security agreements or other instruments or agreements. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses in the event this Note is not paid when due, whether or not legal proceedings are commenced. Presentment or other demand for payment, notice of dishonor and protest are expressly waived. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By ________________________________ Its _______________________________
EXHIBIT 1.1 E1 APPLICATION FOR STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT TO: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DATE FOR WELLS FARGO'S LETTER OF DOCUMENT USE ONLY CREDIT NO. TRACK NO. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPLICANT SIGNING BELOW HEREBY REQUESTS THAT WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ("WELLS FARGO") ISSUE IN WELLS FARGO'S NAME AN IRREVOCABLE STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT (THE "CREDIT") ON SUBSTANTIALLY THE TERMS BELOW AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED BELOW IN SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS, FORWARD THE CREDIT BY THE FOLLOWING MEANS TO THE BENEFICIARY DIRECTLY OR THROUGH A BANK SELECTED BY WELLS FARGO: |_| FULL CABLE/TELEX |_| COURIER |_| MAIL WITH BRIEF ADVICE BY CABLE/TELEX |_| MAIL |_| OTHER:____________ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ADVISING BANK: (If left blank, Wells Fargo may select) BENEFICIARY: (Name and Address) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARTY TO BE NAMED AS REQUESTING THE CREDIT: (Name and Address) AMOUNT: (In words) -------------------------------- --------------------------- (In figures) (Currency) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AVAILABILITY: Unless otherwise specified herein, the Credit is to EXPIRATION DATE:________________________________________ be available with Wells Fargo's issuing office by payment of draft(s)drawn at sight on Wells Fargo or, at Wells Fargo's option, PLACE OF EXPIRATION: Unless otherwise specified herein, with any bank(s) or with a bank nominated by Well s Fargo by the Credit is to expire at Wells Fargo's issuing office or, negotiation of drafts(s)drawn at sight on Wells Fargo. if the Credit is available with any bank(s) or with a specific bank other than Wells Fargo's issuing office, at such place as Wells Fargo shall elect. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DOCUMENT(S): Draft(s) are to be accompanied by: (Attached additional signed sheet(s), if necessary, and label as attachments to this Application.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ DRAWING(S): |_| Partial drawings are permitted. (More than one draft may be drawn and presented under the Credit.) |_| Only one draft may be drawn and presented under the Credit, and: |_| the draft must be for the full amount of the Credit. |_| the draft may be for less than the full amount of the Credit. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: (Attach additional signed sheet(s), if necessary, and label as attachments to this Application.) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSFERABILITY: (If not checked, the Credit will not be transferable.) |_| The Credit is to be transferable, with transfer charges for: |_| Applicant's account |_| Beneficiary's account - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INQUIRIES: Direct to: Telephone Number: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPLICANT'S AGREEMENT AND SIGNATURE: Applicant's signature here indicatesagreement to all the terms and conditions on this Application and Applicant's agreement that the Credit and its issuance will be governed by (1) the terms and conditions of the Standby Letter of Credit Agreement between Applicant and Wells Fargo and/or (2) any other agreement signed by Applicant pursuant to which the Credit is to be issued. This Application is signed by Applicant's duly authorized representative(s) on the date specified above. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ APPLICANT ADDRESS - -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE TITLE ADDRESS - -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE TITLE ADDRESS - ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (TO BE COMPLETED BY WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION) CREDIT ISSUANCE HAS BEEN APPROVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH WELLS FARGO'S CREDIT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ APPROVING OFFICER'S SIGNATURE APPROVING OFFICER'S NAME (Print) APPROVING OFFICER'S OFFICE (Print) AU MAC COMMITMENT NO. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PHONE AFS INTERFACE STANDALONE COLLATERAL PURPOSE DATE REQUIRED: TRANSACTION: CODE CODE YES |_| NO |_| YES |_| NO |_| - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: (Indicate any provisions applicable to the Credit different from those on Applicant's Relationship Management Instructions Form) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT 1.1 E2 STANDBY LETTER OF CREDIT AGREEMENT To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION Applicant hereby requests that you, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association ("Wells Fargo"), issue in your name one or more standby letters of credit pursuant to Applications for the issuance of such Credits and the terms and conditions of this Agreement. Each Credit will be issued at Applicant's request and for its account, and, unless otherwise specifically provided in any Loan Document, at your option. Applicant agrees that the terms and conditions in this Agreement shall apply to each Application and the Credit issued pursuant to each Application, and to transactions under each Application, each Credit and this Agreement. SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth after each term: "Agreement" means this --------- Standby Letter of Credit Agreement as it may be revised or amended from time to time. "Applicant" means collectively each person and/or entity signing this --------- Agreement as Applicant. "Application" means your printed form titled ----------- "Application For Standby Letter of Credit" or any other form acceptable to you on which Applicant applies for the issuance by you of a Credit and/or an application for amendment of a Credit or any combination of such applications, as the context may require. "Beneficiary" means the person or entity named on an ----------- Application as the beneficiary or any transferee of such beneficiary. "Collateral" means the Property, together with the proceeds of such Property, ---------- securing any or all of Applicant's obligations and liabilities at any time existing under or in connection with any L/C Document and/or any Loan Document. "Commission Fee" means the fee, computed at the commission fee rate specified by -------------- you or specified in any Loan Document, charged by you at the time or times specified by you on the amount of each Credit and on the amount of each increase in a Credit for the time period each Credit is outstanding. "Credit" means an ------ instrument or document titled "Irrevocable Standby Letter of Credit" or "Standby Letter of Credit", or any instrument or document whatever it is titled or whether or not it is titled functioning as a standby letter of credit, issued under or pursuant to an Application, and all renewals, extensions and amendments of such instrument or document. "Demand" means any sight draft, electronic or ------ telegraphic transmission or other written demand drawn or made, or purported to be drawn or made, under or in connection with any Credit. "Document" means any -------- instrument, statement, certificate or other document referred to in or related to any Credit or required by any Credit to be presented with any Demand. "Dollars" means the lawful currency at any time for the payment of public or ------- private debts in the United States of America. "Event of Default" means any of ---------------- the events set forth in Section 13 of this Agreement. "Expiration Date" means ---------------- the date any Credit expires. "Guarantor" means any person or entity guaranteeing --------- the payment and/or performance of any or all of Applicant's obligations under or in connection with any L/C Document and/or any Loan Document. "Holding Company" --------------- means any company or other entity directly or indirectly controlling you. "L/C --- Document" means this Agreement, each Application, each Credit, and each Demand. - -------- "Loan Document" means each and any promissory note, loan agreement, security -------------- agreement, pledge agreement, guarantee or other agreement or document executed in connection with, or relating to, any extension of credit under which any Credit is issued. "Maximum Rate" means the maximum amount of interest (as ------------- defined by applicable laws), if any, permitted to be paid, taken, reserved, received, collected or charged under applicable laws, as the same may be amended or modified from time to time. "Negotiation Fee" means the fee, computed at the --------------- negotiation fee rate specified by you or specified in any Loan Document, charged by you on the amount of each Demand paid by you or any other bank specified by you when each Demand is paid. "Payment Office" means the office specified by you -------------- or specified in any Loan Document as the office where reimbursements and other payments under or in connection with any L/C Document are to be made by Applicant. "Prime Rate" means the rate of interest most recently announced ----------- within Wells Fargo at its principal office as its Prime Rate, with the understanding that the Prime Rate is one of Wells Fargo's base rates and serves as the basis upon which effective rates of interest are calculated for those loans making reference thereto, and is evidenced by the recording thereof after its announcement in such internal publication or publications as Wells Fargo may designate. "Property" means all forms of property, whether tangible or -------- intangible, real, personal or mixed. "Rate of Exchange" means Wells Fargo's then ---------------- current selling rate of exchange in San Francisco, California for sales of the currency of payment of any Demand, or of any fees or expenses or other amounts payable under this Agreement, for cable transfer to the country of which such currency is the legal tender. "UCP" means the Uniform Customs and Practice for --- Documentary Credits, an International Chamber of Commerce publication, or any substitution therefor or replacement thereof. "Unpaid and Undrawn Balance" means -------------------------- at any time the entire amount which has not been paid by you under all the Credits issued for Applicant's account, including, without limitation, the amount of each Demand on which you have not yet effected payment as well as the amount undrawn under all such Credits. "Wells Fargo & Company" means Wells Fargo --------------------- & Company, a Delaware corporation. SECTION 2. HONORING DEMANDS AND DOCUMENTS. You may receive, accept and honor, as complying with the terms of any Credit, any Demand and any Documents accompanying such Demand, provided that such Demand and accompanying Documents appear on their face to comply substantially with the provisions of such Credit and are, or appear on their face to be, signed or issued by (a) a person or entity authorized under such Credit to draw, sign or issue such Demand and accompanying Documents, or (b) an administrator, executor, trustee in bankruptcy, debtor in possession, assignee for the benefit of creditors, liquidator, receiver or other legal representative or successor in interest by operation of law of any such person or entity. SECTION 3. REIMBURSEMENT FOR PAYMENT OF DEMANDS. Applicant shall reimburse you for all amounts paid by you on each Demand, including, without limitation, all such amounts paid by you to any paying, negotiating or other bank. If in connection with the issuance of any Credit, you agree to pay any other bank the amount of any payment or negotiation made by such other bank under such Credit upon your receipt of a cable, telex or other written telecommunication advising you of such payment or negotiation, or authorize any other bank to debit your account for the amount of such payment or negotiation, Applicant agrees to reimburse you for all such amounts paid by you, or debited to your account with such other bank, even if any Demand or Document specified in such Credit fails to arrive in whole or in part or if, upon the arrival of any such Demand or Document, the terms of such Credit have not been complied with or such Demand or Document does not conform to the requirements of such Credit or is not otherwise in order. SECTION 4. FEES AND EXPENSES. Applicant agrees to pay to you (a) all Commission Fees, Negotiation Fees, cable fees, amendment fees, non-usance fees, and cancellation fees of, and all out-of-pocket expenses incurred by, you under or in connection with any L/C Document, and (b) all fees and charges of banks or other entities other than you under or in connection with any L/C Document if any Application (i) does not indicate who will pay such fees and charges, (ii) indicates that such fees and charges are to be paid by Applicant, or (iii) indicates that such fees and charges are to be paid by the Beneficiary and the Beneficiary does not, for any reason whatsoever, pay such fees or charges. There shall be no refund of any portion of any Commission Fee in the event any Credit is used, reduced, amended, modified or terminated before its Expiration Date. SECTION 5. DEFAULT INTEREST. Unless otherwise specified in any Loan Document, or on an Application and agreed to by you, all amounts to be reimbursed by Applicant to you, and all fees and expenses to be paid by Applicant to you, and all other amounts due from Applicant to you under or in connection with any L/C Documents, will bear interest (to the extent permitted by law), payable on demand, from the date you paid the amounts to be reimbursed or the date such fees, expenses and other amounts were due until such amounts are paid in full, at a rate per annum (computed on the basis of a 360-day year, actual days elapsed) which is the lesser of (a) two percent (2%) above the Prime Rate in effect from time to time, or (b) the Maximum Rate. SECTION 6. TIME AND METHOD OF REIMBURSEMENT AND PAYMENT. Unless otherwise specified in this Section, in any Loan Document, or on an Application and agreed to by you, all amounts to be reimbursed by Applicant to you, all fees and expenses to be paid by Applicant to you, and all interest and other amounts due to you from Applicant under or in connection with any L/C Documents will be reimbursed or paid at the Payment Office in Dollars in immediately available funds without setoff or counterclaim (i) on demand or, (ii) at your option by your debiting any of Applicant's accounts with you, with each such debit being made without presentment, protest, demand for reimbursement or payment, notice of dishonor or any other notice whatsoever, all of which are hereby expressly waived by Applicant. Each such debit will be made at the time each Demand is paid by you or, if earlier, at the time each amount is paid by you to any paying, negotiating or other bank, or at the time each fee and expense is to be paid or any interest or other amount is due under or in connection with any L/C Documents. If any Demand or any fee, expense, interest or other amount payable under or in connection with any L/C Documents is payable in a currency other than Dollars, Applicant agrees to reimburse you for all amounts paid by you on such Demand, and/or to pay you all such fees, expenses, interest and other amounts, in one of the three following ways, as determined by you in your sole discretion in each case: (a) at such place as you shall direct, in such other currency; or (b) at the Payment Office in the Dollar equivalent of the amount of such other currency calculated at the Rate of Exchange on the date determined by you in your sole discretion; or (c) at the Payment Office in the Dollar equivalent, as determined by you (which determination shall be deemed correct absent manifest error), of such fees, expenses, interest or other amounts or of the actual cost to you of paying such Demand. Applicant assumes all political, economic and other risks of disruptions or interruptions in any currency exchange. SECTION 7. AGREEMENTS OF APPLICANT. Applicant agrees that (a) unless otherwise specifically provided in any Loan Document, you shall not be obligated at any time to issue any Credit for Applicant's account; (b) unless otherwise specifically provided in any Loan Document, if any Credit is issued by you for Applicant's account, you shall not be obligated to issue any further Credit for Applicant's account or to make other extensions of credit to Applicant or in any other manner to extend any financial consideration to Applicant; (c) you have not given Applicant any legal or other advice with regard to any L/C Document or Loan Document; (d) if you at any time discuss with Applicant the wording for any Credit, any such discussion will not constitute legal or other advice by you or any representation or warranty by you that any wording or Credit will satisfy Applicant's needs; (e) Applicant is responsible for the wording of each Credit, including, without limitation, any drawing conditions, and will not rely on you in any way in connection with the wording of any Credit or the structuring of any transaction related to any Credit; (f) Applicant, and not you, is responsible for entering into the contracts relating to the Credits between Applicant and the Beneficiaries and for causing Credits to be issued; (g) you may, as you deem appropriate, modify or alter and use in any Credit the terminology contained on the Application for such Credit; (h) unless the Application for a Credit specifies whether the Documents to be presented with a Demand under such Credit must be sent to you in one parcel or in two parcels or may be sent to you in any number of parcels, you may, if you so desire, make such determination and specify in the Credit whether such Documents must be sent in one parcel or two parcels or may be sent in any number of parcels; (i) you shall not be deemed Applicant's agent or the agent of any Beneficiary or any other user of any Credit, and neither Applicant, nor any Beneficiary nor any other user of any Credit shall be deemed your agent; (j) Applicant will promptly examine all Documents and each Credit if and when they are delivered to Applicant and, in the event of any claim of noncompliance of any Documents or any Credit with Applicant's instructions or any Application, or in the event of any other irregularity, Applicant will promptly notify you in writing of such noncompliance or irregularity; (k) all directions and correspondence relating to any L/C Document are to be sent at Applicant's risk; (l) if any Credit has a provision concerning the automatic extension of its Expiration Date, you may, at your sole option, give notice of nonrenewal of such Credit and if Applicant does not at any time want such Credit to be renewed Applicant will so notify you at least fifteen (15) calendar days before you are to notify the Beneficiary of such Credit or any advising bank of such nonrenewal pursuant to the terms of such Credit; (m) Applicant will not seek to obtain, apply for, or acquiesce in any temporary or permanent restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, permanent injunction or any other pretrial or permanent injunctive or similar relief, restraining, prohibiting or enjoining you, any of your correspondents or any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank from paying or negotiating any Demand or honoring any other obligation under or in connection with any Credit; and (n) except for Applicant's obligations specifically affected by the actions referred to in subsection (vi) of this Section 7(n), Applicant's obligations under or in connection with each L/C Document and Loan Document shall be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of each such L/C Document and Loan Document under all circumstances whatsoever, including, without limitation, the following circumstances, the circumstances listed in Section 12(b) through (dd) of this Agreement, and any other event or circumstance similar to such circumstances: (A) any lack of validity or enforceability of any L/C Document, any Loan Document, any Document or any agreement relating to any of the foregoing; (B) any amendment of or waiver relating to, or any consent to or departure from, any L/C Document, any Loan Document or any Document; (C) any release or substitution at any time of any Property held as Collateral; (D) your failure to deliver to Applicant any Document you have received with a drawing under a Credit because doing so would, or is likely to, violate any law, rule or regulation of any government authority; (E) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which Applicant may have at any time against you or any Beneficiary (or any person or entity for whom any Beneficiary may be acting) or any other person or entity, whether under or in connection with any L/C Document, any Loan Document, any Document or any Property referred to in or related to any of the foregoing or under or in connection with any unrelated transaction; (F) any breach of contract or other dispute between or among any two or more of you, Applicant, any Beneficiary, any transferee of any Beneficiary, any person or entity for whom any Beneficiary or any transferee of any Beneficiary may be acting, or any other person or entity; or (G) any delay, extension of time, renewal, compromise or other indulgence granted or agreed to by you with or without notice to Applicant, or Applicant's approval, in respect of any of Applicant's indebtedness or other obligations to you under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document. SECTION 8. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS. Applicant represents and warrants to you that no Application, Credit or transaction under any Application and/or Credit will contravene any law or regulation of the government of the United States or any state thereof. Applicant agrees (a) to comply with all federal, state and foreign exchange regulations and other government laws and regulations now or hereafter applicable to any L/C Document, to any payments under or in connection with any L/C Document, to each transaction under or in connection with any L/C Document, or to the import, export, shipping or financing of the Property referred to in or shipped under or in connection with any Credit, and (b) to reimburse you for such amounts as you may be required to expend as a result of such laws or regulations, or any change therein or in the interpretation thereof by any court or administrative or government authority charged with the administration of such laws or regulations. SECTION 9. TAXES, RESERVES AND CAPITAL ADEQUACY REQUIREMENTS. In addition to, and notwithstanding any other provision of any L/C Document or any Loan Document, in the event that any law, treaty, rule, regulation, guideline, request, order, directive or determination (whether or not having the force of law) of or from any government authority, including, without limitation, any court, central bank or government regulatory authority, or any change therein or in the interpretation or application thereof, (a) does or shall subject you to any tax of any kind whatsoever with respect to the L/C Documents, or change the basis of taxation of payments to you of any amount payable thereunder (except for changes in the rate of tax on your net income); (b) does or shall impose, modify or hold applicable any reserve, special deposit, assessment, compulsory loan, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insurance or similar requirement against assets held by, deposits or other liabilities in or for the account of, advances or loans by, other credit extended by or any other acquisition of funds by, any of your offices; (c) does or shall impose, modify or hold applicable any capital adequacy requirements (whether or not having the force of law); or (d) does or shall impose on you any other condition; and the result of any of the foregoing is (i) to increase the cost to you of issuing or maintaining any Credit or of performing any transaction under any L/C Document, (ii) to reduce any amount receivable by you under any L/C Document, or (iii) to reduce the rate of return on your capital or the capital of the Holding Company to a level below that which you or the Holding Company could have achieved but for any imposition, modification or application of any capital adequacy requirement (taking into consideration your policy and the policy of the Holding Company, as the case may be, with respect to capital adequacy), and any such increase or reduction is material (as determined by you or the Holding Company, as the case may be, in your or the Holding Company's sole discretion); then, in any such case, Applicant agrees to pay to you or the Holding Company, as the case may be, such amount or amounts as may be necessary to compensate you or the Holding Company for (A) any such additional cost, (B) any reduction in the amount received by you under any L/C Document, or (C) to the extent allocable (as determined by you or the Holding Company, as the case may be, in your or the Holding Company's sole discretion) to any L/C Document, any reduction in the rate of return on your capital or the capital of the Holding Company. SECTION 10. COLLATERAL. In addition to, and not in substitution for, any Property delivered, conveyed, transferred or assigned to you under any Loan Document as security for any or all of Applicant's obligations and liabilities to you at any time existing under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document, Applicant grants to you a security interest in and to the following Collateral, whether or not any such Collateral is in your possession or control or the possession or control of your agents or correspondents or in transit to, or set apart for, you or your agents or correspondents, until such time as all Applicant's obligations and liabilities to you at any time existing under or in connection with each L/C Document and each Loan Document have been fully paid and discharged, all as security for such obligations and liabilities, (a) all Applicant's property, claims, demands, right, title and interest in and to the balance of each of Applicant's deposit accounts with you now or at any time hereafter existing, and all evidences of such deposit accounts, (b) all Property belonging to Applicant or in which it may have an interest, now or at any time hereafter delivered, conveyed, transferred, assigned, pledged or paid to you or your agents or correspondents in any manner whatsoever, whether as security or for safekeeping or otherwise, including, without limitation, any items received for collection or transmission, and the proceeds of such items, whether or not such Property is in whole or in part released to Applicant on trust or bailee receipt or otherwise, and (c) where Applicant is more than one person or entity, all right, title and interest of each of Applicants in and to all the Property which any of Applicants may now or hereafter obtain as security for the obligations of any one or more of Applicants to one or more of the others of Applicants arising under or in connection with the transaction to which any Credit relates. Further, in addition to, and not in substitution for, any Property delivered, conveyed, transferred or assigned to you under any Loan Document as security for any or all of Applicant's obligations and liabilities to you at any time existing under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document, Applicant agrees to deliver, convey, transfer and assign to you on demand, as security, Property of a value and character satisfactory to you, (i) if you at any time feel insecure about Applicant's ability or willingness to repay any amounts which you have paid or may pay in the future on any Demand or in honoring any other of your obligations under or in connection with any Credit, or (ii) without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if any temporary or permanent restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction, or any other pretrial or permanent injunctive or similar relief is obtained restraining, prohibiting or enjoining you, any of your correspondents, or any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank from paying or negotiating any Demand or honoring any other obligation under or in connection with any Credit. Applicant agrees that the receipt by you or any of your agents or correspondents at any time of any kind of security, including, without limitation, cash, shall not be deemed a waiver of any of your rights or powers under this Agreement. Applicant agrees to sign and deliver to you on demand, all such deeds of trust, security agreements, financing statements and other documents as you shall at any time request which are necessary or desirable (in your sole opinion) to grant to you an effective and perfected security interest in and to any or all of the Collateral. Applicant agrees to pay all filing and recording fees related to the perfection of any security interest granted to you in accordance with this Section. Applicant hereby agrees that any or all of the Collateral may be held and disposed of as provided in this Agreement by you. Upon any transfer, sale, delivery, surrender or endorsement of any Document or Property which is or was part of the Collateral, Applicant will indemnify and hold you and your agents and correspondents harmless from and against each and every claim, demand, action or suit which may arise against you or any of your agents or correspondents by reason of such transfer, sale, delivery, surrender or endorsement. SECTION 11. INDEMNIFICATION. Except to the extent caused by your lack of good faith, and notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Applicant agrees to reimburse and indemnify you for (a) all amounts paid by you to any Beneficiary under or in connection with any guarantee or similar undertaking issued by such Beneficiary to a third party at Applicant's request, whether such request is communicated directly by Applicant or through you to such Beneficiary; and (b) all damages, losses, liabilities, actions, claims, suits, penalties, judgments, obligations, costs or expenses, of any kind whatsoever and howsoever caused, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and interest, paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, you directly or indirectly arising out of or in connection with (i) any L/C Document, any Loan Document, any Document or any Property referred to in or related to any Credit; (ii) Applicant's failure to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement; (iii) the issuance of any Credit; (iv) the transfer of any Credit; (v) any guarantee or similar undertaking, or any transactions thereunder, issued by any Beneficiary to a third party at Applicant's request, whether such request is communicated directly by Applicant or through you to such Beneficiary; (vi) any communication made by you, on Applicant's instructions, to any Beneficiary requesting that such Beneficiary issue a guarantee or similar undertaking to a third party or the issuance of any such guarantee or similar undertaking; (vii) the collection of any amounts Applicant owes to you under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document; (viii) the foreclosure against, or other enforcement of, any Collateral; (ix) the protection, exercise or enforcement of your rights and remedies under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document; (x) any court decrees or orders, including, without limitation, temporary or permanent restraining orders, preliminary or permanent injunctions, or any other pretrial or permanent injunctive or similar relief, restraining, prohibiting or enjoining or seeking to restrain, prohibit or enjoin you, any of your correspondents or any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank from paying or negotiating any Demand or honoring any other obligation under or in connection with any Credit; or (xi) any Credit being governed by laws or rules other than the UCP in effect on the date such Credit is issued. The indemnity provided in this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement and the expiration or cancellation of any or all the Credits. SECTION 12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, neither you nor any of your agents or correspondents will have any liability to Applicant for any action, neglect or omission, if done in good faith, under or in connection with any L/C Document, Loan Document or Credit, including, without limitation, the issuance or any amendment of any Credit, the failure to issue or amend any Credit, or the honoring or dishonoring of any Demand under any Credit, and such good faith action, neglect or omission will bind Applicant. Notwithstanding any other provision of any L/C Document, in no event shall you or your officers or directors be liable or responsible, regardless of whether any claim is based on contract or tort, for (a) any special, consequential, indirect or incidental damages, including, without limitation, lost profits, arising out of or in connection with the issuance of any Credit or any action taken or not taken by you in connection with any L/C Document, any Loan Document, or any Document or Property referred to in or related to any Credit; (b) the honoring of any Demand in accordance with any order or directive of any court or government or regulatory body or entity requiring such honor despite any temporary restraining order, restraining order, preliminary injunction, permanent injunction or any type of pretrial or permanent injunctive relief or any similar relief, however named, restraining, prohibiting or enjoining such honor; (c) the dishonoring of any Demand in accordance with any legal or other restriction in force at the time and in the place of presentment or payment; (d) verifying the existence or reasonableness of any act or condition referenced, or any statement made, in connection with any drawing or presentment under any Credit; (e) the use which may be made of any Credit; (f) the validity of any purported transfer of any Credit or the identity of any purported transferee of any Beneficiary; (g) any acts or omissions of any Beneficiary or any other user of any Credit; (h) the form, validity, sufficiency, correctness, genuineness or legal effect of any Demand or any Document, or of any signatures or endorsements on any Demand or Document, even if any Demand or any Document should in fact prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (i) payment by you of any Demand when the Demand and any accompanying Documents appear on their face to comply substantially with the terms of the Credit to which they relate or dishonor by you of any Demand when the Demand and any accompanying Documents do not strictly comply on their face with the terms of the Credit to which they relate; (j) the failure of any Demand or Document to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Credit to which it relates; (k) the failure of any Document to accompany any Demand; (l) the failure of any person or entity to note the amount of any Demand on the Credit to which it relates or on any Document; (m) the failure of any person or entity to surrender or take up any Credit; (n) the failure of any Beneficiary to comply with the terms of any Credit or to meet the obligations of such Beneficiary to Applicant; (o) the failure of any person or entity to send or forward Documents if and as required by the terms of any Credit; (p) any errors, inaccuracies, omissions, interruptions or delays in transmission or delivery of any messages, directions or correspondence by mail, cable, telegraph, wireless or otherwise, whether or not they are in cipher; (q) any notice of nonrenewal of a Credit sent by you not being received on time or at any time by the Beneficiary of such Credit; (r) any inaccuracies in the translation of any messages, directions or correspondence; (s) any Beneficiary's use of the proceeds of any Demand; (t) any Beneficiary's failure to repay to you or Applicant the proceeds of any Demand if the terms of any Credit require such repayment; or (u) any act, error, neglect, default, negligence, gross negligence, omission, willful misconduct, lack of good faith, insolvency or failure in business of any of your agents or correspondents or of any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank. The occurrence of any one or more of the contingencies referred to in the preceding sentence shall not affect, impair or prevent the vesting of your rights or powers under this Agreement or any Loan Document or Applicant's obligation to make reimbursement or payment to you under this Agreement or any Loan Document. The provisions of this Section will survive the termination of this Agreement and any Loan Documents and the expiration or cancellation of any or all the Credits. SECTION 13. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. Each of the following shall constitute an Event of Default under this Agreement: (a) Applicant's or any Guarantor's failure to pay any principal, interest, fee or other amount when due under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document; (b) Applicant's failure to deliver to you Property of a value and character satisfactory to you at any time you have demanded security from Applicant pursuant to Section 10 of this Agreement; (c) the occurrence and continuance of any default or defined event of default under any Loan Document or any other agreement, document or instrument signed or made by Applicant or any Guarantor in your favor; (d) Applicant's or any Guarantor's failure to perform or observe any term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement or any Loan Document (other than those referred to in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this Section, or the breach of any other obligation owed by Applicant or any Guarantor to you, and any such failure or breach shall be impossible to remedy or shall remain unremedied for thirty (30) calendar days after such failure or breach occurs; (e) any representation, warranty or certification made or furnished by Applicant or any Guarantor under or in connection with any L/C Document, any Loan Document or any Collateral, or as an inducement to you to enter into any L/C Document or Loan Document or to accept any Collateral, shall be materially false, incorrect or incomplete when made; (f) any material provision of this Agreement or any Loan Document shall at any time for any reason cease to be valid and binding on Applicant or any Guarantor or shall be declared to be null and void, or the validity or enforceability thereof shall be contested by Applicant, any Guarantor or any government agency or authority, or Applicant or any Guarantor shall deny that it has any or further liability or obligation under this Agreement or any Loan Document; (g) Applicant's or any Guarantor's failure to pay or perform when due any indebtedness or other obligation Applicant or such Guarantor has to any person or entity other than you if such failure gives the payee of such indebtedness or the beneficiary of the performance of such obligation the right to accelerate the time of payment of such indebtedness or the performance of such obligation; (h) any guarantee of, or any security covering, any of Applicant's indebtedness to you arising under or in connection with any L/C Document or any Loan Document fails to be in full force and effect at any time; (i) any material adverse change in Applicant's or any Guarantor's financial condition; (j) Applicant or any Guarantor suspends the transaction of its usual business or is expelled or suspended from any exchange; (k) Applicant or any Guarantor dies or is incapacitated; (l) Applicant or any Guarantor dissolves or liquidates; (m) Applicant or any Guarantor is not generally paying its debts as they become due; (n) Applicant or any Guarantor becomes insolvent, however such insolvency may be evidenced, or Applicant or any Guarantor makes any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (o) a petition is filed by or against Applicant or any Guarantor seeking Applicant's or such Guarantor's liquidation or reorganization under the Bankruptcy Reform Act, Title 11 of the United States Code, as amended or recodified from time to time, or a similar action is brought by or against Applicant or any Guarantor under any federal, state or foreign law; (p) a proceeding is instituted by or against Applicant or any Guarantor for any relief under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other law relating to the relief of debtors, reorganization, readjustment or extension of indebtedness or composition with creditors; (q) a custodian or a receiver is appointed for, or a writ or order of attachment, execution or garnishment is issued, levied or made against, any of Applicant's or any Guarantor's Property or assets; (r) an application is made by any of Applicant's or any Guarantor's judgment creditors for an order directing you to pay over money or to deliver other of Applicant's or such Guarantor's Property; or (s) any government authority or any court takes possession of any substantial part of Applicant's or any Guarantor's Property or assets or assumes control over Applicant's or any Guarantor's affairs. SECTION 14. REMEDIES. Upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default all amounts paid by you on any Demand which have not previously been repaid to you, together with all interest on such amounts, and the Unpaid and Undrawn Balance, if any, shall automatically be owing by Applicant to you and shall be due and payable by Applicant on demand without presentment or any other notice of any kind, including, without limitation, notice of nonperformance, notice of protest, protest, notice of dishonor, notice of intention to accelerate, or notice of acceleration, all of which are expressly waived by Applicant. Upon payment of the Unpaid and Undrawn Balance to you Applicant shall have no further legal or equitable interest therein, and you will not be required to segregate on your books or records the Unpaid and Undrawn Balance paid by Applicant. After you receive the Unpaid and Undrawn Balance, you agree to pay to Applicant, upon termination of all of your liability under all the Credits and Demands, a sum equal to the amount which has not been drawn under all the Credits less all amounts due and owing to you from Applicant under or in connection with the L/C Documents and the Loan Documents. Further, upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, you may sell immediately, without demand for payment, advertisement or notice to Applicant, all of which are hereby expressly waived, any and all Collateral, received or to be received, at private sale or public auction or at brokers' board or upon any exchange or otherwise, at your option, in such parcel or parcels, at such times and places, for such prices and upon such terms and conditions as you may deem proper, and you may apply the net proceeds of each sale, together with any sums due from you to Applicant, to the payment of any and all obligations and liabilities due from Applicant to you under or in connection with the L/C Documents and the Loan Documents, all without prejudice to your rights against Applicant with respect to any and all such obligations and liabilities which may be or remain unpaid. If any such sale be at brokers' board or at public auction or upon any exchange, you may yourself be a purchaser at such sale free from any right of redemption, which Applicant hereby expressly waive and release. All your rights and remedies existing under the L/C Documents and the Loan Documents are in addition to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available to you under applicable law. In addition to any rights now or hereafter granted under applicable law, and not by way of limitation of any such rights, upon the occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, Applicant hereby authorizes you at any time or from time to time, without notice to Applicant or to any other person (any such notice being hereby expressly waived by Applicant) and to the extent permitted by law, to appropriate and to apply any and all Applicant's deposits (general or special, including, without limitation, indebtedness evidenced by certificates of deposit) with you or elsewhere, whether matured or unmatured, and any other indebtedness at any time held or owing by you to or for Applicant's credit or its account, against and on account of Applicant's obligations and liabilities to you under or in connection with any of the L/C Documents or the Loan Documents, irrespective of whether or not you shall have made any demand for payment of any or all such obligations and liabilities or declared any or all such obligations and liabilities to be due and payable, and although any or all such obligations and liabilities shall be contingent or unmatured. SECTION 15. WAIVERS. No delay, extension of time, renewal, compromise or other indulgence which may occur or be granted by you under any L/C Document or any Loan Document shall impair your rights or powers under this Agreement or any Application. You shall not be deemed to have waived any of your rights under this Agreement or any Application unless such waiver is in writing signed by your authorized representative. No such waiver, unless expressly provided therein, shall be effective as to any transactions which occur subsequent to the date of such waiver or as to the continuance of any Event of Default after such waiver. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless it is in writing signed by Applicant's and your authorized representative(s). SECTION 16. AMENDMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS TO CREDITS. At Applicant's verbal or written request, or with Applicant's verbal or written consent, and without extinguishing or otherwise affecting Applicant's obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, you may with respect to any Credit, in writing or by any other action, but you will not be obligated to, (a) increase the amount of such Credit, (b) extend the time for, and amend or modify the terms and conditions governing, the making and honoring of any Demand or Document or any other terms and conditions of such Credit, or (c) waive the failure of any Demand or Document to comply with the terms of such Credit, and any Collateral pledged or granted to you in connection with such Credit will secure Applicant's obligations to you with respect to such Credit as amended, modified or waived. No amendment to, or modification of, the terms of any Credit will become effective if the Beneficiary of such Credit or any confirming bank objects to such amendment or modification. If any Credit is amended or modified in accordance with this Section, Applicant shall be bound by, and obligated under, the provisions of this Agreement with respect to such Credit as so amended or modified, and any action taken by you or any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank in accordance with such amendment or modification. SECTION 17. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The terms and conditions of this Agreement and each Application shall bind Applicant's heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and all rights, benefits and privileges conferred on you under or in connection with each L/C Document and each Loan Document shall be and hereby are extended to, conferred upon and may be enforced by your successors and assigns. Applicant will not assign this Agreement or Applicant's obligations or liabilities to you under or in connection with any L/C Document or Loan Document to any person or entity without your prior written approval. SECTION 18. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement and each Application, and Applicant's and your performance under this Agreement and each Application, shall be governed by and be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California. Unless you otherwise specifically agree in writing, each Credit, the opening of each Credit, the performance by you under each Credit, and the performance by the Beneficiary and any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank under each Credit, shall be governed by and be construed in accordance with the UCP in force on the date of the issuance of each Credit. In the event that any Credit issued pursuant to this Agreement states that it is governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of California, then your performance under such Credit shall be governed. SECTION 19. JURISDICTION AND SERVICE OF PROCESS. Any suit, action or proceeding against Applicant under or with respect to any L/C Document may, at your sole option, be brought in (a) the courts of the State of California, (b) the United States District Courts in California, (c) the courts of Applicant's jurisdiction of incorporation or principal office, or (d) the courts of the jurisdiction where any Beneficiary, any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank, or any other person or entity has brought any suit, action or proceeding against you with respect to any Credit or any Demand, and Applicant hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment and waives any other preferential jurisdiction by reason of domicile. Applicant will accept joinder in any suit, action or proceeding brought in any court or jurisdiction against you by any Beneficiary, any advising, confirming, negotiating, paying or other bank or any other person or entity with respect to any Credit or any Demand. Applicant irrevocably waives trial by jury and any objection, including, without limitation, any objection of the laying of venue or any objection based on the grounds of forum non conveniens, which Applicant may now or hereafter have to the bringing of any such action or proceeding. Applicant further waives any right to transfer or change the venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought against Applicant by you under or in connection with any L/C Document. Applicant irrevocably consents to the service of process in any action or proceeding in any court by the mailing of copies thereof by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to Applicant at its address specified next to its signature on this Agreement or at such other address as Applicant shall have notified to you in writing, such service to be effective ten (10) days after such mailing. SECTION 20. JOINT APPLICANTS. If this Agreement is signed by more than one person and/or entity as an Applicant, this Agreement and the Applications shall be the joint and several agreement of all such persons and/or entities and that all references to "Applicant" or "Applicant's" in this Agreement and the Applications shall refer to all such persons and/or entities jointly and severally. SECTION 21. SEVERABILITY. Any provision of any L/C Document which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall be, only as to such jurisdiction, ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability, but all the remaining provisions of such L/C Document and all the other L/C Documents shall remain valid. SECTION 22. HEADINGS. The headings used in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not define or limit the provisions of this Agreement. SECTION 23. CREDIT AGREEMENT. This Agreement and any related Application have been entered into pursuant to the Secured Credit Agreement dated August 8, 2007, among Applicant, as Borrower, Wells Fargo, as Agent, and other financial institutions (the "Credit Agreement"). For so long as the Credit Agreement remains in effect, the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15 of this Agreement shall not be effective. In the event that the Credit Agreement is terminated and any Credit remains outstanding, then the provisions of Sections 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 15 hereof shall thereafter apply to all outstanding Credits until the obligations of the Applicant thereunder have been satisfied in full. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IF THE APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN OREGON ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Section Oregon 1. UNDER OREGON LAW, MOST AGREEMENTS, PROMISES AND COMMITMENTS MADE BY A LENDER AFTER OCTOBER 3, 1989 CONCERNING LOANS AND OTHER CREDIT EXTENSIONS WHICH ARE NOT FOR PERSONAL, FAMILY, OR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES OR SECURED SOLELY BY THE BORROWER'S RESIDENCE MUST BE IN WRITING, EXPRESS CONSIDERATION, AND BE SIGNED BY THE LENDER TO BE ENFORCEABLE. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IF THE APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN WASHINGTON -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section Washington 1. ORAL AGREEMENTS OR ORAL COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT OR FOREBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE UNDER WASHINGTON LAW. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IF THE APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN NEBRASKA ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Section Nebraska 1. ENFORCEABILITY OF WRITTEN TERMS ONLY. A CREDIT AGREEMENT MUST BE IN WRITING TO BE ENFORCEABLE UNDER NEBRASKA LAW. TO PROTECT THE PARTIES FROM ANY MISUNDERSTANDINGS OR DISAPPOINTMENTS, ANY CONTRACT, PROMISE, UNDERTAKING OR OFFER TO FOREBEAR REPAYMENT OF MONEY OR TO MAKE ANY OTHER FINANCIAL ACCOMMODATION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LOAN OF MONEY OR GRANT OR EXTENSION OF CREDIT, OR ANY AMENDMENT OF, CANCELLATION OF, WAIVER OF, OR SUBSTITUTION FOR ANY OR ALL OF THE TERMS OR PROVISIONS OF ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS LOAN OF MONEY OR GRANT OR EXTENSION OF CREDIT, MUST BE IN WRITING TO BE EFFECTIVE. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IF THE APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN IOWA -------------------------------------------------------------------- Section Iowa 1. IMPORTANT: READ BEFORE SIGNING. THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BECAUSE ONLY THOSE TERMS IN WRITING ARE ENFORCEABLE. NO OTHER TERMS OR ORAL PROMISES NOT CONTAINED IN THIS WRITTEN CONTRACT MAY BE LEGALLY ENFORCED. YOU MAY CHANGE THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT ONLY BY ANOTHER WRITTEN AGREEMENT. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS APPLICABLE IF APPLICANT IS LOCATED IN MISSOURI -------------------------------------------------------------------- ORAL AGREEMENTS OR COMMITMENTS TO LOAN MONEY, EXTEND CREDIT, OR TO FORBEAR FROM ENFORCING REPAYMENT OF A DEBT INCLUDING PROMISES TO EXTEND OR RENEW SUCH DEBT ARE NOT ENFORCEABLE REGARDLESS OF LEGAL THEORY UPON WHICH IT IS BASED THAT IS IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT. TO PROTECT YOU (BORROWER) AND US (LENDERS AND AGENT) FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OR DISAPPOINTMENT, ANY AGREEMENT WE REACH COVERING SUCH MATTERS ARE CONTAINED IN THIS WRITING, WHICH IS THE COMPLETE AND EXCLUSIVE STATEMENT OF THE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US, EXCEPT AS WE MAY LATER AGREE IN WRITING TO MODIFY IT. Section Iowa 2. By signing this Agreement, Applicant acknowledges receipt of a copy of this Agreement. This Agreement is signed by Applicant's duly authorized representative or representatives on the date specified below.
------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- [Applicant's Name] [Applicant's Name] By: By: ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- Title: Title: ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- Signature Signature Address: Address: ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------- Date: Date: ------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT 1.1 F LOAN COMMITMENT AMOUNTS - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Revolving Credit Name Commitment Initial Amount Term Loan Percentages Notice Address - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wells Fargo Bank, $32,500,000.00 $9,100,000.00 26.0000000% MAC N2790-142 National 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 Association, as a St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Bank Catherine M. Morrissey Telecopier:(314) 863-6815 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ JP Morgan Chase Bank, $17,500,000.00 $4,900,000.00 14.0000000% Commercial Banking N.A. JPMorgan Chase IL1-1110 120 South LaSalle, 3rd Floor Chicago,Illinois 60603 Attention: Kristin Paszcak Telecopier: (312) 661-9511 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ LaSalle Bank National $17,500,000.00 $4,900,000.00 14.0000000% One North Brentwood, Suite 950 Association Clayton, Missouri 63105 Attention: Robert J. Mathias Telecopier: (314) 621-1612 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Northern Trust $10,000,000.00 $2,800,000.00 08.0000000% 50 South LaSalle Street, L-09 Company Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: Lisa McDermott Telecopier: (312) 444-4906 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Union Bank of $15,000,000.00 $4,200,000.00 12.0000000% 445 South Figureroa Street California, N.A. Los Angeles, California 90071 Attention: Dennis A. Cattell Telecopier: (213) 236-5548 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------- Fifth Third Bank $15,000,000.00 $4,200,000.00 12.0000000% 222 South Riverside Plaza, (Chicago) 33rd Floor MD GRVR3B Chicago, Illinois 60606 Attention: Peter Caligiuri Telecopier: (312) 704-4115 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ U.S. Bank National $17,500,000.00 $4,900,000.00 14.0000000% Correspondent Banking Association One U.S. Bank Plaza Mailcode: SL-MO-T11S St. Louis, Missouri 63101 Attention: Jaycee D. Greene, VP Telecopier: (314) 418-2173 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EXHIBIT 1.1 G REVOLVING NOTE $_________________ St. Louis, Missouri August 8, 2007 For value received, the undersigned FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to pay on the Revolving Credit Termination Date (as defined in the Credit Agreement, defined below), to the order of _____________, a _____________ (the "Lender"), at the office of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent (the "Agent") at Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or at any other place designated at any time in accordance with the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of up to _______________ Dollars ($______________) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Revolving Loans, as defined in the Credit Agreement, made by the Lender to the Borrower under the Secured Credit Agreement together with interest on the principal amount hereunder remaining unpaid from time to time (the "Principal Balance"), computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year, from the date hereof until this Note is fully paid at the rate determined from time to time under the Credit Agreement dated August 8, 2007 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement") by and among the Borrower, the Lenders from time to time party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders thereunder. This Note may be prepaid only in accordance with the Credit Agreement. This Note is issued pursuant, and is subject, to the Credit Agreement, which provides, among other things, for acceleration hereof. This Note is a "Revolving Note" referred to in the Credit Agreement. This Note is secured, among other things, pursuant to the several security agreements delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may now or hereafter be secured by one or more other security agreements or other instruments or agreements. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses in the event this Note is not paid when due, whether or not legal proceedings are commenced. Presentment or other demand for payment, notice of dishonor and protest are expressly waived. FIRST BANKS, INC. By ________________________________ Its ___________________________ EXHIBIT 1.1 H SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY GUARANTY August 8, 2007 This Guaranty is made as of August 8, 2007 by the undersigned, THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY, a Delaware corporation, in favor of WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Agent for the "Lenders" pursuant to the Secured Credit Agreement described below (the "Agent"). RECITALS First Banks, Inc. (the "Borrower"), the Agent and certain financial institutions have executed a Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which such financial institutions (the "Lenders") have agreed to lend up to $125,000,000 to the Borrower (with Borrower having the right to increase the credit facilities by an amount up to $25,000,000) and pursuant to which the Agent has agreed to issue up to $5,000,000 in face amount of standby letters of credit for the account of the Borrower. One condition to the Lenders' and Agent's commitment under the Credit Agreement is that the undersigned execute, deliver and perform this Guaranty, thereby guaranteeing the payment and performance of all debts, liabilities and obligations of the Borrower to the Agent and the Lenders arising out of the Credit Agreement and any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof (the "Indebtedness"). Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises, the undersigned hereby agrees as follows: 1. No act or thing need occur to establish the liability of the undersigned hereunder, and no act or thing, except full payment and discharge of all Indebtedness, shall in any way exonerate the undersigned or modify, reduce, limit, or release the liability of the undersigned hereunder. 2. This is an absolute, unconditional and continuing guaranty of payment of the Indebtedness and shall continue to be in force and be binding upon the undersigned, whether or not all Indebtedness is paid in full, until this Guaranty is revoked prospectively as to future transactions, by written notice actually received by the Agent, and such revocation shall not be effective as to Indebtedness existing or committed for at the time of actual receipt of such notice by the Agent, or as to any renewals, extensions and refinancings thereof. 3. If the undersigned shall be dissolved or shall be or become insolvent then the Agent shall have the right to declare immediately due and payable, and the undersigned will forthwith pay to the Agent, the full amount of all Indebtedness, whether due and payable or unmatured. If the undersigned voluntarily commences or there is commenced involuntarily against the undersigned a case under the United States Bankruptcy Code, the full amount of all Indebtedness, whether due and payable or unmatured, shall be immediately due and payable without demand or notice thereof. 4. The undersigned shall be liable for all Indebtedness, without any limitation as to amount, plus accrued interest thereon and all attorneys' fees, collection costs and enforcement expenses referable thereto. Indebtedness may be created and continued in any amount, whether or not in excess of such principal amount, without affecting or impairing the liability of the undersigned hereunder. The Agent may apply any sums received by or available to the Agent on account of the Indebtedness from Borrower or any other person (except the undersigned), from their properties, out of any collateral security or from any other source to payment of the excess. Such application of receipts shall not reduce, affect or impair the liability of the undersigned hereunder. 5. The undersigned will not exercise or enforce any right of contribution, reimbursement, recourse or subrogation available to the undersigned against any person liable to payment of the Indebtedness, or as to any collateral security therefor, unless and until all of the Indebtedness shall have been fully paid and discharged. 6. The undersigned will pay or reimburse the Agent for all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by the Agent in connection with the protection, defense or enforcement of this Guaranty in any litigation or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. 7. Whether or not any existing relationship between the undersigned and Borrower has been changed or ended and whether or not this Guaranty has been revoked, the Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into transactions resulting in the creation or continuance of Indebtedness, without any consent or approval by the undersigned and without any notice to the undersigned. The liability of the undersigned shall not be affected or impaired by any of the following acts or things (which the Agent is expressly authorized to do, omit or suffer from time to time, both before and after revocation of this Guaranty, without notice to or approval by the undersigned): (i) any acceptance of collateral security, guarantors, accommodation parties or sureties for any or all Indebtedness; (ii) any one or more extensions or renewals of Indebtedness (whether or not for longer than the original period) or any modification of the interest rates, maturities or other contractual terms applicable to any Indebtedness; (iii) any waiver or indulgence granted to Borrower, any delay or lack of diligence in the enforcement of Indebtedness, or any failure to institute proceedings, file a claim, give any required notices or otherwise protect any Indebtedness, (iv) any full or partial release of, settlement with, or agreement not to sue, Borrower or any other guarantor or other person liable in respect of any Indebtedness; (v) any discharge of any evidence of Indebtedness or the acceptance of any instrument in renewal thereof or substitution therefor; (vi) any failure to obtain collateral security (including rights of setoff) for Indebtedness, or to see to the proper or sufficient creation and perfection thereof, or to establish the priority thereof, or to protect, insure, or enforce any collateral security; or any modification, substitution, discharge, impairment, or loss of any collateral security; (vii) any foreclosure or enforcement of any collateral security; (viii) any transfer of any Indebtedness or any evidence thereof; (ix) any order of application of any payments or credits upon Indebtedness; (x) any election by the Agent under ss. 1111(b)(2) of the United States Bankruptcy Code. 8. The undersigned waives any and all defenses, claims and discharges of Borrower, or any other obligor, pertaining to Indebtedness, except the defense of discharge by payment in full. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the undersigned will not assert, plead or enforce against the Agent any defense of waiver, release, discharge in bankruptcy, statute of limitations, res judicata, statute of frauds, anti-deficiency statute, fraud, incapacity, minority, usury, illegality or unenforceability which may be available to Borrower or any other person liable in respect of any Indebtedness, or any setoff available against the Agent to Borrower or any such other person, whether or not on account of a related transaction. The undersigned expressly agrees that the undersigned shall be and remain liable for any deficiency remaining after foreclosure of any mortgage or security interest securing Indebtedness, whether or not the liability of Borrower or any other obligor for such deficiency is discharged pursuant to statute or judicial decision. 9. The undersigned waives presentment, demand for payment, notice of dishonor or nonpayment, and protest of any instrument evidencing Indebtedness. The Agent shall not be required first to resort for payment of the Indebtedness to Borrower or other persons or their properties, or first to enforce, realize upon or exhaust any collateral security for Indebtedness, before enforcing this Guaranty. 10. If any payment applied by the Agent to Indebtedness is thereafter set aside, recovered, rescinded or required to be returned for any reason (including, without limitation, the bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Borrower or any other obligor), the Indebtedness to which such payment was applied shall for the purposes of this Guaranty be deemed to have continued in existence, notwithstanding such application, and this Guaranty shall be enforceable as to such Indebtedness as fully as if such application had never been made. 11. The liability of the undersigned under this Guaranty is in addition to and shall be cumulative with all other liabilities of the undersigned to the undersigned as guarantor or otherwise, without any limitation as to amount, unless the instrument or agreement evidencing or creating such other liability specifically provides to the contrary. 12. This Guaranty shall be effective upon delivery to the Agent, without further act, condition or acceptance by the Agent, shall be binding upon the undersigned and the successors and assigns of the undersigned and shall inure to the benefit of the Agent and the Lenders and their respective participants, successors and assigns. Any invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or application of this Guaranty shall not affect other lawful provisions and application hereof, and to this end the provisions of this Guaranty are declared to be severable. This Guaranty may not be waived, modified, amended, terminated, released or otherwise changed except by a writing signed by the undersigned and the Agent. This Guaranty shall be governed by the laws of the State of Missouri. The undersigned waives notice of the Agent's acceptance hereof and waives the right to a trial by jury in any action based on or pertaining to this Guaranty. 13. This Guaranty, and each and all of the undersigned's obligations hereunder, is secured by that certain San Francisco Company Security Agreement of even date herewith, as hereafter amended, modified and supplemented and may now be secured by one or more other security agreements or other instruments or agreements. In witness whereof, the undersigned has executed this Guaranty as of the day and year first above written. THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY By _________________________________ Its _____________________________ EXHIBIT 1.1 I SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY SECURITY AGREEMENT This Agreement is made as of August 8, 2007, by and between THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY, a Delaware Corporation ("Debtor") and WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association, as Agent for the "Lenders" pursuant to the Secured Credit Agreement described below ("Secured Party"). RECITALS First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), Secured Party and certain financial institutions have executed a Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, (the "Credit Agreement"), pursuant to which such financial institutions (the "Lenders") have agreed to lend up to $125,000,000 to Borrower (with Borrower having the right to increase the credit facilities by an amount up to $25,000,000) and pursuant to which Secured Party has agreed to issue up to $5,000,000 in face amount of standby letters of credit for the account of Borrower. One condition to the Lenders' and Secured Party's commitments under the Credit Agreement is that Debtor execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, thereby granting a security interest to Secured Party, as agent for the Lenders, in the Collateral described herein for the purpose of securing all "Indebtedness", as that term is defined in that certain Guaranty of even date herewith given by Debtor for the benefit of Secured Party (the "Guaranty"). Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein set forth, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows: 1. Security Interest and Collateral. To secure the prompt and complete payment and performance of both said Indebtedness and any and all obligations of Debtor arising under or on account of this Agreement (collectively the "Secured Obligations"), Debtor hereby grants Secured Party (for its own account and as agent for the Lenders) a security interest (the "Security Interest") in (i) all of the capital stock of First Bank, a Missouri state bank, owned by Debtor, and (ii) any capital stock that Debtor may hereafter acquire and deliver to Secured Party pursuant to Section 8.8 of the Credit Agreement, and (iii) all proceeds of such capital stock and all other rights in connection with such property (collectively the "Collateral"). 2. Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Debtor represents, warrants and covenants that: (a) Debtor will join with Secured Party in taking any action required by Secured Party in order to perfect the Security Interest and to protect the rights and priorities of Secured Party with respect to the Collateral. To that end, Debtor has delivered to Secured Party certificates representing all of the shares of capital stock constituting Collateral and executed and delivered one blank stock power for each such certificate. Debtor will, at Secured Party's request at any one or more times (i) duly endorse, in blank, each and every additional security certificate and instrument constituting Collateral by signing on such certificate or instrument or by signing a separate document of assignment or transfer and delivery to Secured Party each and every such additional security certificate and instrument; (ii) join with Secured Party in executing any instructions or agreements with securities intermediaries for the purpose of obtaining control of any investment property that may hereafter constitute Collateral; and (iii) instruct the issuer of any security that may hereafter constitute Collateral to register such security in the name of Secured Party. (b) Debtor is the owner of the Collateral free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and restrictions except the Security Interest and any restrictive legend appearing on any security certificate or any instrument constituting Collateral. (c) Debtor will keep the Collateral free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and security interests, except the Security Interest. (d) Debtor will pay, when due, all taxes and other governmental charges levied or assessed upon or against any Collateral. (e) Debtor will upon receipt deliver to Secured Party all investment property distributed on account of Collateral, such as stock dividends and securities resulting from stock splits, reorganizations and recapitalizations. The Security Interest shall attach to all such proceeds. 3. Events of Default. The occurrence of any Event of Default under the Credit Agreement shall be an Event of Default hereunder. 4. Remedies Upon Event of Default. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and during the continuance thereof, Secured Party may exercise any one or more of the rights and remedies specified in the Credit Agreement or in the Guaranty, and also any one or more of the following rights or remedies: (i) notify the obligor on or issuer of any Collateral or any securities intermediary to make payment to Secured Party of any amounts due or distributable on any Collateral, (ii) receive and keep in its possession or under its control subject to the Security Interest all proceeds of Collateral, except that any money received from the Collateral may, at Secured Party's option, be applied in reduction of the Secured Obligations; (iii) exercise all voting and other rights as a holder of any Collateral; (iv) exercise and enforce any or all rights and remedies available upon default to a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code, including the right to (A) order any securities intermediary to sell any Collateral on any established market or over the counter or to cause any Collateral to be redeemed; (B) give any transfer or redemption order to any issuer of Collateral; or (C) offer and sell Collateral privately to purchasers who will agree to take the Collateral for investment and not with a view to distribution and who will agree to the imposition of restrictive legends on any certificates representing Collateral, and the right to arrange for a sale which would otherwise qualify as exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933; and if notice to Debtor of any intended disposition of Collateral or any other intended action is required by law in a particular instance, such notice shall be deemed commercially reasonable if given at least 10 calendar days prior to the date of intended disposition or other action; and (v) exercise or enforce any or all other rights or remedies available to Secured Party by law or agreement against any Collateral, against Debtor or against any other person or property. 5. Secured Party's Duties. Secured Party's duty of care with respect to Collateral in its possession (as imposed by law) shall be deemed fulfilled if Secured Party exercises reasonable care in physically safekeeping such Collateral, or in the case of Collateral in the custody or possession of a securities intermediary or other third person, exercises reasonable care in the selection of the securities intermediary or other third person and Secured Party need not otherwise preserve, protect, insure or care for any Collateral. Secured Party shall not be obligated to preserve any rights Debtor may have against prior parties, to exercise at all or in any particular manner any voting rights which may be available with respect to any Collateral, to realize on the Collateral at all or in any particular manner or order, or to apply any cash proceeds of Collateral in any particular order of application. Regardless of the manner in which Secured Party chooses to exercise control over Collateral (whether by possession, by agreement with an issuer or Securities Intermediary, by transferring security entitlements into its own account, or otherwise), Secured Party shall not be deemed to be under any obligation to Debtor, whether as fiduciary, trustee, agent or otherwise, except the duty of good faith, the duties specifically imposed upon Secured Party by this Agreement, and the duties imposed upon it as a secured party by Articles 1, 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in Missouri. 6. Miscellaneous. Any disposition of Collateral in the manner provided in Section 4 shall be deemed commercially reasonable. This Agreement can be waived, modified, amended, terminated or discharged, and the Security Interest can be released, only explicitly in a writing signed by Secured Party. A waiver signed by Secured Party shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose given. Mere delay or failure to act shall not preclude the exercise or enforcement of any of Secured Party's rights or remedies. All rights and remedies of Secured Party shall be cumulative and may be exercised singularly or concurrently, at Secured Party's option, and the exercise or enforcement of any one such right or remedy shall neither be a condition to nor bar the exercise or enforcement of any other. All notices to be given to Debtor shall be deemed sufficiently given if delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, to Debtor at the address set forth following its signature on the signature page of this Agreement or at the most recent address shown on Secured Party's records. Debtor will reimburse Secured Party for all expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses) incurred by Secured Party in the protection, defense or enforcement of the Security Interest, including expenses incurred in any litigation or bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of Debtor and Secured Party and their successors and assigns and shall take effect when signed by Debtor and delivered to Secured Party, and Debtor waives notice of Secured Party's acceptance hereof. This Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws of the State of Missouri and, unless the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein which are defined in Articles 1, 8 and 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in Missouri, shall have the meanings therein stated. If any provision or application of this Agreement is held unlawful or unenforceable in any respect, such illegality or unenforceability shall not affect other provisions or applications which can be given effect, and this Agreement shall be construed as if the unlawful or unenforceable provision or application had never been contained herein or prescribed hereby. All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement shall survive the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the creation and payment of the Secured Obligations. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Debtor has executed this Agreement as of the day first above written. THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY Address: By - ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ Its - ------------------------------------ --------------------------------- - ------------------------------------ EXHIBIT 1.1 J SWINGLINE NOTE $ St. Louis, Missouri -------------------------- August 8, 2007 For value received, the undersigned FIRST BANKS, INC., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), hereby promises to the order of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the "Swingline Lender"), at the office of the Swingline Lender at Sixth Street and Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, or at any other place designated at any time in accordance with the Credit Agreement (as hereinafter defined), in lawful money of the United States of America and in immediately available funds, the principal sum of up to $ ($ ) or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal amount of all Swingline Loans, as defined in the Credit Agreement, made by the Swingline Lender to the Borrower under the Credit Agreement together with interest on the principal amount hereunder remaining unpaid from time to time (the "Principal Balance"), computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed and a 360-day year, from the date hereof until this Note is fully paid at the Floating Rate, as defined under the Secured Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2007 (as the same may be amended, supplemented or restated from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), by and among the Borrower, the Lenders signatory thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent for the Lenders thereunder. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. This Note may be prepaid only in accordance with the Credit Agreement. The full Principal Balance of all then outstanding Swingline Loans, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon shall be due and payable on the next to occur following a Swingline Loan of the fifteenth (15th) day of the month (or the next Bank Business Day if such day is a Saturday, Sunday, United States national holiday or other day on which banks in Minnesota are permitted or required by law to close) and the last Bank Business Day of the month, commencing August 15, 2007. This Note is issued pursuant, and is subject, to the Credit Agreement. This Note is a "Swingline Note" referred to in the Credit Agreement. This Note is secured, among other things, pursuant to the several security agreements delivered pursuant to the Credit Agreement, and may now or hereafter be secured by one or more other security agreements or other instruments or agreements. The Borrower hereby agrees to pay all costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees and legal expenses in the event this Note is not paid when due, whether or not legal proceedings are commenced. Presentment or other demand for payment, notice of dishonor and protest are expressly waived. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By ___________________________ Its __________________________ EXHIBIT 2.2.1 NOTICE OF BORROWING Pursuant to Section 2.2.1 of that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders (the "Lenders"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"), this represents Borrower's request to borrow as follows: 1. Date of borrowing: ------------------ ----------------------, --------- 2. Amount of borrowing: $ ------------------- ------------------------ 3. Type of Loans: [Revolving Loans] [Term Loan] ------------- 4. Interest rate option: -------------------- [ ] a. Floating Rate Loan(s) [ ] b. Eurodollar Rate Loans with an initial Interest Period of month(s) -------- The proceeds of such Loans are to be deposited in an account designated by the Borrower at First Bank or in such other manner as the Agent and the Borrower may agree in writing. The undersigned officer, to the best of his or her knowledge, and Borrower certify that: (i) With respect to Loans, the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided, that, if a -------- representation and warranty is qualified as to materiality, with respect to such representation and warranty the materiality qualifier set forth above shall be disregarded for purposes of this condition; (ii) No event has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the borrowing contemplated hereby that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default. DATED: FIRST BANKS, INC. ------------------ By: -------------------------------------- Title: ---------------------------------- EXHIBIT 2.2.2 NOTICE OF CONVERSION/CONTINUATION Pursuant to Section 2.2.2 of that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"), this represents Borrower's request to convert or continue Loans as follows: 1. Date of conversion/continuation: ________________,_______ 2. Amount of Loans being converted/continued: $_______________ 3. Type of Loans being converted/continued: [Revolving Loans] [Term Loan] 4. Nature of conversion/continuation: [ ] a. Conversion of Floating Rate Loans to Eurodollar Rate Loans [ ] b. Continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans as such 5. If Loans are being continued as or converted to Eurodollar Rate Loans, the duration of the new Interest Period that commences on the conversion/continuation date: _______________ month(s) In the case of a conversion to or continuation of Eurodollar Rate Loans, the undersigned officer, to the best of his or her knowledge, and Borrower certify that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing. DATED: ____________________ FIRST BANKS, INC. By: ___________________________________ Title: ________________________________ EXHIBIT 2.2.3 PERMISSIBLE SECURITIES The following qualify as "Permissible Securities:" Valuation Percentage -------------------- A. Cash 100% B. (x) Negotiable debt obligations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department or the Government National Mortgage Association ("Ginnie Mae"), or (y) mortgage-backed securities issued by Ginnie Mae (but with respect to either (x) or (y) excluding interest only or principal only stripped securities, securities representing residual interests in mortgage pools, and securities that are not listed on a national securities exchange or regularly quoted in a national quotation service) and in each case having a remaining maturity of: (i) less than one year 100% (ii) one year or greater but less than 10 years 98% (iii) ten years or longer 95% C. (x) Negotiable debt obligations issued by the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association ("Freddie Mac") or (y) mortgage-backed securities issued by Freddie Mac but excluding interest only or principal only stripped securities, securities representing residual interests in mortgage pools, and securities that are not listed on a national securities exchange or regularly quoted in a national quotation service. 95% EXHIBIT 2.4.1 NOTICE OF SWINGLINE BORROWING Pursuant to Section 2.4.1 of that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Secured Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders (the "Lenders"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"), this represents Borrower's request to borrow as follows: 1. Amount of Swingline Borrowing: $ ----------------------------- -------------------- 2. Date of Swingline Borrowing: --------------------------- --------------------, ------- The proceeds of such Advance are to be deposited in an account designated by the Borrower at First Bank or in such other manner as the Agent and the Borrower may agree in writing. The undersigned officer, to the best of his or her knowledge, and Borrower certify to Swingline Lender and the Lenders that: (i) The representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided, that, if a representation and -------- warranty is qualified as to materiality, with respect to such representation and warranty the materiality qualifier set forth above shall be disregarded for purposes of this condition; and (ii) No event has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the Swingline Borrowing contemplated hereby that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default. DATED: FIRST BANKS, INC. ------------------------ By: -------------------------------- Title: ----------------------------- EXHIBIT 2.5.2 TERM LOAN NOTICE Pursuant to Section 2.5.2 of that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Secured Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"), this represents Borrower's request to convert the following portion of the Outstanding Revolving Loan to an Additional Term Loan as follows: 1. Effective date of the Additional Term Loan: __________________, _______ 2. Amount of the Additional Term Loan: $___________________ 3. Portion of the outstanding Revolving Loans to which such Additional Term Loan is to be applied, including the interest rate(s) currently applicable thereto: ________________________________________________________________________________ 3. If the Eurodollar rate is applicable to any portion of the related Revolving Loan: a. The Interest Period that has been selected by Borrower at inception of the related Revolving Loan:__________________________ b. The duration of the Interest Period for the related Revolving Loan: _______________ month(s) c. The expiration of the Interest Period for the related Revolving Loan: __________________, __________ 4. If the Eurodollar rate is applicable to any portion of the related initial Advance: a. The Interest Period that has been selected by Borrower at inception of the related initial Advance:__________________________ b. The duration of the Interest Period for the related initial Advance: _______________ month(s) c. The expiration of the Interest Period for the related initial Advance: __________________, __________ The undersigned officer, to the best of his or her knowledge, and Borrower certify to the Lenders that: (i) The representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; provided, that, if a representation and -------- warranty is qualified as to materiality, with respect to such representation and warranty the materiality qualifier set forth above shall be disregarded for purposes of this condition; and (ii) No event has occurred and is continuing or would result from the consummation of the conversion of the above described portion of the Outstanding Revolving Loan to an Additional Term Loan that would constitute a Default or an Event of Default. DATED: FIRST BANKS, INC. --------------------- By: --------------------------------- Title: ------------------------------ EXHIBIT 8.9 NOTICE OF PERMITTED ACQUISITION This Notice is being submitted on this ___ day of ________, 200__, pursuant to Section 8.9 of the Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (the "Credit Agreement"), by and among Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the "Agent"), the Lenders that are parties thereto, and First Banks, Inc., as Borrower. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Credit Agreement. The undersigned officer of the Borrower hereby notifies the Lenders that [the Borrower] [_________ (name of Subsidiary)] has entered into an agreement to purchase [______% of the voting common stock] [all of the assets of the business] [all of the assets of the ____ branch(s)] of __________________________________ (name and organizational details of acquired entity). A brief description of the transaction, including the form of the acquisition, amount and nature of the consideration, and expected date of completion, is attached to this Notice as Annex A. The undersigned officer hereby certifies to the Lenders that: A. The representations and warranties contained in Article VII of the Credit Agreement are correct as of the date hereof and will be correct after giving effect to the proposed acquisition, except to the extent that the same relate specifically to an earlier date; and B. No Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or will occur as a result of the proposed acquisition. This will confirm that promptly upon request of Agent or any Lender, First Banks, Inc. will provide to the Agent copies of any applications to regulatory agencies submitted in connection with the proposed acquisition. Signed as of the day and year first above written. FIRST BANKS, INC. By_________________________________ [name and office held] EXHIBIT 2.1.2 A FORM OF REQUEST FOR INCREASE IN TOTAL REVOLVING LOAN COMMITMENT AMOUNT Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Agent Attention: Catherine M. Morrissey MAC N2790-142 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Dear Ms. Morrissey: Reference is made to that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders (the "Lenders"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"). Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement. In accordance with Section 2.1.2 of the Credit Agreement, the Borrower hereby requests an increase in the aggregate Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount from $_______________ to $_______________ (the "Increase"), pursuant to this "Request for Increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount." (The Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount may not exceed $150,000,000; minimum aggregate increase is Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and thereafter in multiples of Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000).) The requested effective date of the Increase is ____________________ (at least 30 days from date of request). The Borrower hereby certifies that as of the date hereof and the effective date of the Increase: (a) attached hereto as Exhibit A is a true, complete and correct copy of the resolutions, duly adopted by the board of directors of the Borrower and certified by the [Secretary] [Assistant Secretary] of the Borrower, authorizing the Increase and such resolutions have not been amended, modified, rescinded or revoked since their adoption, and remain in full force and effect; (b) all of the representations and warranties contained in the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of the date hereof to the same extent as though made on and as of the date hereof, except to the extent such representations and warranties specifically relate to an earlier date, in which case such representations and warranties were true, correct and complete in all material respects on and as of such earlier date; and (c) no Default, Event of Default, or event or condition which, with the giving of any notice and/or the passage of time would constitute a Default or Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing, and none will occur as a result of the Increase. Dated as of ________________________, 200__. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By: _____________________________ Title: __________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT The San Francisco Company hereby acknowledges and consents to the above and foregoing Request for Increase in the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount, dated as of ________________________, 200__, and agrees that any and all of its obligations under or on account of the Loan Documents are and remain in full force and effect unaffected by or on account of the Secured Credit Agreement, as of August 8, 2007. THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY, a Delaware Corporation By:_______________________________________ Printed Name:_____________________________ (SEAL) Title: ___________________________________ EXHIBIT 2.1.2 B FORM OF REQUEST FOR CONSENT TO INCREASE Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Agent Attention: Catherine M. Morrissey MAC N2790-142 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Dear Ms. Morrissey: Reference is made to that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders (the "Lenders"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"). Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement. In accordance with Section 2.1.2 of the Credit Agreement, we hereby give you notice of, and request your consent to, the assumption by [insert Lender name] (the "Increasing Lender"), a Lender, on [insert date] of an increased Revolving Credit Commitment Amount in the amount of $_______________, pursuant to this "Request for Consent to Increase." IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower and the Increasing Lender have caused this request to be executed by their respective duly authorized officials, officers or agents as of ________________________, 200__. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By:__________________________________ Title:_______________________________ INCREASING LENDER: By:__________________________________ Title:_______________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT The San Francisco Company hereby acknowledges and consents to the above and foregoing Request for Consent to Increase, dated as of ________________________, 200__, and agrees that any and all of its obligations under or on account of the Loan Documents are and remain in full force and effect unaffected by or on account of the Secured Credit Agreement as of August 8, 2007. THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY, a Delaware Corporation By:_______________________________________ Printed Name:_____________________________ (SEAL) Title:____________________________________ EXHIBIT 2.1.2 C FORM OF REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL LENDER Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Agent Attention: Catherine M. Morrissey MAC N2790-142 100 South Hanley Road, Suite 1400 St. Louis, Missouri 63105 Dear Ms. Morrissey: Reference is made to that certain Secured Credit Agreement dated as of August 8, 2007, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified to the date hereof (said Credit Agreement, as so amended, supplemented or otherwise modified, being the "Credit Agreement," the terms defined therein and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined), by and among First Banks, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Borrower"), the financial institutions listed therein as Lenders (the "Lenders"), and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Agent (the "Agent"). Terms used but not otherwise defined herein are used herein as defined in the Credit Agreement. In accordance with Section 2.1.2 of the Credit Agreement, we hereby give you notice of, and request your consent to, the assumption on [insert date], by [insert new Lender name] (the "Additional Lender") of a Revolving Credit Commitment Amount in the amount of $____________ and all related rights, benefits, obligations, liabilities and indemnities of a Lender under and in connection with the Credit Agreement, pursuant to this "Request for Additional Lender." After giving effect to such assumption, the Additional Lender shall have ___% of the aggregate amount of the Total Revolving Loan Commitment Amount, or $__________. The Additional Lender agrees that, upon receiving the consent of the Agent to such assumption, the Additional Lender will be bound by the terms of the Credit Agreement as fully and to the same extent as if the Additional Lender were a Lender originally holding such interest in the Credit Agreement. Attached to this Request for Additional Lender as Attachment A is a completed administrative questionnaire, in the form supplied by Agent, setting forth the administrative details for the Additional Lender. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Borrower and the Additional Lender have caused this request to be executed by their respective duly authorized officials, officers or agents as of ________________________, 200__. BORROWER: FIRST BANKS, INC. By:__________________________ Title:_______________________ ADDITIONAL LENDER: By:_________________________ Title:______________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND CONSENT The San Francisco Company hereby acknowledges and consents to the above and foregoing Request for Additional Lender, dated as of ________________________, 200__, and agrees that any and all of its obligations under or on account of the Loan Documents are and remain in full force and effect unaffected by or on account of the Secured Credit Agreement as of August 8, 2007. THE SAN FRANCISCO COMPANY, a Delaware Corporation By:_______________________________________ Printed Name:_____________________________ (SEAL) Title:____________________________________
SCHEDULE 7.4 SUBSIDIARIES OF FIRST BANKS, INC. Subsidiary Owner Ownership Percentage ---------- ----- -------------------- The San Francisco Company First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust II First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust III First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust IV First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust V First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust VI First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust VII First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank Statutory Trust VIII First Banks, Inc. 100.00% Royal Oaks Capital Trust I First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Preferred Capital Trust IV First Banks, Inc. 100.00% First Bank The San Francisco Company 100.00% Adrian N. Baker & Company First Bank 100.00% First Bank Business Capital, Inc. First Bank 100.00% First Land Trustee Corp. First Bank 100.00% Missouri Valley Partners, Inc. First Bank 100.00% Small Business Loan Source LLC First Bank 76.00% Small Business Loan Source Funding Corp. First Bank 100.00% Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation First Bank 100.00% UPAC of California, Inc. Universal Premium 100.00% Acceptance Corporation
SCHEDULE 7.7 LITIGATION None. SCHEDULE 9.1 EXISTING LIENS None. SCHEDULE 9.2 INDEBTEDNESS In June 2005, Small Business Loan Source LLC ("SBLS LLC") executed a Multi-Party Agreement by and among SBLS LLC, First Bank, Colson Services Corp. and the United States Small Business Administration (the "SBA"), and a Loan and Security Agreement by and among First Bank and the SBA (collectively, the "Agreement") that provided a $50.0 million warehouse line of credit for loan funding purposes. The Agreement provided for an initial maturity date of June 30, 2008, which was extended on June 15, 2006 by First Bank to June 30, 2009. Interest was payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a rate equal to First Bank's prime lending rate minus 50 basis points. On March 1, 2007, SBLS LLC modified the Agreement with First Bank. The primary modifications to the structure of the financing arrangement include (a) an increase in the warehouse line of credit from $50.0 million to $60.0 million; and (b) interest is payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a rate equal to First Bank's prime lending rate minus 50 basis points, with the option of electing to have a portion of the outstanding principal balance in amounts not greater than $40.0 million, in minimum increments of $500,000, bear interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to the one-month London Interbank Offering Rate ("LIBOR") plus 215 basis points, the three-month LIBOR plus 215 basis points or the long-term interest rate swap rate plus 215 basis points, provided that no more than three fixed-rate interest periods may be in effect at any given time and no interest period may extend beyond the maturity date. Advances under the Agreement are secured by the assignment of the majority of the assets of SBLS LLC. The balance of advances outstanding under the Agreement was $51.8 million at June 30, 2007. Interest expense recorded under the Agreement by SBLS LLC for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $1.9 million. In May 2007, Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of First Bank, executed a Promissory Note payable to First Bank that provides a $150.0 million unsecured revolving line of credit for loan funding and other general corporate purposes and has a maturity date of May 31, 2008. The Promissory Note represents a renewal of the previous promissory note executed in May 2006 that matured in May 2007. Interest is payable monthly, in arrears, on the outstanding balances at a varying rate per annum which is forty (40) basis points less than the Ninety-Day LIBOR (but may not exceed the maximum rate of non-usurious interest allowed from time to time by law, hereinafter called the "Highest Lawful Rate"), with adjustments in such varying rate to be made on the first day of each quarterly period beginning on October 1, 2006, and adjustments due to changes in the Highest Lawful Rate to be made on the effective date of any change in the Highest Lawful Rate. The balance of advances outstanding under the Promissory Note was $131.7 million at June 30, 2007. Interest expense recorded on the Promissory Note by Universal Premium Acceptance Corporation for the six months June 30, 2007 was $3.5 million. SCHEDULE 9.3 GUARANTIES In October 2000, First Banks, Inc. ("First Banks") entered into two continuing guaranty contracts. For value received, and for the purpose of inducing a pension fund and its trustees and a welfare fund and its trustees (the Funds) to conduct business with Missouri Valley Partners, Inc. (MVP), First Bank's institutional investment management subsidiary, First Banks irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed payment of and promised to pay to each of the Funds any amounts up to the sum of $5.0 million to the extent MVP is liable to the Funds for a breach of the Investment Management Agreements (including the Investment Policy Statement and Investment Guidelines), by and between MVP and the Funds and/or any violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by MVP resulting in liability to the Funds. The guaranties are continuing guaranties of all obligations that may arise for transactions occurring prior to termination of the Investment Management Agreements and are coexistent with the term of the Investment Management Agreements. The Investment Management Agreements have no specified term but may be terminated at any time upon written notice by the Trustees or, at First Banks' option, upon thirty days written notice to the Trustees. In the event of termination of the Investment Management Agreements, such termination shall have no effect on the liability of First Banks with respect to obligations incurred before such termination. The obligations of First Banks are joint and several with those of MVP. First Banks does not have any recourse provisions that would enable it to recover from third parties any amounts paid under the contracts nor does First Banks hold any assets as collateral that, upon occurrence of a required payment under the contract, could be liquidated to recover all or a portion of the amount(s) paid. At June 30, 2007, First Banks had not recorded a liability for the obligations associated with these guaranty contracts as the likelihood that First Banks will be required to make payments under the contracts is remote. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----