S-3

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30, 2008

Registration No. 333-          

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Mexico	85-0366665
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
7900 Jefferson, N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 (505) 241-7500	Michael R. Stanford President and Chief Executive Officer 7900 Jefferson, N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109 (505) 241-7500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)	(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:

Frank Bayouth, Esq.

Gregg A. Noel, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

1000 Louisiana, Suite 6800

Houston, Texas 77002

(713) 655-5100

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  þ

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨	Accelerated filer  þ	Non-accelerated filer  ¨	Smaller reporting company  ¨
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered	Amount to be Registered(1)		Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price(2)		Amount of Registration Fee(3)
Common Stock, no par value
Preferred Stock, no par value
Depositary Shares representing Preferred Stock(4)
Senior Debt Securities, Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities and Junior Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “Debt Securities”)
Warrants
Total	$	100,000,000	$	100,000,000	$	3,930

(1) Pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3, the amount to be registered is not specified as to each class of securities. Subject to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the aggregate public offering price of the securities registered hereby will not exceed $100,000,000, or if any securities are issued in any foreign currencies, composite currencies or currency units, the U.S. dollar equivalent of $100,000,000. This Registration Statement includes such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Warrants and such indeterminate principal amount of Debt Securities. This Registration Statement includes such presently indeterminate number of securities registered hereunder as may be issuable from time to time upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities as may be offered pursuant to the prospectus filed with this Registration Statement.

(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act and exclusive of accrued interest and dividends, if any.

(3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Securities Act, based on the maximum aggregate offering price of all the securities.

(4) Such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares to be evidenced by Depositary Receipts issued under a Deposit Agreement. If fractional interests in shares of Preferred Stock are issued, Depositary Receipts will be distributed for such fractional interests and the shares of Preferred Stock will be issued to the depositary under the Deposit Agreement.

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until we shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 30, 2008

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Debt Securities

Warrants

By this prospectus, we may offer to sell the securities listed above from time to time in one or more classes or series and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities with respect to which this prospectus is being delivered, the names of such underwriters and any applicable discounts or commissions and over allotment options will be set forth in a prospectus supplement. The price to the public of such securities and the net proceeds we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in a prospectus supplement.

We will provide specific terms of these securities and the manner in which we will sell them in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, carefully before you invest.

Our common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, or Nasdaq, under the symbol “FSNM.” On December 29, 2008, the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $1.35 per share.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference in this prospectus or contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

These securities are not savings accounts, deposits or obligations of our banking subsidiary and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Deposit Insurance Fund or any other governmental agency.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2009.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS	ii
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS	ii
SUMMARY	1
USE OF PROCEEDS	2
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS	2
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK	3
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES	6
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES	9
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS	18
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION	21
EXPERTS	23
LEGAL MATTERS	23
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION	23

You should rely only on the information contained in this document or to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the “Commission” or “SEC”, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, First State Bancorporation may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $100,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the securities being offered at that time. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference include forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. These statements are based on management’s current expectations or predictions of future results or events. We make these forward-looking statements in reliance on the safe harbor provisions provided under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference which relate to performance, development or activities that we expect or anticipate will or may happen in the future, are forward looking statements. Other forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “seek,” “could,” “approximately,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” or “anticipate” or the negative of those words or other similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on numerous assumptions. They are not guarantees of future performance. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement. Some factors include changes in interest rates, local business conditions, government regulations, loss of key personnel or inability to hire suitable personnel, faster or slower than anticipated growth, economic conditions, our competitors’ responses to our marketing strategy or new competitive conditions, and competition in the geographic and business areas in which we conduct our operations. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made only as of the date made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

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SUMMARY

This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information you should consider before buying any securities in this offering. You should read the following summary with the more detailed information about us and our financial statements, including the notes to those financial statements, contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

When used in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, the terms “Company,” “First State,” “FSB,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to First State Bancorporation.

First State Bancorporation

We are a New Mexico-based bank holding company. We provide commercial banking services to businesses through our subsidiary bank, First Community Bank, (“First Community Bank” or “Bank”). At September 30, 2008, we operated 61 branch offices, including thirty-five in New Mexico (three offices in Taos, twelve offices in Albuquerque, four offices in Santa Fe, two offices each in Rio Rancho, Belen, Las Cruces, and Clovis, and one office each in Los Lunas, Gallup, Portales, Grants, Bernalillo, Pojoaque, Placitas, and Moriarty), twenty in Colorado (three offices each in Denver and Longmont, two offices each in Boulder, Ft. Collins, Lafayette, Louisville, and Colorado Springs, and one office each in Erie, Lakewood, Broomfield, and Littleton), two in Utah (Midvale and Salt Lake City), and four in Arizona (three offices in Phoenix and one in Sun City).

Our executive offices are located at 7900 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, and our telephone number is (505) 241-7500.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to contribute the net proceeds from the sale of our securities to our subsidiary bank, First Community Bank.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS

The ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 and the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 are as set forth in the table below. No shares of our preferred stock were outstanding during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003, or during the nine months ended September 30, 2008. Therefore, the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and preferred dividends are not separately stated from the ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the periods listed above.

			Year ended December 31,
	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008		2007	2006	2005	2004	2003
Ratios of earnings to fixed charges
Including interest on deposits	(1.43	)	1.39	1.51	1.85	1.94	1.96
Excluding interest on deposits	(9.05	)	2.41	2.91	3.28	4.86	5.41

For the purpose of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income before taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include all interest expense and the proportion deemed representative of the interest factor of rent expense. These ratios are presented both including and excluding interest on deposits. The aggregate deficiency during the nine months ended September 30, 2008 including and excluding interest on deposits was $144.5 million.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following descriptions do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety be reference to, our Restated Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws, as amended to date.

Common Stock

Voting. Our common stock is currently our only voting security. Shares of our preferred stock issued in the future may be granted voting rights at the discretion of our Board of Directors. On matters submitted to our shareholders, the holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held. No shares have cumulative voting rights.

Dividends. Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive any dividends declared by our Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor. Our ability to pay cash dividends is subject to the ability of First Community Bank to pay dividends or make other distributions to us, which in turn is subject to limitations imposed by law and regulation. In addition, we currently have an informal agreement with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, or Reserve Bank, and the New Mexico Financial Institutions Division, pursuant to which we and First Community Bank have agreed not to declare or pay any dividends without the prior written approval of the Reserve Bank.

Liquidation Rights. In the event of our liquidation or dissolution, all of our assets legally available for distribution after payment or provision for payment of (i) all of our debts and liabilities, (ii) any accrued dividend claims and (iii) liquidation preferences of any of our outstanding preferred stock, and will be distributed ratably, in cash or in kind, among the holders of our common stock.

Other Characteristics. Our common stock is not entitled to any preemptive right to subscribe for or receive any shares of any class of our stock (or any securities convertible into shares of our stock) issued in the future.

Preferred Stock

Under our Restated Articles of Incorporation, the board has the authority, without further action by stockholders, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The board may issue preferred stock in one or more series and may determine the rights, preferences, privileges, qualifications and restrictions granted to or imposed upon the preferred stock, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the common stock. The issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of common stock and reduce the likelihood that common stockholders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation. The issuance of preferred stock could also have the effect of decreasing the market price of the common stock and could delay, deter or prevent a change in control of our company.

The particular terms of any series of preferred stock that we offer under this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. Those terms may include:

• the title and liquidation preference per share of the preferred stock and the number of shares offered;

• the purchase price of the preferred stock;

• the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends will be paid, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date from which dividends will begin to accumulate;

• any redemption or sinking fund provisions of the preferred stock;

• any conversion, redemption or exchange provisions of the preferred stock;

• the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; and

• any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions of the preferred stock.

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If the terms of any series of preferred stock being offered differ from the terms set forth in this prospectus, those terms will also be disclosed in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to that series of preferred stock. The summary in this prospectus is not complete. You should refer to the certificate of designations establishing a particular series of preferred stock which will be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New Mexico and the SEC in connection with the offering of the preferred stock.

Each prospectus supplement may describe certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase, holding and disposition of the preferred stock that prospectus supplement covers.

Dividend Rights. The preferred stock will be preferred over the common stock as to payment of dividends. Before any dividends or distributions (other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock or other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation) on the common stock or other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to dividends and upon liquidation shall be declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock (unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors or, if dividends are cumulative, full cumulative dividends for the current and all prior dividend periods. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of preferred stock, or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock that has cumulative dividends, the dividends on each share of the series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless some other date is set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series. Accruals of dividends will not bear interest. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the relative ranking of the particular series of the preferred stock as to the payment of dividends, as compared with then-existing and future series of preferred stock.

Rights Upon Liquidation. The preferred stock of each series will be preferred over the common stock and other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock as to assets, so that the holders of that series of preferred stock (unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement) will be entitled to be paid, upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock and other stock ranking junior to that series of preferred stock, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. However, in this case the holders of preferred stock of that series will not be entitled to any other or further payment. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in amounts proportional to the full amounts to which the holders of each series are entitled, subject to any provisions of any series of preferred stock that rank it junior or senior to other series of preferred stock upon liquidation. The applicable prospectus supplement will indicate the relative ranking of the particular series of the preferred stock upon liquidation, as compared with then-existing and future series of preferred stock.

Conversion, Redemption or Exchange Rights. The shares of a series of preferred stock will be convertible at the option of the holder of the preferred stock, redeemable at our option or the holder, as applicable, or exchangeable at our option, into another security, in each case, to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Voting Rights. Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or as otherwise from time to time required by law, the holders of preferred stock will have no voting rights.

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Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions

The following discussion is a summary of certain material provisions of our Restated Articles of Incorporation, which could have anti-takeover effects.

Advance Notice of Shareholder Proposals and Nominations. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation establish an advance notice procedure for shareholders to make nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business before a meeting of our shareholders. This advance notice procedure provides that only persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors, or by a shareholder who has given timely written notice to our Secretary prior to the meeting at which directors are to be elected, will be eligible for election as our directors and that, at an annual meeting, only such business may be conducted as has been brought before the meeting by, or at the direction of, our Board of Directors or by a shareholder who has given timely written notice to our Secretary of such shareholder’s intention to bring such business before such meeting.

Notice will be timely if our Secretary receives it not less than 35 nor more than 50 days before the meeting, unless we have given less than 45 days prior notice or public disclosure of the meeting, in which case the shareholder will have until the 10th day after we gave notice or made public disclosure of the meeting to give notice. In the case of nominations for directors, our Restated Articles of Incorporation further require that the shareholder’s notice set forth certain information concerning the shareholder and the nominee. In the case of proposed business, the shareholder’s notice shall briefly describe the business and the reasons for considering it, state the shareholder’s name and address, represent that the shareholder is entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting, and state any material interest of the shareholder in the proposed business. The chairman of the meeting will have the power to receive a notice relating to a shareholder nomination or a proposal for business and will not accept nominations and proposals not made in accordance with these procedures. This provision requires notices in addition to those currently required by law to permit shareholders to make proposals at any meetings of shareholders.

The advance notice requirements allow our Board of Directors to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees for the reasons for the proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our Board of Directors, to inform shareholders about those qualifications or reasons. Although these provisions do not give our Board of Directors any power to approve or disapprove shareholder nominations for election of directors or proposals for other business, they may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or proposals for other business if the procedures set forth in our Restated Articles of Incorporation are not followed and may discourage or deter a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or to propose other business, without regard to whether this might be harmful or beneficial to us and our shareholders.

Super-Majority Vote. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation require the affirmative vote of 66.6% of our outstanding shares entitled to vote on the merger, consolidation, sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of our assets if the offeror or any affiliate of the offeror owns of record, or owns beneficially, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of any class of our equity securities.

Blank Check Preferred Stock. Our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for one or more classes of preferred stock, which must be separately identified. The shares of any such class may be divided into and issued in series, with each series separately designated to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. Our preferred stock could be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect in that, if a hostile takeover situation should arise, shares of our preferred stock could be issued to purchasers sympathetic with our management or others in such a way as to render more difficult or to discourage a merger, tender offer, proxy contest, the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of our securities or the removal of incumbent management.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

The following description of the depositary shares does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt relating to the preferred stock that is attached to the deposit agreement. You should read these documents as they, and not this description, define your rights as a holder of depositary shares. Forms of these documents have been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

If we elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, we will provide for the issuance by a depositary to the public of receipts for depositary shares. Each depositary share will represent fractional interests of preferred stock. We will deposit the shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares under a deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company selected by us. The bank or trust company must have its principal office in the United States and a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million. The depositary receipts will evidence the depositary shares issued under the deposit agreement.

The deposit agreement will contain terms applicable to the holders of depositary shares in addition to the terms stated in the depositary receipts. Each owner of depositary shares will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in the underlying shares of preferred stock. The depositary will issue the depositary receipts to individuals purchasing the fractional interests in shares of the related preferred stock according to the terms of the offering described in a prospectus supplement.

Dividends and Other Distributions

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received for the preferred stock to the entitled record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares that the holder owns on the relevant record date. The depositary will distribute only an amount that can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent. The depositary will add the undistributed balance to and treat it as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to holders of depositary shares.

If there is a non-cash distribution, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the entitled record holders of depositary shares, in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines, after consultation with us, that it is not feasible to make such distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders. The deposit agreement also will contain provisions relating to how any subscription or similar rights that we may offer to holders of the preferred stock will be available to the holders of the depositary shares.

Conversion, Exchange and Redemption

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares may be converted or exchanged, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares represented by the depositary receipts.

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, at the same time, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock. The depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds it receives from the corresponding redemption, in whole or in part, of the applicable series of preferred stock. The depositary will mail notice of redemption to the record holders of the depositary shares that are to be redeemed between 30 and 60 days before the date fixed for redemption. The

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redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share on the applicable series of preferred stock. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary will select which shares to be redeemed by lot, proportionate allocation or any other method.

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will end, except the right to receive money, securities or other property payable upon redemption.

Voting

When the depositary receives notice of a meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the particulars of the meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares. Each record holder of depositary shares on the record date may instruct the depositary on how to vote the shares of preferred stock underlying the holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will try, if practical, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares according to the instructions. The depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred stock. We will agree to take all reasonable action requested by the depositary to enable it to vote as instructed.

Record Date

Whenever (1) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or privileges shall be offered with respect to the preferred stock, or (2) the depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of preferred stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of preferred stock are entitled to notice, or of the mandatory conversion of or any election on our part to call for the redemption of any preferred stock, the depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same as the record date for the preferred stock) for the determination of the holders of depositary receipts (x) who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof or (y) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of such meeting or of such redemption or conversion, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement.

Amendments

We and the depositary may agree to amend the deposit agreement and the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares. Any amendment that (a) imposes or increases certain fees, taxes or other charges payable by the holders of the depositary shares as described in the deposit agreement or that (b) otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of holders of depositary shares, will not take effect until 30 days after the depositary has mailed notice of the amendment to the record holders of depositary shares. Any holder of depositary shares that continues to hold its shares at the end of the 30-day period will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment.

Termination

We may direct the depositary to terminate the deposit agreement by mailing a notice of termination to holders of depositary shares at least 30 days prior to termination. In addition, a deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

• the depositary has redeemed all related outstanding depositary shares; or

• we have liquidated, terminated or wound up our business and the depositary has distributed the preferred stock of the relevant series to the holders of the related depositary shares.

The depositary may likewise terminate the deposit agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the depositary shall have delivered to us a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall

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not have been appointed and accepted its appointment. If any depositary receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination, the depositary thereafter will discontinue the transfer of depositary receipts, will suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof, and will not give any further notices (other than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts under the deposit agreement except as provided below and except that the depositary will continue (1) to collect dividends on the preferred stock and any other distributions with respect thereto and (2) to deliver the preferred stock together with such dividends and distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of rights, preferences, privileges or other property, without liability for interest thereon, in exchange for depositary receipts surrendered. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, the depositary may sell the preferred stock then held by it at public or private sales, at such place or places and upon such terms as it deems proper and may thereafter hold the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money and other property then held by it, without liability for interest thereon, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of depositary receipts which have not been surrendered.

Payment of Fees and Expenses

We will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the depositary, including the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are stated in the deposit agreement for their accounts.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

At any time, the depositary may resign by delivering notice to us, and we may remove the depositary. Resignations or removals will take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of the appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Reports

The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required by law, the rules of an applicable securities exchange or our Restated Articles of Incorporation to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if the depositary is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary’s obligations to performance in good faith of the duties stated in the deposit agreement. Neither we nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding connected with any depositary shares or preferred stock unless the holders of depositary shares requesting us to do so furnish us with satisfactory indemnity. In performing our obligations, we and the depositary may rely upon the written advice of our counsel or accountants, on any information that competent people provide to us and on documents that we believe are genuine.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following descriptions of the debt securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the indenture, a form of which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any future supplemental indenture or similar document also will be so filed. You should read the indenture and any supplemental indenture or similar document because they, and not this description, define your rights as holder of our debt securities. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either our senior debt (“Senior Debt Securities”), our senior subordinated debt (“Senior Subordinated Debt Securities”), our subordinated debt (“Subordinated Debt Securities”) or our junior subordinated debt (“Junior Subordinated Debt Securities” and, together with the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities, the “Subordinated Securities”). The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named therein. Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.

General Terms of the Indenture

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of any debt securities protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or “OID,” because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:

• the title;

• the aggregate principal amount;

• whether issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons;

• whether issued in the form of one or more global securities and whether all or a portion of the principal amount of the debt securities is represented thereby;

• the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;

• the date or dates on which principal is payable;

• the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium or interest will be payable and the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for transfer and, if applicable, conversion or exchange;

• interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable;

• the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

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• our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities, including sinking fund or partial redemption payments;

• conversion or exchange provisions, if any, including conversion or exchange prices or rates and adjustments thereto;

• the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest;

• the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount;

• the terms, if any, pursuant to which any debt securities will be subordinate to any of our other debt;

• if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

• if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;

• any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities;

• if applicable, covenants affording holders of debt protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us; and

• any other specific terms of any debt securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or quoted, if any.

Debt securities issued by us will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time without consent of any holder.

Senior Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Debt Securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Senior Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Subordinated Debt Securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Senior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior and senior subordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

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Junior Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Junior Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior, senior subordinated and subordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Junior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Junior Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or property. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

• the conversion or exchange price;

• the conversion or exchange period;

• provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

• events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

• provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

We cannot consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease all or substantially all of our assets to, any person unless (a) we will be the continuing corporation or (b) the successor corporation or person to which our assets are transferred or leased is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and it expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture. In addition, we cannot effect such a transaction unless immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default or event of default under the indenture shall have occurred and be continuing. Subject to certain exceptions, when the person to whom our assets are transferred or leased has assumed our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, we shall be discharged from all our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture, except in limited circumstances.

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of us or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture, means any of the following:

• failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; provided that an extension of an interest payment period in accordance with the terms of the debt securities shall not constitute a failure to pay interest;

• failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

• failure to make sinking fund payments when due;

• failure to perform any other covenant for 90 days after notice that performance was required;

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• events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; or

• any other Event of Default provided in the applicable resolution of our board of directors or the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture under which we issue series of debt securities.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. If an Event of Default relating to the payment of interest, principal or any sinking fund installment involving any series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately.

If an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing for a period of 90 days after notice of such, or if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of Senior Debt Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt Securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt Securities due and payable immediately.

Similarly, if an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing for a period of 90 days after notice of such, or if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of Subordinated Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Subordinated Securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of Subordinated Securities due and payable immediately.

If, however, the Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants or any other Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing is for less than all of the series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, then, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of the Senior Debt Securities or the Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, may declare the entire principal amount of all debt securities of such affected series due and payable immediately. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the above-described declarations and consequences involving the series.

If an Event of Default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except as provided below, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

• the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of default and continuance of that default;

• the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested that the trustee institute the action;

• the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it for expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

• the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request; and

• the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series.

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, each holder of debt securities of any series has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on such debt securities when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired without the consent of that holder of debt securities.

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by one of our officers, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

Registered Global Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that we will deposit with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities.

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

• by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee; or

• by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

• by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

• ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the registered global security, those persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

• upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

• any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and

• ownership of any beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of any ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants).

The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

• will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

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• will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in the definitive form; and

• will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. None of First State, the trustee or any other agent of First State or the trustee will be responsible or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In such event, we will issue debt securities of that series in a definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in such name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.

We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities.” We will deposit these bearer global securities with a common depositary for Euroclear System and Clearstream Bank Luxembourg, Societe Anonyme, or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, with respect to the portion of the series represented by a bearer global security.

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Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordination provisions applicable to any Subordinated Securities will be expressly made subject to the discharge and defeasance provisions of the indenture.

We may discharge our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year (or are scheduled for redemption within one year). We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time (“legal defeasance”). We also may be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an Event of Default (“covenant defeasance”). We may effect defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

• we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity (or upon redemption) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding debt securities of the series; and

• we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance and that legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the series of debt securities, which opinion, in the case of legal defeasance, must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law.

Although we may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to:

• secure any debt securities;

• evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations;

• add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities;

• cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture;

• establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series; and

• evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee.

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of all series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated

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Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected (voting as one class), add any provisions to, or change in any manner, eliminate or modify in any way the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

• extend the final maturity of any debt security;

• reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

• reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

• reduce any amount payable on redemption;

• change the currency in which the principal (other than as may be provided otherwise with respect to a series), premium, if any, or interest is payable;

• reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

• modify any of the subordination provisions or the definition of senior indebtedness applicable to any Subordinated Securities in a manner adverse to the holders of those securities;

• alter provisions of the indenture relating to the debt securities not denominated in U.S. dollars;

• impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; or

• reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture.

Concerning the Trustee

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee with respect to that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.

The indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of First State, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series of debt securities, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture, would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities, and would not involve any trustee in personal liability. The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be known to any trustee and not be cured, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trustee’s power. Subject to these provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

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No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

The indenture provides that no incorporator and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, of us or any successor corporation in their capacity as such shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law and New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 327(b).

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

General

We may issue debt warrants for the purchase of debt securities or stock warrants for the purchase of preferred stock or common stock.

The warrants will be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all to be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any or all warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered. Copies of the form of agreement for each warrant, including the forms of certificates representing the warrants reflecting the provisions to be included in such agreements that will be entered into with respect to the particular offerings of each type of warrant are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants, warrant agreements and warrant certificates does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreements and warrant certificates, including the definitions therein of certain terms.

Debt Warrants

General. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of debt warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the debt securities warrant agreement relating to such debt warrants and the debt warrant certificates representing such debt warrants, including the following:

• the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such debt warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such debt warrants;

• the designation and terms of any related debt securities with which such debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each such debt security;

• the date, if any, on and after which such debt warrants and any related offered securities will be separately transferable;

• the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of each debt warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;

• the date on which the right to exercise such debt warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

• a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the ownership or exercise of debt warrants;

• whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be transferred and registered;

• call provisions of such debt warrants, if any; and

• any other terms of the debt warrants.

The debt warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and debt warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their debt warrants, holders of debt warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise.

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Exercise of Debt Warrants. Each debt warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such principal amount of debt securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unexercised debt warrants will become void.

Debt warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the debt warrants. Upon receipt of payment and the debt warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the debt warrants represented by such debt warrant certificate are exercised, a new debt warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of debt warrants.

Stock Warrants

General. Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of stock warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the stock warrant agreement relating to such stock warrants and the stock warrant certificates representing such stock warrants, including the following:

• the type and number of shares of preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon exercise of such stock warrants and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such stock warrants;

• the date, if any, on and after which such stock warrants and related offered securities will be separately tradeable;

• the offering price of such stock warrants, if any;

• the initial price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise of stock warrants and any provision with respect to the adjustment thereof;

• the date on which the right to exercise such stock warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;

• a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the ownership or exercise of stock warrants;

• call provisions of such stock warrants, if any;

• any other terms of the stock warrants;

• anti-dilution provisions of the stock warrants, if any; and

• information relating to any preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such stock warrants.

The stock warrant certificates will be exchangeable for new stock warrant certificates of different denominations and stock warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Prior to the exercise of their stock warrants, holders of stock warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise, and will not be entitled to any dividend payments on such capital stock purchasable upon such exercise.

Exercise of Stock Warrants. Each stock warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such number of shares of preferred stock or common stock, as the case may be, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the stock warrants offered thereby. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, stock warrants may be exercised at any time up to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date, unexercised stock warrants will become void.

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Stock warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating thereto. Upon receipt of payment and the stock warrant certificates properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward a certificate representing the number of shares of capital stock purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the stock warrants represented by such stock warrant certificate are exercised, a new stock warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of stock warrants.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Any of the securities being offered hereby and in any accompanying prospectus supplement may be sold in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:

• directly to purchasers;

• through agents;

• to or through underwriters;

• through dealers;

• directly to our stockholders; or

• through a combination of any such methods of sale.

The distribution of the securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.

We may solicit offers to purchase directly. Offers to purchase securities also may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

If securities are sold by means of an underwritten offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with an underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, the respective amounts underwritten and the terms of the transaction, including commissions, discounts and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement which will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered to the public. If underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of such securities will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.

We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities, to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public offering price (with additional underwriting commissions or discounts), as may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto. If we grant any over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for such securities.

If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and their terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

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Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof. The terms of any such sales will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

We may offer our equity securities into an existing trading market on the terms described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters and dealers who may participate in any at-the-market offerings will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which such agents, underwriters and dealers may be required to make in respect thereof.

Any underwriter may engage in stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions in accordance with Rule 104 under Regulation M. Rule 104 permits stabilizing bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. The underwriters may over-allot shares of the securities in connection with an offering of securities, thereby creating a short position in the underwriters’ account. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing and syndicate covering transactions may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be in the absence of such transactions. These transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

We may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

The anticipated date of delivery of securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to each offer.

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EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The audit report covering the December 31, 2006 financial statements refers to a change in accounting for share-based transactions.

The Baker Group Software Solution, Inc., an independent pricing service, provided us with fair value measurements for investment securities as of September 30, 2008 in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

LEGAL MATTERS

In connection with particular offerings of securities in the future, and if stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the validity of those securities may be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California or Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, LLP, Santa Fe, New Mexico, as applicable.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC also maintains an internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us. You can also inspect reports, proxy statements and other information about us at the offices of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., Investor Relations, One Liberty Plaza, 50^th Floor, New York, New York 10006.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, and any future filings we make with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until our offering is completed.

The following documents filed by us with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this prospectus:

• Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007;

• Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008, June 30, 2008 and September 30, 2008;

• Current Reports on Form 8-K dated June 9, 2008, July 8, 2008, September 29, 2008 and December 30, 2008; and

• the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated April 25, 1997.

You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or calling us at the following address and telephone number: Christopher C. Spencer, Chief Financial Officer, 7900 Jefferson, N.E., Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, (505) 241-7154. Our telephone number is (505) 241-7500.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of the document.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered hereby, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. All such expenses are to be paid by the Registrant:

SEC registration fee	$	3,930
FINRA filing fee		10,500
Accounting fees and expenses		100,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses (including fees of counsel)		10,000
Rating agency fees		150,000
Trustee’s and registrar’s fee and expenses		5,000
Legal fees and expenses (other than Blue Sky)		100,000
Printing and engraving expenses		50,000
Miscellaneous		30,570
Total	$	460,000

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 53-11-4.1 of the New Mexico Business Corporation Act empowers a corporation to indemnify any officer or director against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements, and reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, if the person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. In an action, suit, or proceeding by or in right of the corporation, indemnification is only permitted for its officer’s or director’s reasonable expenses and is not permitted at for if the person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. In addition, a director or officer shall not be indemnified where the person was adjudged to be liable on the basis that the person improperly received a personal benefit. This section also empowers a corporation to maintain insurance or furnish similar protection, including, but not limited to, providing a trust fund, a letter of credit, or self-insurance, on behalf of any officer of director against any liability asserted against the person in such capacity, regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of this section.

The indemnification authorized by Section 53-11-4.1 is not exclusive of any other rights to which an officer of director may be entitled under the articles of incorporation, the bylaws, an agreement, a resolution of shareholders or directors or otherwise.

Our Bylaws provide that our current and former officers and directors shall be indemnified to the fullest extent authorized by law against any all expenses, liabilities and losses (including, without limitation, investigation expenses and expert witnesses’ and attorneys’ fees and expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and settlements) actually incurred by the person in connection with any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative, based upon or relating to such person’s capacity as a director or officer. However, we shall indemnity that person in an action, suit or proceeding initiated by that person only if a two-thirds vote of our Board of Directors has authorized that action, suit or proceeding. We shall not indemnify any of our officers or directors for any civil money penalty, judgment or other liability or legal expenses in connection with any proceeding or civil action instituted by any federal banking agency that results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which that officer or director is assessed a civil money penalty, is removed from office or is required to cease and desist from, or to take any affirmative action described in, Section 8(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.

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In addition, our Restated Articles of Incorporation exculpate our directors from liability for monetary damages for breaches of their fiduciary duties to us, except where the person has breached or failed to perform their duties in compliance with Section 53-11-35 of the New Mexico Business Corporation Act and the breach or failure constitutes willful misconduct or recklessness (or negligence in the case where the person has an ownership interest in us or received compensation of more than $2,000 in any calendar year from us as a director or employee).

We have employment agreements with certain of our senior executives. Under the terms the agreements, we will indemnify, defend and hold harmless each executive against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses (including attorney fees), liabilities, judgments or amounts paid in settlement of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation which arises out of such person serving in his capacity as our employee or executive and pertaining to any matter or fact arising, existing or occurring before a change of control to the fullest extent permitted under applicable New Mexico or federal law, our Restated Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.

We provide liability insurance for each director and officer for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as our directors or officers.

Item 16. Exhibits.

The following exhibits are filed with this Registration Statement:

Exhibit No.	Description
1.1*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt).
1.2*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity).
1.3*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Warrants).
4.1	Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form S-2, Commission File No. 333-24417, filed with the Commission on April 25, 1997).
4.2	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on March 16, 2006).
4.3	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on August 9, 2006).
4.4	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on August 11, 2008).
4.5	Amended Bylaws of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on May 15, 2003).
4.6	Form of Debt Securities Indenture.
4.7	Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.8	Form of Warrant Agreement (Stock) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.9	Form of Warrant Agreement (Debt) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.10*	Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock.
5.1*	Opinion of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, LLP.
5.2*	Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP.
12.1	Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

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Exhibit No.	Description
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2*	Consent of The Baker Group Software Solution, Inc.
23.3*	Consent of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4*	Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1	Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to the Registration Statement).

* To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference prior to the offering of securities.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 that is part of this registration statement.

(2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) that, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement

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as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(5) that, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities: The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or an behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Albuquerque, State of New Mexico, on December 30, 2008.

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:	/S/    MICHAEL R. STANFORD
	Michael R. Stanford President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Michael R. Stanford, H. Patrick Dee, and Christopher C. Spencer and each of them acting alone, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments and a registration statement registering additional securities pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, and to file them, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto the attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signatures	Title	Date
/S/    MICHAEL R. STANFORD         Michael R. Stanford	President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)	December 30, 2008
/S/    H. PATRICK DEE         H. Patrick Dee	Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, Treasurer and Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    CHRISTOPHER C. SPENCER         Christopher C. Spencer	Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)	December 30, 2008
/S/    NEDRA MATTEUCCI         Nedra Matteucci	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    LOWELL A. HARE         Lowell A. Hare	Director	December 30, 2008

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Signatures	Title	Date
/S/    A. J. (JIM) WELLS         A. J. (Jim) Wells	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    DANIEL H. LOPEZ, PH.D.         Daniel H. Lopez, Ph.D.	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    LEONARD J. DELAYO, JR.         Leonard J. DeLayo, Jr.	Chairman of the Board	December 30, 2008
/S/    KATHLEEN L. AVILA         Kathleen L. Avila	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    LINDA S. CHILDEARS         Linda S. Childears	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    GARREY E. CARRUTHERS, PH.D.         Garrey E. Carruthers, Ph.D.	Director	December 30, 2008
/S/    MICHAEL J. BLAKE         Michael J. Blake	Director	December 30, 2008

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
1.1*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt).
1.2*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity).
1.3*	Form of Underwriting Agreement (Warrants).
4.1	Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form S-2, Commission File No. 333-24417, filed with the Commission on April 25, 1997).
4.2	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on March 16, 2006).
4.3	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on August 9, 2006).
4.4	Articles of Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on August 11, 2008).
4.5	Amended Bylaws of First State Bancorporation (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Commission File No. 001-12487, filed with the Commission on May 15, 2003).
4.6	Form of Debt Securities Indenture.
4.7	Form of Deposit Agreement.
4.8	Form of Warrant Agreement (Stock) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.9	Form of Warrant Agreement (Debt) (including form of Warrant Certificate).
4.10*	Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock.
5.1*	Opinion of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, LLP.
5.2*	Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP.
12.1	Statement of computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1	Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2*	Consent of The Baker Group Software Solution, Inc.
23.3*	Consent of Hinkle, Hensley, Shanor & Martin, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4*	Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2).
24.1	Power of Attorney (included in the signature page to the Registration Statement).

* To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference.

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EX-4.6

Exhibit 4.6

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

and

                                , as Trustee

Indenture

Dated as of             , 2008

Debt Securities

CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*

Between

Provisions of Trust Indenture Act (as defined herein) and Indenture, dated as of             , 2008, between FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION and                         , as Trustee:

SECTION OF THE ACT	SECTION OF INDENTURE
310(a)(1) and (2)	6.9
310(a)(3) and (4)	Inapplicable
310(b)	6.8 and 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c)	Inapplicable
311(a)	6.14
311(b)	6.14
311(c)	Inapplicable
312(a)	4.1 and 4.2
312(b)	4.2
312(c)	4.2
313(a)	4.3
313(b)(1)	Inapplicable
313(b)(2)	4.3
313(c)	4.3, 5.11, 6.10, 6.11, 8.2
	and 12.2
313(d)	4.3
314(a)	3.5 and 4.2
314(b)	Inapplicable
314(c)(1) and (2)	11.5
314(c)(3)	Inapplicable
314(d)	Inapplicable
314(e)	11.5
314(f)	Inapplicable
315(a), (c) and (d)	6.1
315(b)	5.11
315(e)	5.12
316(a)(1)	5.9 and 5.10
316(a)(2)	Not required
316(a) (last sentence)	7.4
316(b)	5.7
317(a)	5.2
317(b)	3.4(a) and (b)
318(a)	11.7

* This Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		PAGE
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1	CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED	1
ARTICLE II SECURITIES
SECTION 2.1	FORMS GENERALLY	7
SECTION 2.2	FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION	7
SECTION 2.3	AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES	8
SECTION 2.4	AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES	10
SECTION 2.5	EXECUTION OF SECURITIES	13
SECTION 2.6	CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION	13
SECTION 2.7	DENOMINATION AND DATE OF SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST	14
SECTION 2.8	REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE	14
SECTION 2.9	MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES	18
SECTION 2.10	CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DESTRUCTION THEREOF	19
SECTION 2.11	TEMPORARY SECURITIES	19
SECTION 2.12	CUSIP NUMBERS	19
ARTICLE III COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER
SECTION 3.1	PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST	20
SECTION 3.2	OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC.	20
SECTION 3.3	APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE	21
SECTION 3.4	PAYING AGENTS	21
SECTION 3.5	COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES	22
SECTION 3.6	CORPORATE EXISTENCE	22
SECTION 3.7	LUXEMBOURG PUBLICATIONS	23
SECTION 3.8	CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT	23
ARTICLE IV SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 4.1	ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION AS TO NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS	23
SECTION 4.2	REPORTS BY THE ISSUER	23
SECTION 4.3	REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE	24

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ARTICLE V REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 5.1	EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; WAIVER OF DEFAULT	24
SECTION 5.2	COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT	28
SECTION 5.3	APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS	29
SECTION 5.4	SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT	31
SECTION 5.5	RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS	31
SECTION 5.6	LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY HOLDERS	31
SECTION 5.7	UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN SUITS	32
SECTION 5.8	POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT	32
SECTION 5.9	CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES	32
SECTION 5.10	WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS	32
SECTION 5.11	TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT MAY WITHHOLD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES	33
SECTION 5.12	RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS	33
ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 6.1	DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE; DURING DEFAULT; PRIOR TO DEFAULT	34
SECTION 6.2	CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE	35
SECTION 6.3	TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS THEREOF	36
SECTION 6.4	TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES OR COUPONS; COLLECTIONS, ETC.	37
SECTION 6.5	MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE	37
SECTION 6.6	COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR CLAIM	37
SECTION 6.7	RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE, ETC.	37
SECTION 6.8	[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]	38
SECTION 6.9	QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE: CONFLICTING INTERESTS	38
SECTION 6.10	PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS TRUSTEE	38
SECTION 6.11	RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE	38
SECTION 6.12	ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE	40
SECTION 6.13	MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE	41

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SECTION 6.14	PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE ISSUER	41
SECTION 6.15	APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT	41
ARTICLE VII CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 7.1	EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITYHOLDERS	42
SECTION 7.2	PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND OF HOLDING OF SECURITIES	43
SECTION 7.3	HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS	43
SECTION 7.4	SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING	43
SECTION 7.5	RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN	44
ARTICLE VIII SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 8.1	SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS	44
SECTION 8.2	SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS	45
SECTION 8.3	EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE	47
SECTION 8.4	DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE	47
SECTION 8.5	NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES	47
ARTICLE IX CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
SECTION 9.1	ISSUER MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS	48
SECTION 9.2	SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED	48
SECTION 9.3	OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE	48
ARTICLE X SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS
SECTION 10.1	SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE	49
SECTION 10.2	APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR PAYMENT OF SECURITIES	52
SECTION 10.3	REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT	52
SECTION 10.4	RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT UNCLAIMED FOR TWO YEARS	52
SECTION 10.5	INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OF OBLIGATIONS	53
SECTION 10.6	EFFECT ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS	53

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ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 11.1	INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ISSUER EXEMPT FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY	54
SECTION 11.2	PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF PARTIES AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS	54
SECTION 11.3	SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY INDENTURE	54
SECTION 11.4	NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS	54
SECTION 11.5	OFFICER’S CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL; STATEMENTS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN	55
SECTION 11.6	PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS	56
SECTION 11.7	CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT	56
SECTION 11.8	NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	56
SECTION 11.9	COUNTERPARTS	57
SECTION 11.10	EFFECT OF HEADINGS	57
SECTION 11.11	SECURITIES IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY	57
SECTION 11.12	JUDGMENT CURRENCY	57
SECTION 11.13	AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE	58
SECTION 11.14	FORCE MAJEURE	58
ARTICLE XII REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS
SECTION 12.1	APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE	58
SECTION 12.2	NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS	58
SECTION 12.3	PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION	60
SECTION 12.4	EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION	61
SECTION 12.5	MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS	61

iv

THIS INDENTURE, dated as of                     , by and between FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION, a New Mexico corporation (the “Issuer”), and                                 , a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”),

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issue from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”) up to such principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done;

NOW, THEREFORE:

In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Securities and of the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1 CERTAIN TERMS DEFINED. The following terms (except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”), or the definitions of which in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), are referred to in the Trust Indenture Act, including terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meaning assigned to such terms in the Trust Indenture Act and in the Securities Act as in effect from time to time. 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 at the time of any computation unless a different time shall be specified with respect to such series of Securities as provided for in Section 2.3. 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. The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

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“Affiliate” has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor provision.

“Authenticating Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.15.

“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper (which, in the case of The City of New York, will, if practicable, be The Wall Street Journal (Eastern Edition), in the case of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the “United Kingdom”), will, if practicable, be The Financial Times (London Edition) and, in the case of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“Luxembourg”), will, if practicable, be the Luxemburger Wort) published in an official or common language of the country of publication customarily published at least once a day for at least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in The City of New York, the United Kingdom or Luxembourg, as applicable. If it shall be impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof which is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

“Board of Directors” means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.

“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions, certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted or consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect, and delivered to the Trustee.

“Business Day” means, with respect to any Security, a day that is not a day on which banking institutions in the city (or in any of the cities, if more than one) in which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such Security, are authorized or required by any applicable law or regulation to be closed.

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any corporation, any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase (other than convertible or exchangeable indebtedness that is not itself otherwise capital stock), warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests (however designated) in stock issued by that corporation.

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

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office is, as of the date of this Indenture, located at                                 .

“Coupon” means any interest coupon appertaining to an Unregistered Security.

“Covenant Defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(C).

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“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Registered Global Securities of that series.

“Dollar” or “$” means the coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock or partnership, participation or membership interests).

“Event of Default” means any event or condition specified as such in Section 5.1.

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

“Fair Value” when used with respect to any Voting Equity Interests of the Issuer means the fair value as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Issuer.

“Foreign Currency” means any coin, currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries, other than the United States of America or by any internationally recognized union, confederation or association of such governments.

“Holder,” “Holder of Securities,” “Securityholder” or any other similar terms mean (a) in the case of any Registered Security, the person in whose name such Security is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) in the case of any Unregistered Security, the bearer of such Security, or any Coupon appertaining thereto, as the case may be.

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder, provided, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to one or more series of Securities for which such person is trustee, this instrument as originally executed and delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated hereunder, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

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“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service of the United States Department of the Treasury, or any successor entity.

“Issuer” means (except as otherwise provided in Article IX) First State Bancorporation, a New Mexico corporation, and, subject to Article IX, its successors and assigns.

“Issuer Order” means a written statement, request or order of the Issuer signed in its name by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer.

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

“Non-U.S. Person” means any person that is not a “U.S. person” as such term is defined in Rule 902 of the Securities Act.

“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president or any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and include the statements provided for in Section 11.5.

“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel who may be an employee of the Issuer or other counsel satisfactory to the Trustee. Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and include the statements provided for in Section 11.5.

“Original Issue Date” of any Security (or portion thereof) means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

“Outstanding” (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4), when used with reference to Securities, means, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

(a) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

(b) Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (as provided for in Section 10.1) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent), provided, that if such Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or provisions satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

4

(c) Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer).

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of a series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the stated maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, business trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

“principal” whenever used with reference to the Securities or any Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include “and premium, if any,” provided, however, that such inclusion of premium, if any, shall under no circumstances result in the double counting of such premium for the purpose of any calculation required hereunder.

“record date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

“Registered Global Security” means a Security evidencing all or a part of a series of Registered Securities, issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 2.4, and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.4 and any other legend required by the Depositary for such series.

“Registered Security” means any Security registered on the Security register of the Issuer.

“Required Currency” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.12.

“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any vice president (whether or not designated by numbers or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), any assistant trust officer, any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.

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“Security” or “Securities” (except as otherwise provided in Section 7.4) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture, or, as the case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Senior Indebtedness”, when used with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, shall have the meaning established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series.

“Senior Securities” means Securities other than Subordinated Securities.

“Subordinated Securities” means Securities that by the terms established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) are subordinated in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness of the Issuer.

“Subordination Provisions”, when used with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, shall have the meaning established pursuant to Subsection 2.3(9) with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series.

“Subsidiary,” with respect to any Person, means (i) a corporation a majority of whose Voting Equity Interests is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person, by such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or by one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person, one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, or such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person, directly or indirectly, at the date of determination thereof has at least majority ownership interest, or (iii) a partnership in which such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person is, at the time, a general partner.

“Trustee” means the Person identified as “Trustee” in the first paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article VI, shall also include any successor trustee. “Trustee” shall also mean or include each Person who is then a trustee hereunder, and, if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

“Unregistered Security” means any Security other than a Registered Security.

“U.S. Government Obligations” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(A).

“Voting Equity Interests” means Equity Interests which at the time are entitled to vote in the election of, as applicable, directors, members or partners generally; provided, that, for the purposes hereof, Equity Interests that carry only the right to vote conditionally on the happening of an event shall not be considered Voting Equity Interests whether or not such event shall have happened.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

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ARTICLE II

SECURITIES

SECTION 2.1 FORMS GENERALLY. The Securities of each series and the Coupons, if any, to be attached thereto shall be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate detailing such establishment) or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may be determined by the officers executing such Securities and Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and Coupons.

The definitive Securities and Coupons, if any, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities and Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities and Coupons, if any.

SECTION 2.2 FORM OF TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the following form:

“This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

, as Trustee
By
	Authorized Signatory”

If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be borne by the Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:

“This is one of the Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

as Authenticating Agent
By
	Authorized Signatory”

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SECTION 2.3 AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and to the extent established pursuant to but not set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officer’s Certificate detailing such establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series,

(1) the designation of the Securities of the series, which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from the Securities of all other series, and which may be part of a series of Securities previously issued;

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of, transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or 12.3);

(3) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency or Foreign Currencies in which the Securities of the series are denominated;

(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, on which such interest shall be payable, the terms and conditions of any deferral of interest and the additional interest, if any, thereon, the right, if any, of the Issuer to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions and (in the case of Registered Securities) the date or dates on which a record shall be taken for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable and/or the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;

(6) the place or places where and the manner in which, the principal of and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, if other than as provided in Section 3.2;

(7) the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem Securities, in whole or in part, at its option and the period or periods within which, or the date or dates on which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be so redeemed, pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

8

(8) the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and any terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

(9) if the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, the terms pursuant to which the Securities of such series will be made subordinate in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness and the definition of such Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series (in the absence of an express statement to the effect that the Securities of such series are subordinate in right of payment to all such Senior Indebtedness, the Securities of such series shall not be subordinate to Senior Indebtedness and shall not constitute Subordinated Securities); and, in the event that the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, such Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture, as the case may be, establishing the terms of such series shall expressly state which articles, sections or other provisions thereof constitute the “Subordination Provisions” with respect to the Securities of such series;

(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof in the case of Registered Securities, or $1,000 and $5,000 in the case of Unregistered Securities, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

(11) the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities will be issued, and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof and the terms and conditions of any acceleration;

(12) if other than the coin, currency or currencies in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the coin, currency or currencies in which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series shall be payable, including composite currencies or currency units;

(13) if the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a Holder thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

(14) if the amount of payments of principal of and interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula based on a coin, currency, composite currency or currency unit other than that in which the Securities of the series are denominated, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

(15) whether the Securities of the series will be issuable as Registered Securities (and if so, whether such Securities will be issuable as Registered Global Securities) or Unregistered Securities (with or without Coupons), or any combination of the foregoing, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Unregistered

9

Securities or the payment of interest thereon and, if other than as provided in Section 2.8, the terms upon which Unregistered Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series and vice versa;

(16) whether and under what circumstances the Issuer will pay additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a person who is not a U.S. person in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Issuer will have the option to redeem the Securities of the series rather than pay such additional amounts;

(17) if the Securities of the series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

(18) any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents or registrars of any other agents with respect to the Securities of such series;

(19) any deletion from, modification of or addition to the Events of Default or covenants with respect to the Securities of such series;

(20) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any other security or property of the Issuer, including, without limitation, securities of another Person held by the Issuer or its Affiliates and, if so, the terms thereof; and

(21) any other terms of the series.

All Securities of any one series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be substantially identical, except in the case of Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate referred to above or as set forth in any indenture supplemental hereto. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time without consent of any Holder, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

SECTION 2.4 AUTHENTICATION AND DELIVERY OF SECURITIES. The Issuer may deliver Securities of any series having attached thereto appropriate Coupons, if any, executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to below in this Section 2.4, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities and Coupons, if any, to or upon the order of the Issuer (contained in the Issuer Order referred to below in this Section) or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order. The maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the Securities of such series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be determined by or pursuant to such Issuer Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent or agents, which instructions, if oral, shall be promptly confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture

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in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in the case of subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) below only at or before the time of the first request of the Issuer to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series) and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, the following enumerated documents unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:

(1) an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities and Coupons, if any, are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Issuer Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or pursuant to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer Order or pursuant to such procedures and (d) if provided for in such procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent or agents, which instructions, if oral, shall be promptly confirmed in writing;

(2) any Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Section 2.1 and 2.3 by or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, were established;

(3) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the form or forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, stating that the form or forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and

(4) At the option of the Issuer, either one or more Opinions of Counsel, or a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting it to rely on one or more Opinions of Counsel, substantially to the effect that:

(a) the form or forms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

(b) in the case of an underwritten offering, the terms of the Securities have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that is not underwritten, certain terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officer’s Certificate or a supplemental indenture in accordance with this Indenture, and when such other terms as are to be established pursuant to procedures set forth in an Issuer Order shall have been established, all such terms will have been duly authorized by the Issuer and will have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

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(c) such Securities and Coupons, if any, when executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will have been duly issued under this Indenture, will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, and will be valid and binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) rights of acceleration, if any, and (iii) the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability and such counsel need express no opinion with regard to the enforceability of Section 6.6 or of a judgment denominated in a currency other than Dollars; and

(d) all conditions precedent to the issuance and authorization of the Securities have been complied with.

In rendering such opinions, any counsel may qualify any opinions as to enforceability by stating that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Any counsel may state that such opinions are limited to matters arising under the laws of the State of New York and the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Mexico. Such counsel may rely upon opinions of other counsel (copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee) reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, in which case the opinion shall state that such counsel believes he and the Trustee are entitled so to rely. Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, he has relied, to the extent he deems proper, upon certificates of officers of the Issuer and its subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.

The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities under this section if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Issuer or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or board of trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or trustees shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.

If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and the Issuer Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more Registered Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series issued and not yet cancelled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of

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the Depositary for such Registered Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or delivered or held pursuant to such Depositary’s instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.”

Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.

SECTION 2.5 EXECUTION OF SECURITIES. The Securities and each Coupon appertaining thereto, if any, shall be signed on behalf of the Issuer by the chairman of its Board of Directors or its president, or any executive (senior or other), a vice president or its secretary, under its corporate seal (except in the case of Coupons) which may, but need not, be attested. Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such officers. The seal of the Issuer may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the Securities or Coupons, if any, shall cease to be such officer before the Security or Coupon so signed (or the Security to which the Coupon so signed appertains) shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuer, such Security or Coupon nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such Security or Coupon had not ceased to be such officer of the Issuer; and any Security or Coupon may be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security or Coupon, shall be the proper officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

SECTION 2.6 CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION. Only such Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. No Coupon shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or shall be valid and obligatory for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Security to which such Coupon appertains shall have been duly executed by the Trustee. The execution of such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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SECTION 2.7 DENOMINATION AND DATE OF SECURITIES; PAYMENT OF INTEREST. The Securities of each series shall be issuable as Registered Securities or Unregistered Securities in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to the Registered Securities of any series, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. If denominations of Unregistered Securities of any series are not so established, such Securities shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and $5,000. The Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Each Unregistered Security shall be dated as provided in the Board Resolution referred to in Section 2.3. The Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by Section 2.3.

The person in whose name any Registered Security of any series is registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Registered Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Registered Securities for such series are registered at the close of business on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of Registered Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date. The term “record date” as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date specified as such in the terms of the Registered Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so established, if such interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the fifteenth day of the preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

SECTION 2.8 REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a) The Issuer will keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Issuer may prescribe, it will provide for the registration of Registered Securities of such series and the registration of transfer of Registered Securities of such series. Such register shall be in written form in the English language or in any other form capable of being converted into such form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the Trustee.

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

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Unregistered Securities (except for any temporary global Unregistered Securities) and Coupons (except for Coupons attached to any temporary global Unregistered Securities) shall be transferable by delivery.

At the option of the Holder thereof, Registered Securities of any series (other than a Registered Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a Registered Security or Registered Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Registered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2 and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. If the Securities of any series are issued in both registered and unregistered form, at the option of the Holder thereof, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3, Unregistered Securities of any series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2, with, in the case of Unregistered Securities that have Coupons attached, all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. At the option of the Holder thereof, if Unregistered Securities of any series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date are issued in more than one authorized denomination, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3, such Unregistered Securities may be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2 or as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, with, in the case of Unregistered Securities that have Coupons attached, all unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided. Registered Securities of any series may not be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such series unless (1) otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.3 and (2) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel that (x) the Issuer has received from the IRS a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that the inclusion of terms permitting Registered Securities to be exchanged for Unregistered Securities would result in no United States Federal income tax effect adverse to the Issuer or to any Holder. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive. All Securities and Coupons, if any, surrendered upon any exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly cancelled and disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its regular procedures, and the Trustee shall deliver a certificate of disposition thereof to the Issuer.

All Registered Securities presented for registration of transfer, exchange, redemption or payment shall (if so required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Issuer and the Trustee duly executed, by the Holder or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

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The Issuer or the registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities. No service charge shall be made for any such transaction.

The Issuer shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days preceding the first mailing of notice of redemption of Securities of such series to be redeemed or (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, a Registered Global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

If at any time the Depositary for any Registered Securities of a series represented by one or more Registered Global Securities notifies the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Registered Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Registered Securities shall no longer be eligible under Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 with respect to such Registered Securities. If a successor Depositary eligible under Section 2.4 for such Registered Securities is not appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer’s election pursuant to Section 2.3 that such Registered Securities be represented by one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be effective and the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities in exchange for such Registered Global Security or Securities.

The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Registered Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a Registered Global Security or Securities. In such event the Issuer will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of any Officer’s Certificate for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities, in exchange for such Registered Global Security or Securities.

If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to Securities represented by a Registered Global Security, the Depositary for such Registered Global Security may surrender such Registered Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of

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the same series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

(i) to the Person specified by such Depositary a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Registered Global Security; and

(ii) to such Depositary a new Registered Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Registered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Registered Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause (i) above.

Upon the exchange of a Registered Global Security for Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, such Registered Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. Securities in definitive registered form without coupons issued in exchange for a Registered Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Registered Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Issuer, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

Notwithstanding anything herein or in the terms of any series of Securities to the contrary, none of the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee (any of which, other than the Issuer, shall conclusively rely on an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel) shall be required to exchange any Unregistered Security for a Registered Security if such exchange would result in United States Federal income tax consequences adverse to the Issuer (such as, for example, the inability of the Issuer to deduct from its income, as computed for United States Federal income tax purposes, the interest payable on the Unregistered Securities) under then applicable United States Federal income tax laws. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Registered Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

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SECTION 2.9 MUTILATED, DEFACED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES. In case any temporary or definitive Security or any Coupon appertaining to any Security shall be mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its discretion may execute and, upon the written request of any officer of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date, bearing a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen with Coupons corresponding to the Coupons appertaining to the Securities so mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, or in exchange or substitution for the Security to which such mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon appertained, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons so mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case, the applicant for a substitute Security or Coupon shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of them harmless and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupon and of the ownership thereof, and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall surrender the Security and related Coupons to the Trustee or such agent.

Upon the issuance of any substitute Security or Coupon, the Issuer or the registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) or its agent connected therewith. In case any Security or Coupon which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same or the relevant Coupon (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated or defaced Security or Coupon), if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupons and of the ownership thereof.

Every substitute Security or Coupon of any series issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security or Coupon is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities or Coupons of such series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. All Securities and Coupons shall be held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, defaced or destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and Coupons 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.

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SECTION 2.10 CANCELLATION OF SECURITIES; DESTRUCTION THEREOF. All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or analogous fund, if any, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it; and no Securities or Coupons shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee or its agent shall dispose of cancelled Securities and Coupons held by it in accordance with its regular procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Issuer. If the Issuer or its agent shall acquire any of the Securities or Coupons, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities or Coupons unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation.

SECTION 2.11 TEMPORARY SECURITIES. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed, lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form satisfactory to the Trustee). Temporary Securities of any series shall be issuable as Registered Securities without coupons, or as Unregistered Securities with or without coupons attached thereto, of any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof. Temporary Securities may contain such references to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate. Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon temporary Registered Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and, in the case of Unregistered Securities, at any agency maintained by the Issuer for such purpose as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series having authorized denominations and, in the case of Unregistered Securities, having attached thereto any appropriate Coupons. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.3. The provisions of this Section are subject to any restrictions or limitations on the issue and delivery of temporary Unregistered Securities of any series that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3 (including any provision that Unregistered Securities of such series initially be issued in the form of a single global Unregistered Security to be delivered to a depositary or agency located outside the United States and the procedures pursuant to which definitive or global Unregistered Securities of such series would be issued in exchange for such temporary global Unregistered Security).

SECTION 2.12 CUSIP NUMBERS. The Issuer in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed

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on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be place only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.

ARTICLE III

COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

SECTION 3.1 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST. The Issuer covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest on, if any, each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at the respective time or times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and in this Indenture. The interest on Securities with Coupons attached (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several Coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature. If any temporary Unregistered Security provides that interest thereon may be paid while such Security is in temporary form, the interest on any such temporary Unregistered Security (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Security) shall be paid, as to the installments of interest evidenced by Coupons attached thereto, if any, only upon presentation and surrender thereof, and, as to the other installments of interest, if any, only upon presentation of such Securities for notation thereon of the payment of such interest, in each case subject to any restrictions that may be established pursuant to Section 2.3. The interest, if any, on Registered Securities (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only to or upon the written order of the Holders thereof and, at the option of the Issuer, may be paid by wire transfer or by mailing checks for such interest payable to or upon the written order of such Holders at their last addresses as they appear on the Securities register of the Issuer.

SECTION 3.2 OFFICES FOR PAYMENTS, ETC. So long as any Registered Securities are authorized for issuance pursuant to this Indenture or are outstanding hereunder, the Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of each series may be presented for exchange as is provided in this Indenture and, if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of each series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided.

The Issuer will maintain one or more offices or agencies in a city or cities located outside the United States (including any city in which such an agency is required to be maintained under the rules of any stock exchange on which the Securities of such series are listed) where the Unregistered Securities, if any, of each series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto may be presented for payment. No payment on any Unregistered Security or Coupon will be made upon presentation of such Unregistered Security or Coupon at an agency of the

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Issuer within the United States, nor will any payment be made by transfer to an account in, or by mail to an address in, the United States, unless pursuant to applicable United States laws and regulations then in effect such payment can be made without tax consequences adverse to the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments in Dollars of Unregistered Securities of any series and Coupons appertaining thereto which are payable in Dollars may be made at an agency of the Issuer maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York if such payment in Dollars at each agency maintained by the Issuer outside the United States for payment on such Unregistered Securities is illegal or effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

The Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of the Securities of any series, the Coupons appertaining thereto or this Indenture may be served.

The Issuer will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof. In case the Issuer shall fail to maintain any agency required by this Section to be located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or for any change in the location of any of the above agencies, presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the designated office of the Trustee.

The Issuer may from time to time designate one or more additional offices or agencies where the Securities of a series and any Coupons appertaining thereto may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that series may be presented for exchange as provided in this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of that series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the Issuer may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Issuer may deem desirable or expedient; provided, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligations to maintain the agencies provided for in this Section. The Issuer shall give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

SECTION 3.3 APPOINTMENT TO FILL A VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE. The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each series of Securities hereunder.

SECTION 3.4 PAYING AGENTS. Whenever the Issuer shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, 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 provisions of this Section,

(a) that it will hold all sums received by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Issuer or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, or Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, or of the Trustee;

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(b) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Issuer (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) to make any payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series when the same shall be due and payable; and

(c) that it will pay any such sums so held in trust by it to the Trustee upon the Trustee’s written request at any time during the continuance of the failure referred to in the foregoing clause (b).

The Issuer will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.

If the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent with respect to the Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series or the Coupons appertaining thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action.

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to Section 10.1, the Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Issuer or any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Sections 10.3 and 10.4.

SECTION 3.5 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES. The Issuer will furnish to the Trustee on or before January 31 in each year (beginning with [                    ]) a brief certificate (which need not comply with Section 11.5) from the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Issuer stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an officer of the Issuer he or she would normally have knowledge of any default or non-compliance by the Issuer in the performance of any covenants or conditions contained in this Indenture, stating whether or not he or she has knowledge of any such default or non-compliance (without regard to notice requirements or grace periods) and, if so, describing each such default or non-compliance of which the signer has knowledge and the nature thereof.

The Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Issuer becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or default and the action which the Issuer proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 3.6 CORPORATE EXISTENCE. Subject to Article IX, the Issuer will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Issuer

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and its Subsidiaries; provided, that the Issuer shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, if, in the judgment of the Issuer, the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Securityholders.

SECTION 3.7 LUXEMBOURG PUBLICATIONS. In the event of the publication of any notice pursuant to Section 5.11, 6.11, 6.12, 8.2, 10.4, 11.4 or 12.2, the party making such publication in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and London shall also, to the extent that notice is required to be given to Holders of Securities of any series by applicable Luxembourg law or stock exchange regulation, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to such party, make a similar publication in Luxembourg.

SECTION 3.8 CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT. The Issuer shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

ARTICLE IV

SECURITYHOLDER LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE

ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1 ISSUER TO FURNISH TRUSTEE INFORMATION AS TO NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS. If and so long as the Trustee shall not be the Security registrar for the Securities of any series, the Issuer and any other obligor on the Securities will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of the Registered Securities of such series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act:

(a) semi-annually not more than 5 days after each record date for the payment of interest on such Registered Securities, as hereinabove specified, as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.3 for non-interest bearing Registered Securities in each year; and

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may reasonably request in writing, within thirty days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such information is furnished.

SECTION 4.2 REPORTS BY THE ISSUER. The Issuer covenants to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports that the Issuer may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act or pursuant to Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

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Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Issuer’s compliance with any covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

SECTION 4.3 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within sixty days after each May 15 following the date of the initial issuance of Securities under this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Issuer. The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee in writing when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 5.1 EVENT OF DEFAULT DEFINED, ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; WAIVER OF DEFAULT. “Event of Default” with respect to Securities of any series, wherever used herein, means any one of the following events which shall have occurred and be continuing (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) default in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; provided that, a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Issuer in accordance with the terms of such Securities shall not constitute a failure to pay interest; or

(b) default in the payment of all or any part of the principal or premium (if any) on any of the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise; or

(c) default in the payment of any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such series; or

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(d) failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the Securities of such series or contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice specifying such failure, stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder and demanding that the Issuer remedy the same, shall have been given by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Issuer by the Trustee, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the series to which such covenant or agreement relates; or

(e) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the Issuer 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 the Issuer 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 60 consecutive days; or

(f) the Issuer shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consent to the appointment or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Issuer or for any substantial part of its or their property, or make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

(g) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture or Board Resolution under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.

If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b) or (c) occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all Securities of such series, 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.

Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Senior Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (g) above with respect to all series of the Senior Securities then Outstanding, occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all of the Senior Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the Senior Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Senior Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount

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Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all of the Senior Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon such declaration, the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all the Senior Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Subordinated Securities pursuant to Section 2.3, if an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (g) above with respect to all series of Subordinated Securities then Outstanding, occurs and is continuing, then, and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all of the Subordinated Securities shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the Subordinated Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Subordinated Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all of the Subordinated Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon such declaration, the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the Subordinated Securities then Outstanding, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.

If an Event of Default described in clause (d) or (g) occurs and is continuing, which Event of Default is with respect to less than all series of Senior Securities then Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of Senior Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Securities of each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all Securities of such series, 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 described in clause (d) or (g) occurs and is continuing, which Event of Default is with respect to less than all series of Subordinated Securities then Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, except for any series of Subordinated Securities the principal of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Subordinated Securities of each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series voting as a separate class) by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all Securities of such series, 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.

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The foregoing provisions are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the principal (or, if the Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified in the terms thereof) of the Securities of any series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) 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,

(A) the Issuer shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

(i) all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of such series (or all the Securities, as the case may be); and

(ii) the principal of any and all Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration; and

(iii) interest upon such principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series (or at the respective rates of interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to the date of such payment or deposit; and

(iv) all amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6; and

(B) all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities 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 all the Securities of such series voting as a separate class (or of all the Securities, as the case may be, voting as a single class), then Outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to such series (or with respect to all the Securities, as the case may be) 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.

For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.

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SECTION 5.2 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS BY TRUSTEE; TRUSTEE MAY PROVE DEBT. The Issuer covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any series when such interest shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) in case default shall be made in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the Securities of any series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of such series or upon any redemption or by declaration or otherwise, then upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all Securities of such series, and such Coupons, for principal and interest, as the case may be (with interest to the date of such payment upon the overdue principal and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series); and in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and such other amount due the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect of Securities of such series.

Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay the principal of and interest on the Securities of any series to the registered Holders, whether or not the Securities of such series be overdue.

In case the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities and collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, wherever situated, all the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United States Code or any other applicable Federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise:

(a) to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest (or, if the Securities of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) owing

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and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 6.6) and of the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor; and

(b) unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders of the Securities of any series in any election of a receiver, assignee, trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, custodian or other person performing similar functions in respect of any such proceedings; and

(c) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all amounts received with respect to the claims of the Securityholders and of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, or liquidator, custodian or other similar official performing similar functions in respect of any such proceedings is hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee its costs and expenses of collection and all other amounts due to it pursuant to Section 6.6.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of any series 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, except as aforesaid in clause (b).

All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities or the production thereof in any trial or other proceedings relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall be awarded to the Trustee for ratable distribution to the Holders of the Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which such action was taken, after payment of all sums due to the Trustee under Section 6.6 in respect of such Securities.

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 Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make any Holders of such Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities parties to any such proceedings.

SECTION 5.3 APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS. Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall be applied in the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on

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account of principal or interest, upon presentation of the several Securities and Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which monies have been collected and stamping (or otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses applicable to such series of Securities in respect of which monies have been collected, including all amounts due to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 in respect to such series of Securities;

SECOND: If the Securities of such series are Subordinated Securities, to the payment of amounts then due and unpaid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, to the extent required pursuant to the Subordination Provisions established with respect to the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.3(9).

THIRD: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and be then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments on such interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in such Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled thereto, without discrimination or preference;

FOURTH: In case the principal of the Securities of such series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest, with interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee and is permitted by applicable law) upon the overdue installations of interest at the same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority of principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other installment of interest or of any Security of such series over any other Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and

FIFTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Issuer or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.

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SECTION 5.4 SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT. In case an Event of Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, 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 at law or in equity or 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 5.5 RESTORATION OF RIGHTS ON ABANDONMENT OF PROCEEDINGS. In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

SECTION 5.6 LIMITATIONS ON SUITS BY SECURITY HOLDERS. No Holder of any Security of any series or of any Coupon appertaining thereto shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or such Security, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official or for any other remedy hereunder or thereunder, unless (a) such Holder previously shall have given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series and of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and (b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such affected series then Outstanding (treated as a single class) shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and (c) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action or proceeding, and (d) no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.9; it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder of every Security or Coupon with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that no one or more Holders of Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining to such Securities shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such taker or Holder of Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such taker or Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture or any Security, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of Securities of the applicable series and Coupons appertaining to such Securities. 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.

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SECTION 5.7 UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF SECURITYHOLDERS TO INSTITUTE CERTAIN SUITS. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture and any provision of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security or Coupon to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Security or Coupon on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or Coupon or the applicable redemption dates provided for in such Security, or to institute 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.

SECTION 5.8 POWERS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER OF DEFAULT. Except as provided in Section 5.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of Securities or Coupons 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 Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every power and remedy given by this Indenture, any Security or law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or, subject to Section 5.6, by the Holders of Securities or Coupons.

SECTION 5.9 CONTROL BY HOLDERS OF SECURITIES. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected (with each such series voting as a separate 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 the Securities of such series by this Indenture; provided, that such direction shall not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this Indenture; and provided, further, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if (a) the Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if the Trustee by its trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee shall determine in good faith that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability; or (c) if the Trustee in good faith shall so determine that the actions or forbearances specified in or pursuant to such direction would be unduly prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the Securities of all affected series not joining in the giving of said direction, it being understood that (subject to Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders.

Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.

SECTION 5.10 WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. Prior to the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 5.1, the Holders

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of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding (voting as a single class) may on behalf of the Holders of all such Securities waive any past default or Event of Default described in Section 5.1 and its consequences, except a default in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Security affected. In the case of any such waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all such Securities shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively, and such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

SECTION 5.11 TRUSTEE TO GIVE NOTICE OF DEFAULT, BUT MAY WITHHOLD IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. The Trustee shall, within ninety days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, give notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to the Trustee (i) if any Unregistered Securities of that series are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by publication at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg) and (ii) to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, unless in each case such defaults shall have been cured before the mailing or publication of such notice (the term “default” for the purpose of this Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default); provided, that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series.

SECTION 5.12 RIGHT OF COURT TO REQUIRE FILING OF UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security or Coupon 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, suffered 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 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder or group of Securityholders of any series holding in the aggregate more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series, or, in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (d) or (g) of Section 5.1 (if the suit relates to Securities of more than one but less than all series), 10% in aggregate principal amount of Securities then Outstanding and affected thereby, or in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (d) or (g) (if the suit under clause (d) or (g) relates to all the Securities then Outstanding), or (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, 10% in aggregate principal amount of all Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the due date expressed in such Security or any date fixed for redemption.

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ARTICLE VI

CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.1 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEE; DURING DEFAULT; PRIOR TO DEFAULT. Prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect to such series, the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred and has not been cured or waived, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, 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.

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 Securities of any series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to such series which may have occurred:

(i) the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series 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 as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

(ii) 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 statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such statements, 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 Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

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(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 Holders pursuant to Section 5.9 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 shall be reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not reasonably assured to it.

The provisions of this Section 6.1 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 6.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF THE TRUSTEE. In furtherance of and subject to the Trust Indenture Act, and subject to Section 6.1:

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, Officer’s Certificate or any other certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security 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 Issuer mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate or Issuer Order (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein or in the terms established in respect of any series); and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer;

(c) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and any written advice or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon in accordance with such advice or Opinion of Counsel;

(d) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the trusts 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 satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might 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, rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

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(f) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, 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, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon, security, or other paper or document unless (i) requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series affected then Outstanding (treated as one class) or (ii) otherwise provided in the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.3; provided, 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 security or indemnity satisfactory to it against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid by the Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor trustee, shall be repaid by the Issuer upon demand;

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys not regularly in its employ and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any such agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact an Event of Default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office and such notice references the Securities, the Issuer or this Indenture;

(i) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder; and

(j) the Trustee may request that the Issuer deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.

SECTION 6.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS, DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES OR APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS THEREOF. The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities or Coupons. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

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SECTION 6.4 TRUSTEE AND AGENTS MAY HOLD SECURITIES OR COUPONS; COLLECTIONS, ETC. The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities or Coupons with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive, collect, hold and retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

SECTION 6.5 MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE. Subject to the provisions of Section 10.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law. Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.

SECTION 6.6 COMPENSATION AND INDEMNIFICATION OF TRUSTEE AND ITS PRIOR CLAIM. The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as the Issuer and the Trustee shall agree in writing (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust), and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it 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 agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith. The Issuer also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee and their agents for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claims, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Issuer, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section, except to the extent that such loss, damage, claim, liability or expense is due to its own negligence or bad faith. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(e) or Section 5.1(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 bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law. The obligations of the Issuer under this Section to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor trustee and to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee. Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the 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 Securities or Coupons, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.

SECTION 6.7 RIGHT OF TRUSTEE TO RELY ON OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE, ETC. Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless

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other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

SECTION 6.8 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

SECTION 6.9 QUALIFICATION OF TRUSTEE: CONFLICTING INTERESTS. The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 6.10 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AS TRUSTEE. The Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a corporation or banking association organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers and is 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 aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, 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. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.11.

The provisions of this Section 6.10 are in furtherance of and subject to Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 6.11 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE. (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer and (i) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by giving notice of such resignation to the Holders thereof, by publication at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (ii) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and (iii) by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities of each series affected at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee or trustees. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction at the

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expense of the Issuer for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, 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:

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months; or

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six months; or

(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or a receiver or liquidator 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 Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Issuer, 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 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at least six 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 with respect to such series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and so prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

(c) The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken by the Securityholders.

(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.11 shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 6.12.

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SECTION 6.12 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE. Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.11 shall execute and deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section 10.4, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations. Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Issuer 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 prior claim 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 with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series 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 predecessor trustee with respect to the Securities of any series 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 trusts 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 under separate indentures.

No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.12 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10.

Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in this Section 6.12, the Issuer shall give notice thereof (a) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof, by publication of such notice at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (b) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, by mailing such notice to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee (and the Trustee shall make such information available to the Issuer for such purpose) and (c) to the Holders of Registered

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Securities of each series affected, by mailing such notice to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books. If the acceptance of appointment is substantially contemporaneous with the resignation, then the notice called for by the preceding sentence may be combined with the notice called for by Section 6.11. If the Issuer fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be given at the expense of the Issuer.

SECTION 6.13 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS OF TRUSTEE. Any corporation or banking association into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation or banking association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation or banking association succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided, that such corporation or banking association shall be qualified under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.10, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities of any series 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 Securities so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the Securities of any series shall not have been authenticated, any such successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificate of authentication shall have the full force which under this Indenture or the Securities of such series it is provided that the certificate of authentication of the Trustee shall have; provided, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor trustee or to authenticate Securities of any series in the name of any predecessor trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

SECTION 6.14 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE ISSUER. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated.

SECTION 6.15 APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT. As long as any Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the “Authenticating Agent”) which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9. Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of any series by the Trustee or to the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and

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delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent for such series and a Certificate of Authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by such Authenticating Agent. Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $45,000,000 (determined as provided in Section 6.10 with respect to the Trustee) and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or state authority.

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, conversion or consolidation to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating Agent with respect to all series of Securities for which it served as Authenticating Agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent. Any Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall cease to be eligible shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Issuer.

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 in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.15 with respect to one or more series of Securities, the Trustee shall upon receipt of an Issuer Order appoint a successor Authenticating Agent, and the Issuer shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.4. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent. The Issuer agrees to pay to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time to time reasonable compensation. The Authenticating Agent for the Securities of any series shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such at the direction of the Trustee.

Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any Authenticating Agent.

ARTICLE VII

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION 7.1 EVIDENCE OF ACTION TAKEN BY SECURITYHOLDERS. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee. Proof of execution of any instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

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SECTION 7.2 PROOF OF EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS AND OF HOLDING OF SECURITIES. Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved 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 holding of Registered Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a certificate of the registrar thereof.

SECTION 7.3 HOLDERS TO BE TREATED AS OWNERS. The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may treat the Holder of any Unregistered Security and the Holder of any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Unregistered Security or Coupon (whether or not such Unregistered Security or Coupon shall be overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes, and neither the Issuer, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. All such payments so made to any such person, 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 Unregistered Security or Coupon.

SECTION 7.4 SECURITIES OWNED BY ISSUER DEEMED NOT OUTSTANDING. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by Securityholders under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made or by any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such action only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities. In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice. Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officer’s Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Issuer to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above-described persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officer’s Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

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SECTION 7.5 RIGHT OF REVOCATION OF ACTION TAKEN. 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 Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and upon proof of holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid, any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities 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 any such Security. Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such action.

ARTICLE VIII

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 8.1 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS. The Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

(a) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;

(b) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant to Article IX;

(c) to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Issuer and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of Securities or Coupons, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision 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 an Event of Default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;

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(d) 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 any other provisions as the Issuer may deem necessary or desirable, provided, that no such action shall adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities or Coupons;

(e) to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3;

(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series 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 6.12; and

(g) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition shall not apply to any Security Outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto.

The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Issuer 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, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to 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 may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 8.2.

SECTION 8.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.

(A) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series of Senior Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), 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 as in force and effect at the date of execution thereof) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner

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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 Securities of each such series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities.

(B) Except as set forth in paragraph (C) below, with the consent (evidenced as provided in Article VII) of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of all series of Subordinated Securities affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a Board Resolution (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), 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 as in force and effect at the date of execution thereof) 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 Securities of each such series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities.

(C) No such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the final maturity of any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or premium thereon, if any, 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 (including any amount in respect of original issue discount), or premium thereon, if any, or interest thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities and Coupons or in accordance with the terms thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or in the case of Subordinated Securities of any series, modify any of the Subordination Provisions or the definition of “Senior Indebtedness” relating to such series in a manner adverse to the holders of such Subordinated Securities, or alter the provisions of Section 11.11 or 11.12 or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment thereof when due or, if the Securities provide therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the Securityholder, in each case without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Security so affected.

(D) A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of Holders of Securities of such series, or of Coupons appertaining to such Securities, with respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities.

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Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a resolution of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order) certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.1, the Trustee shall join with the Issuer 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.

It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.

Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall give notice thereof (i) to the Holders of then Outstanding Registered Securities of each series affected thereby, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, (ii) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and (iii) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to all Holders thereof, by publication of a notice thereof at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), and in each case such notice shall set forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture. Any failure of the Issuer to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

SECTION 8.3 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, 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 Issuer and the Holders of Securities of each series affected thereby 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 8.4 DOCUMENTS TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, may receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article VIII complies with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 8.5 NOTATION ON SECURITIES IN RESPECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such series as to any matter provided for by such

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supplemental indenture or as to any action taken by Securityholders. If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then Outstanding.

ARTICLE IX

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

SECTION 9.1 ISSUER MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS. The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Issuer shall not permit any other Person to consolidate with or merge into the Issuer, unless:

(a) either the Issuer shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if other than the Issuer) formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which the properties and assets of the Issuer substantially as an entirety are transferred or leased shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Issuer under the Securities and this Indenture; and

(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Issuer or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Issuer or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing.

SECTION 9.2 SUCCESSOR CORPORATION SUBSTITUTED. The successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or to which such transfer or lease is made shall succeed to and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Issuer under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Issuer herein, and thereafter (except in the case of a lease to another Person) the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the Securities and, in the event of such conveyance or transfer, any such predecessor corporation may be dissolved and liquidated.

SECTION 9.3 OPINION OF COUNSEL TO BE GIVEN TO TRUSTEE. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article IX.

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ARTICLE X

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

SECTION 10.1 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

(A) If at any time (i) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be paid the principal of and interest on all the Securities of any series Outstanding hereunder and all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto (other than Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have become due and payable, or (ii) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated and all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto (other than any Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) or (iii) in the case of any series of Securities where the exact amount (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (b) below, (a) all the Securities of such series and all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto not theretofore 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 (b) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust the entire amount in (i) cash (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Issuer in accordance with Section 10.4), (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, direct obligations of the United States of America, backed by its full faith and credit (“U.S. Government Obligations”), maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash sufficient to pay at such maturity or upon such redemption, as the case may be, or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (x) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (y) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; and if, in any such case, the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Issuer, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such Series and of Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to Section 2.8 and the Issuer’s right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons, (iii) rights of holders of Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption rights of such series of Securities to the extent to be exercised to make such call for redemption within one year, (v) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, including those under Section 6.6, (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them, and (vii) the obligations of the Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture; provided, that the rights of Holders of the Securities and Coupons to

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receive amounts in respect of principal of and interest on the Securities and Coupons held by them shall not be delayed longer than required by then-applicable mandatory rules or policies of any securities exchange upon which the Securities are listed. The Issuer agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities of such series.

(B) The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 2.3. In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to the next preceding paragraph, in the case of any series of Securities the exact amounts (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause (a) below, the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series and the Coupons appertaining thereto on the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) below, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining thereto pursuant to Section 2.8 and the Issuer’s right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) any optional redemption rights of such series of Securities to the extent to be exercised to make such call for redemption within one year, (v) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them and (vii) the obligations of the Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Issuer, shall at the Issuer’s request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same, if

(a) with reference to this provision the Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (b) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

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(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;

(c) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Issuer has received from, or there has been published by, the IRS a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred; and

(d) the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

(C) The Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Sections 3.6 and 9.1 and unless otherwise provided for in the Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate or Indenture supplemental hereto establishing such series of Securities, from all covenants and other obligations referred to in Section 2.3(19) or 2.3(21) with respect to such series of Securities, and any Coupons appertaining thereto, outstanding on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of any series, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in such Section, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to such Section or by reason of any reference in such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 5.1, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities and Coupons shall be unaffected thereby. The following shall be the conditions to application of this subsection C of this Section 10.1:

(a) The Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series and coupons appertaining thereto, (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability of cash or (iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay (A) the principal and interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereof and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series;

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(b) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

(c) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.9 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Issuer;

(d) Such covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;

(e) Such covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted;

(f) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

(g) The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance contemplated by this provision have been complied with.

SECTION 10.2 APPLICATION BY TRUSTEE OF FUNDS DEPOSITED FOR PAYMENT OF SECURITIES. Subject to Section 10.4, all moneys deposited with the Trustee (or other trustee) pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Issuer acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the particular Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining thereto for the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

SECTION 10.3 REPAYMENT OF MONEYS HELD BY PAYING AGENT. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall, upon demand of the Issuer, 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 10.4 RETURN OF MONEYS HELD BY TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT UNCLAIMED FOR TWO YEARS. Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of any series and of any Coupons attached thereto and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal or interest shall have become due and payable,

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shall, upon the written request of the Issuer and unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee for such series or such paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities of such series and of any Coupons appertaining thereto shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the Issuer for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease; provided, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required to make any such repayment with respect to moneys deposited with it for any payment (a) in respect of Registered Securities of any series, shall at the expense of the Issuer, mail by first-class mail to Holders of such Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, and (b) in respect of Unregistered Securities of any series, shall at the expense of the Issuer cause to the published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), notice, that such moneys remain and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than thirty days from the date of such mailing or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Issuer.

SECTION 10.5 INDEMNITY FOR U.S. GOVERNMENT OF OBLIGATIONS. The Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 10.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of such obligations.

SECTION 10.6 EFFECT ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS. Unless otherwise expressly established pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to the Subordinated Securities of any series, the provisions of Section 11.13 hereof, insofar as they pertain to the Subordinated Securities of such series, and the Subordination Provisions established pursuant to Section 2.3(9) with respect to such series, are hereby expressly made subject to the provisions for satisfaction and discharge and defeasance and covenant defeasance set forth in Section 10.1 hereof and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the effectiveness of such satisfaction and discharge and defeasance and covenant defeasance pursuant to Section 10.1 with respect to the Securities of such series, such Securities shall thereupon cease to be so subordinated and shall no longer be subject to the provisions of Section 11.13 or the Subordination Provisions established pursuant to Section 2.3(9) with respect to such series and, without limitation to the foregoing, all moneys, U.S. Government Obligations and other securities or property deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) in trust in connection with such satisfaction and discharge, defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and all proceeds therefrom may be applied to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on, and mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, with respect to the Securities of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11.13 or such Subordination Provisions.

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ARTICLE XI

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 11.1 INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ISSUER EXEMPT FROM INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities and the Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto by the Holders thereof and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities and the Coupons appertaining thereto.

SECTION 11.2 PROVISIONS OF INDENTURE FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF PARTIES AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS. Nothing in this Indenture, in the Securities or in the Coupons appertaining thereto, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties thereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any and, in the case of the Subordinated Securities of any series, the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any and, in the case of the Subordinated Securities of any series, the holders of Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series.

SECTION 11.3 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OF ISSUER BOUND BY INDENTURE. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

SECTION 11.4 NOTICES AND DEMANDS ON ISSUER, TRUSTEE AND HOLDERS OF SECURITIES AND COUPONS. 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 Holders of Securities or Coupons, if any, to or on the Issuer may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to First State Bancorporation, 7900 Jefferson N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, Attention: Secretary. Any notice, direction, request or demand by the Issuer or any Holder of Securities or Coupons, if any, to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer) to                                         .

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Registered Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the Security register.

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Where this Indenture provides for notice to holders of Unregistered Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise expressly provided herein) by giving notice to such Holders (a) by publication of such notice at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), and (b) by mailing such notice to the Holders of Unregistered Securities who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee.

In any case where notice to such Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such notice is required to the given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

SECTION 11.5 OFFICER’S CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS OF COUNSEL; STATEMENTS TO BE CONTAINED THEREIN. Upon any application or demand by the Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent 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 in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

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 (a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (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 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 (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by counsel, unless such officer knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous,

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or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters or information with respect to which is in the possession of the Issuer, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by an officer or officers of the Issuer, unless such counsel knows that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion of or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.

SECTION 11.6 PAYMENTS DUE ON SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAYS. If the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any series or any Coupons appertaining thereto or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any such Security or Coupon shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

SECTION 11.7 CONFLICT OF ANY PROVISION OF INDENTURE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with duties imposed by, or with another provision (an “incorporated provision”) included in this Indenture by operation of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.

SECTION 11.8 NEW YORK LAW TO GOVERN; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY AND COUPON SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT 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 SUCH STATE, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SECTIONS 5-1401 AND 5-1402 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW AND NEW YORK CIVIL PRACTICE LAWS AND RULES 327(b).

EACH OF THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

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SECTION 11.9 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 11.10 EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

SECTION 11.11 SECURITIES IN A FOREIGN CURRENCY. Unless otherwise specified in an Officer’s Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any series which are denominated in a Foreign Currency, then the principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be deemed to be Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate. For purposes of this Section 11.11, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers of such currency or currencies as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date. If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or quotations from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question, which for purposes of the euro shall be any member state of the European Union that has adopted the euro, as the Trustee shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Issuer and all Holders.

SECTION 11.12 JUDGMENT CURRENCY. The Issuer agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied

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by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture. For purposes of the foregoing, “New York Banking Day” means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

SECTION 11.13 AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Issuer, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Subordinated Securities of any series by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, in respect of each and all of the Subordinated Securities of such series shall be expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Subordination Provisions established with respect to the Subordinated Securities of such series pursuant to Section 2.3(9) hereof, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness with respect to such series.

SECTION 11.14 FORCE MAJEURE. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

ARTICLE XII

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 12.1 APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE. The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.3 for Securities of such series.

SECTION 12.2 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION; PARTIAL REDEMPTIONS. Notice of redemption to the Holders of Registered Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by mailing notice of such redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders of Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the registry books. Notice of redemption to the Holders of Unregistered

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Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part, who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given by mailing notice of such redemption, by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 prior to the date fixed for redemption, to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee (and, in the case of any such notice given by the Issuer, the Trustee shall make such information available to the Issuer for such purpose). Notice of redemption to all other Holders of Unregistered Securities shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.7, in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), in each case, once in each of three successive calendar weeks, the first publication to be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice. Failure to give notice by mail, or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of such Security of such series.

The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP number(s)) and specify the aggregate principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities and, in the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, of all Coupons appertaining thereto maturing after the date fixed for redemption, that such redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue. In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption to Holders of Securities of the series 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 Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

On or before 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Issuer will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.4) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate redemption price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 70 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, or such shorter period as shall be acceptable to the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be redeemed. In case of a redemption at the election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officer’s Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.

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If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deemed appropriate and fair, in its sole discretion, Securities of such series to be redeemed in whole or in part. Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series or any multiple thereof. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities of such series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities of any series shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

SECTION 12.3 PAYMENT OF SECURITIES CALLED FOR REDEMPTION. If notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and the unmatured Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be void, and, except as provided in Sections 6.5 and 10.4, such Securities shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, together with all Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto maturing after the date fixed for redemption, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided, that payment of interest becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall be payable in the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, to the Holders of the Coupons for such interest upon surrender thereof, and in the case of Registered Securities, to the Holder of such Registered Securities registered as such on the relevant record date, subject to the terms and provisions of Section 2.3 and 2.7 hereof.

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security) borne by such Security.

If any Security with Coupons attached thereto is surrendered for redemption and is not accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after the date fixed for redemption, the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Issuer and the Trustee, if there be furnished to each of them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them harmless.

Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

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SECTION 12.4 EXCLUSION OF CERTAIN SECURITIES FROM ELIGIBILITY FOR SELECTION FOR REDEMPTION. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 40 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such written statement as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer.

SECTION 12.5 MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL SINKING FUNDS. The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein referred to as the “sinking fund payment date.”

In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired (except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section, or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision contained in the terms of such series. Securities so delivered or credited shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption price specified in such Securities.

On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate (which need not contain the statements required by Section 11.5) (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none of the Securities of such series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are continuing and (d) stating whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Any Securities of such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order for the Issuer to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officer’s Certificate (or reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee). Such Officer’s Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee, the Issuer shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash

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payments or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to deliver such Officer’s Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Issuer will make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section.

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) or a lesser sum in Dollars (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) if the Issuer shall so request with respect to the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption. If such amount shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) or less and the Issuer makes no such request then it shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency) is available. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 12.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions thereof) so selected. Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for redemption under this Section if they are identified by registration and certificate number in an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 60 days prior to the sinking fund payment date as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by, either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such Officer’s Certificate as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer. The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 12.2 (and with the effect provided in Section 12.3) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the option of the Issuer. The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on the next following sinking fund payment date.

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The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any Event of Default except that, where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Issuer a sum sufficient for such redemption. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default be deemed to have been collected under Article Five and held for the payment of all such Securities. In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.10 or the default cured on or before the sixtieth day preceding the sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of such Securities.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed and attested as of the date first written above.

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

By:

Name:

Title:

                                                 , as Trustee

By:

Name:

Title:

EX-4.7

Exhibit 4.7

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

and

                                             ,

As Depositary

and

HOLDERS OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of                              ,         

TABLE OF CONTENTS

		Page
Parties
Recitals
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS		1
“Articles of Incorporation”		1
“Certificate of Designations”		1
“Common Stock”		1
“Company”		1
“Corporate Office”		1
“Deposit Agreement”		2
“Depositary”		2
“Depositary Share”		2
“Depositary’s Agent”		2
“New York Office”		2
“Receipt”		2
“record holder”		2
“Registrar”		2
“Securities Act”		2
“Stock”		2
ARTICLE II FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF STOCK, EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER, REDEMPTION AND CONVERSION OF RECEIPTS		3
SECTION 2.01.	Form and Transfer of Receipts	3
SECTION 2.02.	Temporary Receipts	3
SECTION 2.03.	Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof	4
SECTION 2.04.	Redemption and Conversion of Stock	5
SECTION 2.05.	Register of Transfer of Receipts	7
SECTION 2.06.	Combination and Split-ups of Receipts	7
SECTION 2.07.	Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock	8
SECTION 2.08.	Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Split-up, Combination, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts and Withdrawal or Deposit of Stock	9
SECTION 2.09.	Lost Receipts, etc.	9
SECTION 2.10.	Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts	9
ARTICLE III CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS OF RECEIPTS AND THE COMPANY		10
SECTION 3.01.	Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information	10
SECTION 3.02.	Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges	10
SECTION 3.03.	Withholding	10
SECTION 3.04.	Representations and Warranties as to Stock	11

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ARTICLE IV THE STOCK, NOTICES		11
SECTION 4.01.	Cash Distributions	11
SECTION 4.02.	Distributions Other Than Cash	11
SECTION 4.03.	Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges	12
SECTION 4.04.	Notice of Dividends, Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts	12
SECTION 4.05.	Voting Rights	13
SECTION 4.06.	Changes Affecting Stock and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.	13
SECTION 4.07.	Reports	14
SECTION 4.08.	Lists of Receipt Holders	14
ARTICLE V THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY'S AGENTS, THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMPANY		14
SECTION 5.01.	Maintenance of Offices, Agencies, Transfer Books by the Depositary; the Registrar	14
SECTION 5.02.	Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Company	15
SECTION 5.03.	Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Company	15
SECTION 5.04.	Resignation and Removal of the Depositary, Appointment of Successor Depositary	17
SECTION 5.05.	Corporate Notices and Reports	17
SECTION 5.06.	Deposit of Stock by the Company	18
SECTION 5.07.	Indemnification by the Company	18
SECTION 5.08.	Fees, Charges and Expenses	18
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION		18
SECTION 6.01.	Amendment	18
SECTION 6.02.	Termination	19
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS		20
SECTION 7.01.	Counterparts	20
SECTION 7.02.	Exclusive Benefits of Parties	20
SECTION 7.03.	Invalidity of Provisions	20
SECTION 7.04.	Notices	20
SECTION 7.05.	Depositary’s Agents	21
SECTION 7.06.	Holders of Receipts Are Parties	21
SECTION 7.07.	Governing Law	21
SECTION 7.08.	Headings	21
EXHIBIT A		A-1

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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT

DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, dated as of                          ,         , among First State Bancorporation, a New Mexico corporation,                                     , a              banking corporation, as Depositary, and all holders from time to time of Receipts issued hereunder.

W I T N E S S E T H:

WHEREAS, the Company desires to provide as hereinafter set forth in this Deposit Agreement, for the deposit of shares of Stock with the Depositary, as agent for the beneficial owners of the Stock, for the purposes set forth in this Deposit Agreement and for the issuance hereunder of the Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares representing an interest in the Stock so deposited; and

WHEREAS, the Receipts are to be substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit A to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided in this Deposit Agreement.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises contained herein, it is agreed by and among the parties hereto as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

The following definitions shall apply to the respective terms (in the singular and plural forms of such terms) used in this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts:

“Articles of Incorporation” shall mean the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated from time to time, of the Company.

“Certificate of Designations” shall mean the Certificate of Designations establishing and setting forth the rights, preferences, privileges and limitations of the Stock.

“Common Stock” shall mean the Company’s Common Stock, no par value.

“Company” shall mean First State Bancorporation, a New Mexico corporation, and its successors.

“Corporate Office” shall mean the office of the Depositary in                     ,                      at which at any particular time its business in respect of matters governed by this Deposit Agreement shall be administered, which at the date of this Deposit Agreement is located at                         .

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“Deposit Agreement” shall mean this agreement, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.

“Depositary” shall mean                                 , as Depositary hereunder, and any successor as Depositary hereunder.

“Depositary Share” shall mean the rights evidenced by the Receipts executed and delivered hereunder, including the interests in Stock granted to holders of Receipts pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Deposit Agreement. Each Depositary Share shall represent an interest in                      of a share of Stock deposited with the Depositary hereunder and the same proportionate interest in any and all other property received by the Depositary in respect of such share of Stock and held under this Deposit Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Deposit Agreement, each record holder of a Receipt evidencing a Depositary Share or Shares is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stock represented by such Depositary Share or Shares, including the dividend, voting and liquidation rights contained in the Certificate of Designations, and to the benefits of all obligations and duties of the Company in respect of the Stock under the Certificate of Designations and the Articles of Incorporation.

“Depositary’s Agent” shall mean an agent appointed by the Depositary as provided, and for the purposes specified, in Section 7.05.

“New York Office” shall mean the facility maintained by the Depositary in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for accepting, executing and delivering Receipts and other instruments prior to processing such instruments at the Corporate Office, which facility at the date of this Deposit Agreement is located at                     .

“Receipt” shall mean a Depositary Receipt executed and delivered hereunder, in substantially the form of Exhibit A hereto, evidencing Depositary Share or Shares, as the same may be, amended from time to time in accordance with the provisions hereof.

“record holder” or “holder” as applied to a Receipt shall mean the person in whose name a Receipt is registered on the books maintained by or on behalf of the Depositary for such purpose.

“Registrar” shall mean any bank or trust company appointed to register ownership and transfers of Receipts as herein provided.

“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

“Stock” shall mean shares of the Company’s Preferred Stock, no par value.

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ARTICLE II

FORM OF RECEIPTS, DEPOSIT OF STOCK,

EXECUTION AND DELIVERY, TRANSFER, SURRENDER,

REDEMPTION AND CONVERSION OF RECEIPTS

SECTION 2.01. Form and Transfer of Receipts.

Receipts shall be engraved or printed or lithographed on steel-engraved borders and shall be substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A annexed to this Deposit Agreement, with appropriate insertions, modifications and omissions, as hereinafter provided. Receipts shall be executed by the Depositary by the manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Depositary; provided, however, that such signature may be a facsimile if a Registrar (other than the Depositary) shall have countersigned the Receipts by manual signature of a duly authorized signatory of the Registrar. No Receipt shall be entitled to any benefits under this Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless it shall have been executed as provided in the preceding sentence. The Depositary shall record on its books each Receipt executed as provided above and delivered as hereinafter provided. Receipts bearing the facsimile signature of anyone who was at any time a duly authorized officer of the Depositary shall bind the Depositary, notwithstanding that such officer has ceased to hold such office prior to the delivery of such Receipts.

Receipts may be issued in denominations of any number of whole Depositary Shares. All Receipts shall be dated the date of their execution.

Receipts may be endorsed with or have incorporated in the text thereof such legends or recitals or changes not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement as may be required by the Depositary or required to comply with any applicable law or regulation or with the rules and regulations of any securities exchange upon which the Stock or the Depositary Shares may be listed or to conform with any usage with respect thereto, or to indicate any special limitations or restrictions to which any particular Receipts are subject by reason of the date of issuance of the Stock or otherwise.

Title to any Receipt (and to the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt) that is properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer shall be transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the record holder thereof at such time as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distributions of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in this Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.

SECTION 2.02. Temporary Receipts.

Pending the preparation of definitive Receipts, the Depositary may, upon written order of the Company, issue temporary Receipts substantially identical to (and entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive Receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive Receipts will be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and such temporary Receipts will be exchangeable for definitive Receipts at the Company’s expense.

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SECTION 2.03. Deposit of Stock; Execution and Delivery of Receipts in Respect Thereof.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Company or any holder of Stock may deposit such Stock under this Deposit Agreement by delivery to the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for the Stock to be deposited, properly endorsed or accompanied, if required by the Depositary, by a properly executed instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Depositary, together with (a) all such certifications as may be required by the Depositary in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement and (b) a written order of the Company or such holder, as the case may be, directing the Depositary to execute and deliver to or upon the written order of the person or persons stated in such order a Receipt or Receipts for the number of Depositary Shares representing such deposited Stock.

Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Stock to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, the Depositary shall, as soon as transfer and registration can be accomplished, present such certificate or certificates to the registrar and transfer agent of the Stock for transfer and registration in the name of the Depositary or its nominee of the Stock being deposited. Deposited Stock shall be held by the Depositary in an account to be established by the Depositary at the Corporate Office.

Upon receipt by the Depositary of a certificate or certificates for Stock to be deposited hereunder, together with the other documents specified above, the Depositary, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, shall execute and deliver, to or upon the order of the person or persons named in the written order delivered to the Depositary referred to in the first paragraph of this Section 2.03, a Receipt or Receipts for the number of whole Depositary Shares representing the Stock so deposited and registered in such name or names as may be requested by such person or persons. The Depositary shall execute and deliver such Receipt or Receipts at the New York Office, except that, at the request, risk and expense of any person requesting such delivery and for the account of such person, such delivery may be made at such other place as may be designated by such person. In each case, delivery will be made only upon payment by such person to the Depositary of all taxes and other governmental charges and any fees payable in connection with such deposit and the transfer of the deposited Stock.

The Company shall deliver to the Depositary from time to time such quantities of Receipts as the Depositary may request to enable the Depositary to perform its obligations under this Deposit Agreement.

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SECTION 2.04. Redemption and Conversion of Stock.*

Whenever the Company shall elect to redeem or be required to convert shares of Stock into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Designations, it shall (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Depositary) give the Depositary in its capacity as Depositary not less than 5 business days’ prior notice of the proposed date of the mailing of a notice of redemption or conversion of Stock and the simultaneous redemption or conversion of the Depositary Shares representing the Stock to be redeemed or converted and of the number of such shares of Stock held by the Depositary to be redeemed or converted. The Depositary shall, as directed by the Company in writing, mail, first class postage prepaid, notice of the redemption or conversion of Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption or conversion of the Depositary Shares representing the Stock to be redeemed or converted, not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption or conversion of such Stock and Depositary Shares, to the record holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed or converted, at the addresses of such holders as the same appear on the records of the Depositary; provided, that if the effectiveness of a Merger or Consolidation (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) makes it impracticable to provide at least 30 days’ notice, the Depositary shall provide such notice as soon as practicable prior to such effectiveness. Any such notice shall also be published in the same manner as notices of redemption or conversion of Stock are required to be published pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither failure to mail or publish any such notice to one or more such holders nor any defect in any notice shall affect the sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption or conversion. The Company shall provide the Depositary with such notice, and each such notice shall state: the redemption or conversion date; the number of Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted; if fewer than all the Depositary Shares held by any holder are to be redeemed, the number of such Depositary Shares held by such holder to be so redeemed; in the case of a call for redemption, the call price payable upon redemption and the Current Market Price (as defined in the Certificate of Designations to be used to calculate the number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon redemption; whether the Company is exercising any option to deliver shares of Common Stock in lieu of any cash consideration pursuant to the Certificate of Designations and the Current Market Price to be used to calculate the number of such shares; the place or places where Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted are to be surrendered for redemption or conversion; whether the Company is depositing with a bank or trust company on or before the redemption or conversion date, the shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, payable by the Company and the proposed date of such deposit; the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends payable per share of Stock to be redeemed or converted to and including such redemption or conversion date, as the case may be, and that dividends in respect of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares to be redeemed or converted will cease to accrue on such redemption or conversion date (unless the Company shall default in delivering shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, at the time and place specified in such notice). On the date of any such redemption or conversion, the Depositary shall surrender the certificate or certificates held by the Depositary evidencing the number of shares of Stock to be redeemed or converted in

* This section to be modified to discuss specific redemption or conversion terms of the Stock, if any.

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the manner specified in the notice of redemption or conversion of Stock provided by the Company pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. The Depositary shall, thereafter, redeem or convert the number of Depositary Shares representing such redeemed or converted Stock upon the surrender of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares in the manner provided in the notice sent to record holders of Receipts; provided, that the Depositary shall have received, upon surrendering such certificate or certificates as aforesaid, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to convert or redeem such number of Depositary Shares (including, in the event that the Company elects pursuant to the Certificate of Designations to exercise any option to deliver shares of Common Stock in lieu of any cash consideration payable on the Effective Date (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) of any Merger or Consolidation, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to such cash consideration (as determined in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Designations)), plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable with respect thereto to and including the date of any such redemption or conversion and any other cash consideration payable on the Effective Date of a Merger or Consolidation (other than any dividends or other cash consideration payable on the Effective Date of a Merger or Consolidation that the Company has elected to pay in shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations) as instructed and calculated by the Company. In case fewer than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary by lot or on a pro rata basis.

Notice having been mailed by the Depositary as aforesaid, from and after the redemption or conversion date (unless the Company shall have failed to redeem or convert the shares of Stock to be redeemed or converted by it upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates therefor by the Depositary as described in the preceding paragraph), the Depositary Shares called for redemption or subject to conversion shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, payable upon redemption or conversion upon surrender of such Receipts) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate. Upon surrender in accordance with said notice of the Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be converted into or redeemed for shares of Common Stock at a rate equal to                      of the number of shares of Common Stock delivered, and the holders thereof shall be entitled to                      of the cash, if any, payable, in respect of the shares of Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. The foregoing shall be subject further to the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Designations.

If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by a Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of such Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with the shares of Common Stock and all accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the date fixed for redemption payable in respect of the Depositary Shares called for redemption, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.

To the extent that Depositary Shares are converted into or redeemed for shares of Common Stock and all of such shares of Common Stock cannot be distributed to the record holders of Receipts converted or called for redemption without creating fractional interests in such shares, the Depositary may, with the consent of the Company, adopt such method as it

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deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of such shares of Common Stock at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper, and the net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Section 3.02, be distributed or made available for distribution to such record holders that would otherwise receive fractional interests in such shares of Common Stock.

The Depositary shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days next preceding any selection of Depositary Shares and Stock to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice of redemption of Depositary Shares or (b) to transfer or exchange for another Receipt any Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, or subject to conversion except as provided in the second preceding paragraph of this Section 2.04.

Any funds deposited by the Company with the Depositary for any Depositary Shares that are not claimed after a period of two years from the date such funds are so deposited will be returned to the Company.

SECTION 2.05. Register of Transfer of Receipts.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall register on its books from time to time transfers of Receipts upon any surrender thereof at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or such other office as the Depositary may designate for such purpose, by the record holder in person or by a duly authorized attorney, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, together with evidence of the payment of any transfer taxes as may be required by law. Upon such surrender, the Depositary shall execute a new Receipt or Receipts and deliver the same to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered.

SECTION 2.06. Combination and Split-ups of Receipts.

Upon surrender of a Receipt or Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or such other office as the Depositary may designate for the purpose of effecting a split-up or combination of Receipts, subject to the terms and conditions of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a new Receipt or Receipts in the authorized denominations requested evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered; provided, however, that the Depositary shall not issue any Receipt evidencing a fractional Depositary Share.

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SECTION 2.07. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock.*

Any holder of a Receipt or Receipts may withdraw any or all of the Stock (but only in whole shares of Stock) represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipts and all money and other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares by surrendering such Receipt or Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or at such other office as the Depositary may designate for such withdrawals. After such surrender, without unreasonable delay, the Depositary shall deliver to such holder, or to the person or persons designated by such holder as hereinafter provided, the whole number of shares of Stock and all such money and other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts so surrendered for withdrawal. If the Receipt or Receipts delivered by the holder to the Depositary in connection with such withdrawal shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of whole Depositary Shares representing the whole number of shares of Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary shall at the same time, in addition to such whole number of shares of Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be withdrawn, deliver to such holder, or (subject to Section 2.05) upon his order, a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing such excess number of whole Depositary Shares. Delivery of the Stock and such money and other property being withdrawn may be made by the delivery of such certificates, documents of title and other instruments as the Depositary may deem appropriate, which, if required by the Depositary, shall be properly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer.

If the Stock and the money and other property being withdrawn are to be delivered to a person or persons other than the record holder of the Receipt or Receipts being surrendered for withdrawal of Stock, such holder shall execute and deliver to the Depositary a written order so directing the Depositary and the Depositary may require that the Receipt or Receipts surrendered by such holder for withdrawal of such shares of Stock be properly endorsed in blank or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer in blank and that the signature on such instrument of transfer be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stockbrokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Rule 17Ad-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

The Depositary shall deliver the Stock and the money and other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by Receipts surrendered for withdrawal, without unreasonable delay, at the office at which such Receipts were surrendered, except that, at the request, risk and expense of the holder surrendering such Receipt or Receipts and for the account of the holder thereof, such delivery may be made, without unreasonable delay, at such other place as may be designated by such holder.

* This Section to be modified to reflect any restrictions on withdrawal of underlying securities.

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SECTION 2.08. Limitations on Execution and Delivery, Transfer, Split-up, Combination, Surrender and Exchange of Receipts and Withdrawal or Deposit of Stock.

As a condition precedent to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of any Receipt, the delivery of any distribution thereon or the withdrawal or deposit of Stock, the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Company may require any or all of the following: (a) payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Company shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any tax or other governmental charge with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge with respect to the Stock being deposited or withdrawn or with respect to the Common Stock or other securities or property of the Company being issued upon conversion or redemption); (b) production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature; and (c) compliance with such reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Company may establish not inconsistent with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

The deposit of Stock may be refused, the delivery of Receipts against Stock or the registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of outstanding Receipts and the withdrawal of deposited Stock may be suspended (a) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Company is closed, (b) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of this Deposit Agreement, or (c) with the approval of the Company, for any other reason. Without limitation of the foregoing, the Depositary shall not knowingly accept for deposit under this Deposit Agreement any shares of Stock that are required to be registered under the Securities Act unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect as to such shares of Stock.

SECTION 2.09. Lost Receipts, etc.

In case any Receipt shall be mutilated or destroyed or lost or stolen, the Depositary shall execute and deliver a Receipt of like form and tenor in exchange and substitution for such mutilated Receipt or in lieu of and in substitution for such destroyed, lost or stolen Receipt unless the Depositary has notice that such Receipt has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser; provided, however, that the holder thereof provides the Depositary with (a) evidence satisfactory to the Depositary of such destruction, loss or theft of such Receipt, of the authenticity thereof and of his ownership thereof, (b) reasonable indemnification satisfactory to the Depositary or the payment of any charges incurred by the Depositary in obtaining insurance in lieu of such indemnification and (c) payment of any expense (including fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary) in connection with such execution and delivery.

SECTION 2.10. Cancellation and Destruction of Surrendered Receipts.

All Receipts surrendered to the Depositary or any Depositary’s Agent shall be cancelled by the Depositary. Except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation, the Depositary is authorized to destroy such Receipts so cancelled.

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ARTICLE III

CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS OF HOLDERS

OF RECEIPTS AND THE COMPANY

SECTION 3.01. Filing Proofs, Certificates and Other Information.

Any person presenting Stock for deposit or any holder of a Receipt may be required from time to time to file such proof of residence or other information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Company may withhold or delay the delivery of any Receipt, the registration of transfer, redemption, conversion or exchange of any Receipt, the withdrawal of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by any Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution until such proof or other information is filed, such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

SECTION 3.02. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges.

If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf of the Depositary with respect to (a) any Receipt, (b) the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt, (c) the Stock (or fractional interest therein) or other property represented by such Depositary Shares, or (d) any transaction referred to in Section 4.06, such tax (including transfer, issuance or acquisition taxes, if any) or governmental charge shall be payable by the holder of such Receipt, who shall pay the amount thereof to the Depositary. Until such payment is made, registration of transfer of any Receipt or any split-up or combination thereof or any withdrawal of the Stock or money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be refused, any dividend or other distribution may be withheld and any part or all of the Stock or other property (including Common Stock received in connection with a conversion or redemption of Stock) represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt may be sold for the account of the holder thereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such holder prior to such sale). Any dividend or other distribution so withheld and the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such tax or other governmental charge, the holder of such Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

SECTION 3.03. Withholding.

The Depositary shall act as the tax withholding agent for any payments, distributions and exchanges made with respect to the Depositary Shares and Receipts, and the Stock, Common Stock or other securities or assets represented thereby (collectively, the “Securities”). The Depositary shall be responsible with respect to the Securities for the timely (a) collection and deposit of any required withholding or backup withholding tax, and (b) filing of any information returns or other documents with federal (and other applicable) taxing authorities.

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SECTION 3.04. Representations and Warranties as to Stock.

In the case of the initial deposit of the Stock, the Company and, in the case of subsequent deposits thereof, each person so depositing Stock under this Deposit Agreement shall be deemed thereby to represent and warrant that such Stock and each certificate therefor are valid and that the person making such deposit is duly authorized to do so. Such representations and warranties shall survive the deposit of the Stock and the issuance of Receipts therefor.

ARTICLE IV

THE STOCK, NOTICES

SECTION 4.01. Cash Distributions.

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Section 3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of such sum as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders; provided, however, that in case the Company or the Depositary shall be required by law to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any owner of Depositary Shares a fraction of one cent and any balance not so distributable shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to record holders of Receipts then outstanding.

SECTION 4.02. Distributions Other Than Cash.

Whenever the Depositary shall receive any distribution other than cash, rights, preferences or privileges upon the Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to Section 3.02, distribute to record holders of Receipts on the record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 such amounts of the securities or property received by it as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders, in any manner that the Depositary and the Company may deem equitable and practicable for accomplishing such distribution. If, in the opinion of the Company after consultation with the Depositary, such distribution cannot be made proportionately among such record holders, or if for any other reason (including any tax withholding or securities law requirement), the Depositary deems, after consultation with the Company, such distribution not to be feasible, the Depositary may, with the approval of the Company which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, adopt such method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting such distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall, subject to Section 3.02, be distributed or made available for distribution, as the case may be, by the Depositary to record holders of Receipts as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash.

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SECTION 4.03. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges.

If the Company shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose names Stock is registered on the books of the Company any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance be made available by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts in such manner as the Company shall instruct (including by the issue to such record holders of warrants representing such rights, preferences or privileges); provided, however, that (a) if at the time of issue or offer of any such rights, preferences or privileges the Company determines and instructs the Depositary that it is not lawful or feasible to make such rights, preferences or privileges available to some or all holders of Receipts (by the issue of warrants or otherwise) or (b) if and to the extent instructed by holders of Receipts who do not desire to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges, the Depositary shall then, in each case, and if applicable laws or the terms of such rights, preferences or privileges so permit, sell such rights, preferences or privileges of such holders at public or private sale, at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem proper. The net proceeds of any such sale shall be distributed by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts entitled thereto as provided by Section 4.01 in the case of a distribution received in cash.

If registration under the Securities Act of the securities to which any rights, preferences or privileges relate is required in order for holders of Receipts to be offered or sold such securities, the Company shall promptly file a registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act with respect to such rights, preferences or privileges and securities and use its best efforts and take all steps available to it to cause such registration statement to become effective sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges. In no event shall the Depositary make available to the holders of Receipts any right, preference or privilege to subscribe for or to purchase any securities unless and until such registration statement shall have become effective or unless the offering and sale of such securities to such holders are exempt from registration under the provisions of the Securities Act.

If any other action under the law of any jurisdiction or any governmental or administrative authorization, consent or permit is required in order for such rights, preferences or privileges to be made available to holders of Receipts, the Company agrees with the Depositary that the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to take such action or obtain such authorization, consent or permit sufficiently in advance of the expiration of such rights, preferences or privileges to enable such holders to exercise such rights, preferences or privileges.

SECTION 4.04. Notice of Dividends, Fixing of Record Date for Holders of Receipts.

Whenever (a) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Stock, or (b) the Depositary shall receive notice of any

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meeting at which holders of Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of Stock are entitled to notice or of the mandatory conversion of, or any election on the part of the Company to call for the redemption of, any shares of Stock, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Stock) for the determination of the holders of Receipts (i) who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or (ii) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or to receive notice of such meeting or of such conversion or redemption.

SECTION 4.05. Voting Rights.

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the record holders of Receipts a notice, which shall be provided by the Company and which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a statement that the holders of Receipts at the close of business on a specified record date fixed pursuant to Section 4.04 will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Certificate of Designations, to instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of a holder of a Receipt on such record date, the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Company hereby agrees to take all reasonable action that may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Stock or cause such Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the holder of a Receipt, the Depositary will abstain from voting to the extent of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by such Receipt.

SECTION 4.06. Changes Affecting Stock and Reclassifications, Recapitalizations, etc.

Upon any split-up, consolidation or any other reclassification of Stock, or upon any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, amalgamation or consolidation affecting the Company or to which it is a party (other than a Merger or Consolidation) or sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, the Depositary shall treat any shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) that shall be received by the Depositary in exchange for or upon conversion of or in respect of the Stock as new deposited property under this Deposit Agreement, and Receipts then outstanding shall thenceforth represent the proportionate interests of holders thereof in the new deposited property so received in exchange for or upon conversion or in respect of such Stock. In any such case the Depositary may, in its discretion, with the approval of the Company, execute and deliver additional Receipts, or may call for the surrender of all outstanding Receipts to be exchanged for new Receipts specifically describing such new deposited property.

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SECTION 4.07. Reports.

The Depositary shall make available for inspection by holders of Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during normal business hours any reports and communications received from the Company that are received by the Depositary as the holder of Stock.

SECTION 4.08. Lists of Receipt Holders.

Promptly upon request from time to time by the Company, the Depositary shall furnish to it a list, as of a recent date, of the names, addresses and holdings of Depositary Shares of all persons in whose names Receipts are registered on the books of the Depositary. At the expense of the Company, the Company shall have the right to inspect transfer and registration records of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar, take copies thereof and require the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar to supply copies of such portions of such records as the Company may request.

ARTICLE V

THE DEPOSITARY, THE DEPOSITARY’S AGENTS,

THE REGISTRAR AND THE COMPANY

SECTION 5.01. Maintenance of Offices, Agencies, Transfer Books by the Depositary; the Registrar.

Upon execution of this Deposit Agreement in accordance with its terms, the Depositary shall maintain (a) at the New York Office facilities for the execution and delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up, combination, redemption and conversion of Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of Stock and (b) at the Corporate Office and at the offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up, combination, conversion and redemption of Receipts and deposit and withdrawal of Stock, all in accordance with the provisions of this Deposit Agreement.

The Depositary shall keep books at the Corporate Office for the registration and transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the record holders of Receipts; provided that any such holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as an owner of Depositary Shares. The Depositary shall consult with the Company upon receipt of any request for inspection. The Depositary may close such books, at any time or from time to time, when deemed expedient by it in connection with the performance of its duties hereunder.

If the Receipts or the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby or the Stock represented by such Depositary Shares shall be listed on one or more stock exchanges, the Depositary shall, with the approval of the Company, appoint a Registrar for registry of such Receipts or Depositary Shares in accordance with the requirements of such exchange or

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exchanges. Such Registrar (which may be the Depositary if so permitted by the requirements of such exchange or exchanges) may be removed and a substitute registrar appointed by the Depositary upon the request or with the approval of the Company. In addition, if the Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock are listed on one or more stock exchanges, the Depositary will, at the request of the Company, arrange such facilities for the delivery, registration, registration of transfer, surrender and exchange, split-up, combination, redemption or conversion of such Receipts, such Depositary Shares or such Stock as may be required by law or applicable stock exchange regulations.

SECTION 5.02. Prevention or Delay in Performance by the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar or the Company.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall incur any liability to any holder of any Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation thereunder of the United States of America or of any other governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Registrar or any Depositary’s Agent, by reason of any provision, present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation or the Certificate of Designations or, in the case of the Company, the Depositary, the Registrar or any Depositary’s Agent, by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from doing or performing any act or thing that the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Company incur any liability to any holder of a Receipt (a) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing that the terms of this Deposit Agreement provide shall or may be done or performed, or (b) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in this Deposit Agreement except, in the case of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar, if any such exercise or failure to exercise discretion is caused by its negligence or bad faith.

SECTION 5.03. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Company.

The Company assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to holders or other persons, except to perform in good faith such obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in this Deposit Agreement. Each of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents and the Registrar assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under this Deposit Agreement or the Receipts to holders or other persons, except to perform such obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in this Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding with respect to Stock, Depositary Shares, Receipts or Common Stock that in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

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Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall be liable for any action or any failure to act by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Stock for deposit, any holder of a Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information. The Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar and the Company may each rely and shall each be protected in acting upon any written notice, request, direction or other document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

The Depositary, the Registrar and any Depositary’s Agent may own and deal in any class of securities of the Company and its affiliates and in Receipts or Depositary Shares. The Depositary may also act as transfer agent or registrar of any of the securities of the Company and its affiliates.

It is intended that neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent shall be deemed to be an “issuer” of the Stock, the Depositary Shares, the Receipts or the Common Stock issued upon conversion or redemption of the Stock under the federal securities laws or applicable state securities laws, it being expressly understood and agreed that the Depositary and any Depositary’s Agent are acting only in a ministerial capacity as Depositary for the Stock; provided, however, that the Depositary agrees to comply with all information reporting and withholding requirements applicable to it under law or this Deposit Agreement in its capacity as Depositary.

Neither the Depositary (or its officers, directors, employees or agents) nor any Depositary’s Agent makes any representation or has any responsibility as to the validity of the Registration Statement pursuant to which the Depositary Shares are registered under the Securities Act, the Stock, the Depositary Shares or any instruments referred to therein or herein, or as to the correctness of any statement made therein or herein; provided, however, that the Depositary is responsible for its representations in this Deposit Agreement.

The Depositary assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the description that appears in the Receipts, which can be taken as a statement of the Company summarizing certain provisions of this Deposit Agreement. Notwithstanding any other provision herein or in the Receipts, the Depositary makes no warranties or representations as to the validity, genuineness or sufficiency of any Stock at any time deposited with the Depositary hereunder or of the Depositary Shares, as to the validity or sufficiency of this Deposit Agreement, as to the value of the Depositary Shares or as to any right, title or interest of the record holders of Receipts in and to the Depositary Shares except that the Depositary hereby represents and warrants as follows: (a) the Depositary has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of                     , with full power, authority and legal right under such law to execute, deliver and carry out the terms of this Deposit Agreement; (b) this Deposit Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Depositary; and (c) this Deposit Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Depositary, enforceable against the Depositary in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). The Depositary shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Depositary Shares or the Receipts or the proceeds thereof.

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SECTION 5.04. Resignation and Removal of the Depositary, Appointment of Successor Depositary.

The Depositary may at any time resign as Depositary hereunder by written notice via registered mail of its election to do so delivered to the Company, such resignation to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

The Depositary may at any time be removed by the Company by written notice of such removal delivered to the Depositary, such removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment as hereinafter provided.

In case at any time the Depositary acting hereunder shall resign or be removed, the Company shall, within 60 days after the delivery of the notice of resignation or removal, as the case may be, appoint a successor depositary, which shall be a bank or trust company, or an affiliate of a bank or trust company, having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If a successor depositary shall not have been appointed in 60 days, the resigning or removed Depositary may petition a court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor depositary. Every successor depositary shall execute and deliver to its predecessor and to the Company an instrument in writing accepting its appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor depositary, without any further act or deed, shall become fully vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of its predecessor and for all purposes shall be the Depositary under this Deposit Agreement, and such predecessor, upon payment of all sums due it and on the written request of the Company, shall promptly execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor all rights and powers of such predecessor hereunder, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver all rights, title and interest in the Stock and any moneys or property held hereunder to such successor and shall deliver to such successor a list of the record holders of all outstanding Receipts. Any successor depositary shall promptly mail notice of its appointment to the record holders of Receipts.

Any corporation into or with which the Depositary may be merged, consolidated or converted shall be the successor of such Depositary without the execution or filing of any document or any further act. Such successor depositary may execute the Receipts either in the name of the predecessor depositary or in the name of the successor depositary.

SECTION 5.05. Corporate Notices and Reports.

The Company agrees that it will deliver to the Depositary, and the Depositary will, promptly after receipt thereof, transmit to the record holders of Receipts, in each case at the address recorded in the Depositary’s books, copies of all notices and reports (including financial statements) required by law, by the rules of any national securities exchange upon which the Stock, the Depositary Shares or the Receipts are listed or by the Articles of Incorporation and the Certificate of Designations to be furnished by the Company to holders of Stock. Such transmission will be at the Company’s expense and the Company will provide the Depositary

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with such number of copies of such documents as the Depositary may reasonably request. In addition, the Depositary will transmit to the record holders of Receipts at the Company’s expense such other documents as may be requested by the Company.

SECTION 5.06. Deposit of Stock by the Company.

The Company agrees with the Depositary that neither the Company nor any company controlled by the Company will at any time deposit any Stock if such Stock is required to be registered under the provisions of the Securities Act and no registration statement is at such time in effect as to such Stock.

SECTION 5.07. Indemnification by the Company.

The Company agrees to indemnify the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar against, and hold each of them harmless from, any liability, costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) that may arise out of or in connection with its acting as Depositary, Depositary’s Agent or Registrar, respectively, under this Deposit Agreement and the Receipts, except for any liability arising out of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of any such person or persons.

SECTION 5.08. Fees, Charges and Expenses.

No fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary or any Depositary’s Agent hereunder or of any Registrar shall be payable by any person other than the Company, except for any taxes and other governmental charges and except as provided in this Deposit Agreement. If, at the request of a holder of a Receipt, the Depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable hereunder, such holder or other person will be liable for such fees, charges and expenses. All other fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary and any Depositary’s Agent hereunder and of any Registrar (including, in each case, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incident to the performance of their respective obligations hereunder will be paid from time to time upon consultation and agreement between the Depositary and the Company as to the amount and nature of such fees, charges and expenses.

ARTICLE VI

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

SECTION 6.01. Amendment.

The form of the Receipts and any provision of this Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect that they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that shall impose or increase any fees, taxes or charges payable by holders of Receipts (other than taxes and other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by holders pursuant to the terms hereof or of the Receipts), or that otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of holders of Receipts, shall not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 30 days after notice of such amendment shall have been mailed to the record holders of outstanding

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Receipts. Every holder of an outstanding Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold such Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by this Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.06 and 2.07 and Article III, of any owner of any Depositary Shares to surrender the Receipt evidencing such Depositary Shares with instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the holder the Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

SECTION 6.02. Termination.

Whenever so directed by the Company, the Depositary will terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the record holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate this Deposit Agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04. In either case, on a date not less than 60 days after such notice, the Depositary shall deliver or make available for delivery to holders of Receipts, upon surrender of such Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares, such number of whole or fractional shares of the Stock as are represented by the Depositary Shares.

This Deposit Agreement shall automatically terminate after all outstanding Depositary Shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution in respect of the Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of the Receipts.

If any Receipts shall remain outstanding after the date of termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue the transfer of Receipts, shall suspend the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof and shall not give any further notices (other than notice of such termination) or perform any further acts under this Deposit Agreement, except as provided below and that the Depositary shall continue to collect dividends and other distributions pertaining to Stock, shall sell rights, preferences or privileges as provided in this Deposit Agreement and shall continue to deliver the Stock and any money and other property represented by Receipts, without liability for interest thereon, upon surrender thereof by the holders thereof. At any time after the expiration of two years from the date of termination, the Depositary may sell Stock then held hereunder at public or private sale, at such places and upon such terms as it deems proper and may thereafter hold in a segregated account the net proceeds of any such sale, together with any money and other property held by it hereunder, without liability for interest, for the benefit, pro rata in accordance with their holdings, of the holders of Receipts that have not heretofore been surrendered. After making such sale, the Depositary shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except to account for such net proceeds and money and other property. Upon the termination of this Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under this Deposit Agreement except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar under Sections 5.07 and 5.08. [In the event this Deposit Agreement is terminated, the Company hereby agrees to use its best efforts to list the underlying Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.]

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ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 7.01. Counterparts.

This Deposit Agreement may be executed by the Company and the Depositary in separate counterparts, each of which counterparts, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Deposit Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Deposit Agreement. Copies of this Deposit Agreement shall be filed with the Depositary and the Depositary’s Agents and shall be open to inspection during business hours at the Corporate Office and the New York Office and the respective offices of the Depositary’s Agents, if any, by any holder of a Receipt.

SECTION 7.02. Exclusive Benefits of Parties.

This Deposit Agreement is for the exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors hereunder, and shall not be deemed to give any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim to any other person whatsoever.

SECTION 7.03. Invalidity of Provisions.

In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Deposit Agreement or in the Receipts should be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein or therein shall in no way be affected, prejudiced or disturbed thereby.

SECTION 7.04. Notices.

Any notices to be given to the Company hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier confirmed by letter, addressed to the Company at 7900 Jefferson N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or at any other place to which the Company may have transferred its principal executive office.

Any notices to be given to the Depositary hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier confirmed by letter, addressed to the Depositary at the Corporate Office.

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Any notices given to any record holder of a Receipt hereunder or under the Receipts shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered or sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier confirmed by letter, addressed to such record holder at the address of such record holder as it appears on the books of the Depositary or, if such holder shall have filed with the Depositary a written request that notices intended for such holder be mailed to some other address, at the address designated in such request.

Delivery of a notice sent by mail, or by telegram or telex or telecopier shall be deemed to be effected at the time when a duly addressed letter containing the same (or a duly addressed letter confirming an earlier notice in the case of a telegram or telex or telecopier message) is deposited, postage prepaid, in a post office letter box. The Depositary or the Company may, however, act upon any telegram or telex or telecopier message received by it from the other or from any holder of a Receipt, notwithstanding that such telegram or telex or telecopier message shall not subsequently be confirmed by letter as aforesaid.

SECTION 7.05. Depositary’s Agents.

The Depositary may, with the approval of the Company which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, from time to time appoint one or more Depositary’s Agents to act in any respect for the Depositary for the purposes of this Deposit Agreement and may vary or terminate the appointment of such Depositary’s Agents.

SECTION 7.06. Holders of Receipts Are Parties.

Notwithstanding that holders of Receipts have not executed and delivered this Deposit Agreement or any counterpart thereof, the holders of Receipts from time to time shall be deemed to be parties to this Deposit Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions, and be entitled to all of the benefits, hereof and of the Receipts by acceptance of delivery of Receipts.

SECTION 7.07. Governing Law.

This Deposit Agreement and the Receipts and all rights hereunder and thereunder and provisions hereof and thereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

SECTION 7.08. Headings.

The headings of articles and sections in this Deposit Agreement and in the form of the Receipt set forth in Exhibit A hereto have been inserted for convenience only and are not to be regarded as a part of this Deposit Agreement or to have any bearing upon the meaning or interpretation of any provision contained herein or in the Receipts.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, First State Bancorporation and                      have duly executed this Deposit Agreement as of the day and year first above set forth and all holders of Receipts shall become parties hereto by and upon acceptance by them of delivery of Receipts issued in accordance with the terms hereof.

Attest:	FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:	By:
		Authorized Officer
Attest:
By:	By:
		Authorized Signatory

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EXHIBIT A

DEPOSITARY RECEIPT

FOR

DEPOSITARY SHARES

EACH REPRESENTING                      OF A SHARE OF

PREFERRED STOCK

OF

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

(Incorporated under the Laws of the State of New Mexico)

No.

                                     (the “Depositary”) hereby certifies that                      is the registered owner of                      Depositary Shares (the “Depositary Shares”), each Depositary Share representing                      of a share of                                      Preferred Stock, no par value (the “Stock”), of First State Bancorporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Mexico (the “Company”), and the same proportionate interest in any and all other property received by the Depositary in respect of such shares of Stock and held by the Depositary under the Deposit Agreement (as defined below). Subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the Stock represented thereby, including the dividend, voting, liquidation and other rights contained in the Certificate of Designations establishing the rights, preferences, privileges and limitations of the Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”), copies of which are on file at the office of the Depositary at which at any particular time its business in respect of matters governed by the Deposit Agreement shall be administered, which at the time of the execution of the Deposit Agreement is located at                     ,                     ,                      (the “Corporate Office”).

This Depositary Receipt (“Receipt”) shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Deposit Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless this Receipt shall have been executed manually or, if a Registrar for the Receipts (other than the Depositary) shall have been appointed, by facsimile by the Depositary by the signature of a duly authorized signatory and, if executed by facsimile signature of the Depositary, shall have been countersigned manually by such Registrar by the signature of a duly authorized signatory.

THE DEPOSITARY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VALIDITY OF ANY DEPOSITED STOCK. THE DEPOSITARY ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CORRECTNESS OF THE DESCRIPTION SET FORTH IN THIS RECEIPT, WHICH CAN BE TAKEN AS A STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY SUMMARIZING CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT. UNLESS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, THE DEPOSITARY MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE VALIDITY, GENUINENESS OR SUFFICIENCY OF ANY STOCK AT ANY TIME DEPOSITED WITH THE DEPOSITARY UNDER THE

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DEPOSIT AGREEMENT OR OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES, AS TO THE VALIDITY OR SUFFICIENCY OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT, AS TO THE VALUE OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES OR AS TO ANY RIGHT, TITLE OR INTEREST OF THE RECORD HOLDERS OF THE DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS IN AND TO THE DEPOSITARY SHARES.

The Company will furnish to any holder of this Receipt without charge, upon request addressed to its executive office, a full statement of the designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations of the shares of each authorized class, and of each class of preferred stock authorized to be issued, so far as the same may have been fixed, and a statement of the authority of the Board of Directors of the Company to designate and fix the relative rights, preferences and limitations of other classes.

This Receipt is continued on the reverse hereof and the additional provisions therein set forth for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Dated:

		,
	as Depositary and Registrar
By:
	Authorized Signatory

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[FORM OF REVERSE

OF DEPOSITARY RECEIPT]

1. The Deposit Agreement. Depositary Receipts (the “Receipts”), of which this Receipt is one, are made available upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Deposit Agreement, dated as of                              ,              (the “Deposit Agreement”), among the Company, the Depositary and all holders from time to time of Receipts. The Deposit Agreement (copies of which are on file at the Corporate Office, the office maintained by the Depositary in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York which at the time of the execution of the Deposit Agreement is located at                                  (the “New York Office”) and at the office of any agent of the Depositary) sets forth the rights of holders of Receipts and the rights and duties of the Depositary. The statements made on the face and the reverse of this Receipt are summaries of certain provisions of the Deposit Agreement and are subject to the detailed provisions thereof, to which reference is hereby made. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Receipt and the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the provisions of the Deposit Agreement will govern.

2. Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly herein provided, all defined terms used herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Deposit Agreement.

3. Redemption and Conversion of Stock.* Whenever the Company shall elect to redeem or be required to convert shares of Stock into shares of Common Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Designations, it shall (unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Depositary) give the Depositary in its capacity as Depositary not less than 5 business days’ prior notice of the proposed date of the mailing of a notice of redemption or conversion of Stock and the simultaneous redemption or conversion of the Depositary Shares representing the Stock to be redeemed or converted and of the number of such shares of Stock held by the Depositary to be redeemed or converted. The Depositary shall, as directed by the Company in writing, mail, first class postage prepaid, notice of the redemption or conversion of Stock and the proposed simultaneous redemption or conversion of Depositary Shares representing the Stock to be redeemed or converted, not less than 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption or conversion of such Stock and Depositary Shares, to the record holders of the Receipts evidencing the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed or converted, at the addresses of such holders as the same appear on the records of the Depositary; provided, that if the effectiveness of a Merger or Consolidation (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) makes it impracticable to provide at least 30 days’ notice, the Depositary shall provide such notice as soon as practicable prior to such effectiveness. Any such notice shall also be published in the same manner as notices of redemption or conversion of the Stock are required to be published pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. On the date of any such redemption or conversion, the Depositary shall surrender the certificate or certificates held by the Depositary evidencing the number of shares of Stock to be redeemed or converted in the manner specified in the notice of redemption or conversion of Stock provided by the Company pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. The Depositary shall, thereafter, redeem or convert the number of Depositary

* This section to be modified to discuss specific redemption or conversion terms of the Stock, if any.

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Shares representing such redeemed or converted Stock upon the surrender of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares in the manner provided in the notice sent to record holders of Receipts; provided, that the Depositary shall have received, upon surrendering such certificate or certificates as aforesaid, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock to convert or redeem such number of Depositary Shares (including, in the event that the Company elects pursuant to the Certificate of Designations to exercise any option to deliver shares of Common Stock in lieu of any cash consideration payable on the Effective Date (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) of any Merger or Consolidation, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to such cash consideration (as determined in the manner set forth in the Certificate of Designations)), plus any accrued and unpaid dividends payable with respect thereto to and including the date of any such redemption or conversion and any other cash consideration payable on the Effective Date of a Merger or Consolidation (other than any dividends or other cash consideration payable on the Effective Date of a Merger or Consolidation that the Company has elected to pay in shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations). In case fewer than all the outstanding Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed shall be selected by the Depositary by lot or on a pro rata basis. Notice having been mailed and published as aforesaid, from and after the redemption or conversion date (unless the Company shall have failed to redeem or convert the shares of Stock to be redeemed or converted by it upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates therefor by the Depositary as described above), the Depositary Shares called for redemption or subject to conversion shall be deemed no longer to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (except the right to receive the shares of Common Stock and cash, if any, payable upon redemption or conversion upon surrender of such Receipts) shall, to the extent of such Depositary Shares, cease and terminate. Upon surrender in accordance with said notice of the Receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares (properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, if the Depositary shall so require), such Depositary Shares shall be converted into or redeemed for shares of Common Stock at a rate equal to                      of the number of shares of Common Stock delivered, and the holders thereof shall be entitled to                      of the cash, if any, payable, in respect of the shares of Stock pursuant to the Certificate of Designations. The foregoing is subject further to the terms and conditions of the Certificate of Designations. If fewer than all of the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt are called for redemption, the Depositary will deliver to the holder of this Receipt upon its surrender to the Depositary, together with shares of Common Stock and all accrued and unpaid dividends to and including the date fixed for redemption payable in respect of the Depositary Shares called for redemption, a new Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares evidenced by such prior Receipt and not called for redemption.

4. Surrender of Receipts and Withdrawal of Stock. Upon surrender of this Receipt to the Depositary at the Corporate Office, the New York Office or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate, and subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, the holder hereof is entitled to withdraw, and to obtain delivery, without unreasonable delay, to or upon the order of such holder, any or all of the Stock (but only in whole shares of Stock) and all money and other property, if any, at the time represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt; provided, however, that, in the event this Receipt shall evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Depositary Shares representing the whole number of shares of Stock to be withdrawn, the Depositary shall, in addition to such whole number of shares of Stock and such money and other property, if any, to be withdrawn, deliver, to or upon the order of such holder, a new Receipt or Receipts evidencing such excess number of whole Depositary Shares.

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5. Transfers, Split-ups, Combinations. Subject to Paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 below, this Receipt is transferable on the books of the Depositary upon surrender of this Receipt to the Depositary at the Corporate Office or the New York Office, or at such other offices as the Depositary may designate, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, and upon such transfer the Depositary shall sign and deliver a Receipt or Receipts to or upon the order of the person entitled thereto, all as provided in and subject to the Deposit Agreement. This Receipt may be split into other Receipts or combined with other Receipts into one Receipt evidencing the same aggregate number of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipt or Receipts surrendered; provided, however, that the Depositary shall not issue any Receipt evidencing a fractional Depositary Share.

6. Conditions to Signing and Delivery, Transfer, etc., of Receipts. Prior to the execution and delivery, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of this Receipt, the delivery of any distribution hereon or the withdrawal or deposit of Stock, the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Company may require any or all of the following: (a) payment to it of a sum sufficient for the payment (or, in the event that the Depositary or the Company shall have made such payment, the reimbursement to it) of any tax or other governmental charge with respect thereto (including any such tax or charge with respect to Stock being deposited or withdrawn or with respect to Common Stock or other securities or property of the Company being issued upon conversion or redemption); (b) production of proof satisfactory to it as to the identity and genuineness of any signature and (c) compliance with such reasonable regulations, if any, as the Depositary or the Company may establish not inconsistent with the Deposit Agreement. Any person presenting Stock for deposit, or any holder of this Receipt, may be required to file such proof of information, to execute such certificates and to make such representations and warranties as the Depositary or the Company may reasonably deem necessary or proper. The Depositary or the Company may withhold or delay the delivery of this Receipt, the registration of transfer, redemption, conversion or exchange of this Receipt, the withdrawal of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt or the distribution of any dividend or other distribution until such proof or other information is filed, such certificates are executed or such representations and warranties are made.

7. Suspension of Delivery, Transfer, etc. The deposit of Stock may be refused and the delivery of this Receipt against Stock or the registration of transfer, split-up, combination, surrender or exchange of this Receipt and the withdrawal of deposited Stock may be suspended (a) during any period when the register of stockholders of the Company is closed, (b) if any such action is deemed necessary or advisable by the Depositary, any of the Depositary’s Agents or the Company at any time or from time to time because of any requirement of law or of any government or governmental body or commission, or under any provision of the Deposit Agreement, or (c) with the approval of the Company, for any other reason. The Depositary shall not be required (a) to issue, transfer or exchange any Receipts for a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days next preceding any selection of Depositary Shares and Stock to be redeemed and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of notice of redemption of Depositary Shares or (b) to transfer or exchange for another Receipt any Receipt evidencing Depositary Shares called or being called for redemption, in whole or in part, or subject to conversion except as provided in the last sentence of Paragraph 3.

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8. Payment of Taxes or Other Governmental Charges. If any tax or other governmental charge shall become payable by or on behalf of the Depositary with respect to (a) this Receipt, (b) the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt, (c) the Stock (or fractional interest therein) or other property represented by such Depositary Shares, or (d) any transaction referred to in Section 4.06, of the Deposit Agreement, such tax (including transfer, issuance or acquisition taxes, if any) or governmental charge shall be payable by the holder of this Receipt, who shall pay the amount thereof to the Depositary. Until such payment is made, registration of transfer of this Receipt or any split-up or combination hereof or any withdrawal of the Stock or money or other property, if any, represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt may be refused, any dividend or other distribution may be withheld and any part or all of the Stock or other property (including Common Stock received in connection with a conversion or redemption of Stock) represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt may be sold for the account of the holder hereof (after attempting by reasonable means to notify such holder prior to such sale). Any dividend or other distribution so withheld and the proceeds of any such sale may be applied to any payment of such tax or other governmental charge, the holder of this Receipt remaining liable for any deficiency.

9. Amendment. The form of the Receipts and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between the Company and the Depositary in any respect that they may deem necessary or desirable. Any amendment that shall impose or increase any fees, taxes or charges payable by holders of Receipts (other than taxes and other governmental charges, fees and other expenses payable by holders as provided herein or in the Deposit Agreement), or that shall otherwise prejudice any substantial existing right of holders of Receipts, shall not become effective as to outstanding Receipts until the expiration of 30 days after such notice of such amendment shall have been given to the record holders of outstanding Receipts. The holder of this Receipt at the time any such amendment becomes effective shall be deemed, by continuing to hold this Receipt, to consent and agree to such amendment and to be bound by the Deposit Agreement as amended thereby. In no event shall any amendment impair the right, subject to the provisions of Paragraphs 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 hereof and of Sections 2.04, 2.07 and 2.08 and Article III of the Deposit Agreement, of the owner of the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt to surrender this Receipt with instructions to the Depositary to deliver to the holder the Stock and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

10. Fees, Charges and Expenses. The Company will pay all fees, charges and expenses of the Depositary, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and such charges as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be at the expense of persons depositing Stock, holders of Receipts or other persons.

11. Title to Receipts. It is a condition of this Receipt, and every successive holder hereof by accepting or holding the same consents and agrees, that title to this Receipt (and to the Depositary Shares evidenced hereby), when properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly executed instrument of transfer, is transferable by delivery with the same effect as in the case of

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a negotiable instrument; provided, however, that the Depositary may, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, treat the record holder hereof at such time as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of determining the person entitled to distribution of dividends or other distributions or to any notice provided for in the Deposit Agreement and for all other purposes.

12. Dividends and Distributions. Whenever the Depositary shall receive any cash dividend or other cash distribution on the Stock, the Depositary shall, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, distribute to record holders of Receipts such amounts of such sums as are, as nearly as practicable, in proportion to the respective numbers of Depositary Shares evidenced by the Receipts held by such holders; provided, however, that in case the Company or the Depositary shall be required by law to withhold and does withhold from any cash dividend or other cash distribution in respect of the Stock an amount on account of taxes, the amount made available for distribution or distributed in respect of Depositary Shares shall be reduced accordingly. The Depositary shall distribute or make available for distribution, as the case may be, only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any owner of Depositary Shares a fraction of one cent and any balance not so distributable shall be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and shall be added to and be treated as part of the next sum received by the Depositary for distribution to record holders of Receipts then outstanding.

13. Subscription Rights, Preferences or Privileges. If the Company shall at any time offer or cause to be offered to the persons in whose name Stock is registered on the books of the Company any rights, preferences or privileges to subscribe for or to purchase any securities or any rights, preferences or privileges of any other nature, such rights, preferences or privileges shall in each such instance, subject to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, be made available by the Depositary to the record holders of Receipts in such manner as the Company shall instruct.

14. Notice of Dividends, Fixing of Record Date. Whenever (a) any cash dividend or other cash distribution shall become payable, or any distribution other than cash shall be made, or any rights, preferences or privileges shall at any time be offered, with respect to the Stock, or (b) the Depositary shall receive notice of any meeting at which holders of Stock are entitled to vote or of which holders of Stock are entitled to notice or of the mandatory conversion of, or any election on the part of the Company to call for redemption of, any shares of Stock, the Depositary shall in each such instance fix a record date (which shall be the same date as the record date fixed by the Company with respect to the Stock) for the determination of the holders of Receipts (i) who shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, rights, preferences or privileges or the net proceeds of the sale thereof, or (ii) who shall be entitled to give instructions for the exercise of voting rights at any such meeting or of such meeting or to receive notice of such conversion or redemption.

15. Voting Rights. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the record holders of Receipts a notice, which shall contain (a) such information as is contained in such notice of meeting, (b) a statement that the holders of Receipts at the close of business on a specified record date determined as provided in Paragraph 14 will be entitled, subject to any applicable provision of law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Certificate of Designations, to

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instruct the Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Stock represented by their respective Depositary Shares, and (c) a brief statement as to the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of a holder of this Receipt on such record date the Depositary shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt in accordance with the instructions set forth in such request. The Company hereby agrees to take all reasonable action that may be deemed necessary by the Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to vote such Stock or cause such Stock to be voted. In the absence of specific instructions from the holder of this Receipt, the Depositary will abstain from voting to the extent of the Stock represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced by this Receipt.

16. Reports, Inspection of Transfer Books. The Depositary shall make available for inspection by holders of Receipts at the Corporate Office, the New York Office and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable during normal business hours any reports and communications received from the Company that are received by the Depositary as the holder of Stock. The Depositary shall keep books at the Corporate Office for the registration and transfer of Receipts, which books at all reasonable times will be open for inspection by the record holders of Receipts; provided that any such holder requesting to exercise such right shall certify to the Depositary that such inspection shall be for a proper purpose reasonably related to such person’s interest as an owner of Depositary Shares.

17. Liability of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Company. Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall incur any liability to any holder of this Receipt, if by reason of any provision of any present or future law or regulation thereunder of any governmental authority or, in the case of the Depositary, the Registrar or any Depositary’s Agent, by reason of any provision present or future, of the Articles of Incorporation or the Certificate of Designations or, in the case of the Company, the Depositary, the Registrar or any Depositary’s Agent, by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond the control of the relevant party, the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Company shall be prevented or forbidden from doing or performing any act or thing that the terms of the Deposit Agreement provide shall be done or performed; nor shall the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar or the Company incur any liability to any holder of this Receipt (a) by reason of any nonperformance or delay, caused as aforesaid, in the performance of any act or thing that the terms of the Deposit Agreement provide shall or may be done or performed, or (b) by reason of any exercise of, or failure to exercise, any discretion provided for in the Deposit Agreement except, in the case of the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent or the Registrar, if such exercise or failure to exercise discretion is caused by its negligence or bad faith.

18. Obligations of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents, the Registrar and the Company. The Company assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the holder hereof or other persons, except to perform in good faith such obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in the Deposit Agreement. Each of the Depositary, the Depositary’s Agents and the Registrar assumes no obligation and shall be subject to no liability under the Deposit Agreement or this Receipt to the holder hereof or other persons, except to perform such obligations as are specifically set forth and undertaken by it to perform in the Deposit Agreement without negligence or bad faith.

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Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company shall be under any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding with respect to Stock, Depositary Shares or Receipts or Common Stock that in its opinion may involve it in expense or liability, unless indemnity satisfactory to it against all expense and liability be furnished as often as may be required.

Neither the Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent nor the Registrar nor the Company will be liable for any action or failure to act by it in reliance upon the advice of or information from legal counsel, accountants, any person presenting Stock for deposit, any holder of this Receipt or any other person believed by it in good faith to be competent to give such advice or information.

19. Termination of Deposit Agreement. Whenever so directed by the Company, the Depositary will terminate this Deposit Agreement by mailing notice of such termination to the record holders of all Receipts then outstanding at least 60 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination. The Depositary may likewise terminate the Deposit Agreement if at any time 60 days shall have expired after the Depositary shall have delivered to the Company a written notice of its election to resign and a successor depositary shall not have been appointed and accepted its appointment as provided in Section 5.04 of the Deposit Agreement. In either case, on a date not less than 60 days after such notice, the Depositary shall deliver or make available for delivery to holders of Receipts, upon surrender of the such Receipts evidencing Depositary Shares, such number of whole or fractional shares of the Stock as are represented by the Depositary Shares.

The Deposit Agreement shall automatically terminate after all outstanding Depositary Shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution in respect of the Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of the Receipts.

Upon the termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations thereunder except for its obligations to the Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent and any Registrar under Sections 5.07 and 5.08 of the Deposit Agreement.

If any Receipts remain outstanding after the date of termination of the Deposit Agreement, the Depositary thereafter shall discontinue all functions and be discharged from all obligations as provided in the Deposit Agreement, except as specifically provided therein.

20. Governing Law. The Deposit Agreement and this Receipt and all rights thereunder and hereunder and provisions thereof and hereof shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, including, without limitation, Sections 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

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FORM OF ASSIGNMENT

For value received                                  hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto                                                   (Please insert social security or other taxpayer identification number of assignee.)

the within Receipt and all rights and interests represented by the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby, and hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints                                  attorney to transfer the same on the books of the within-named Depositary, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:                         

Signature(s)
	Signature Guarantee*

NOTICE: The above signatures of the holder(s) hereof must correspond with the name as written upon the face of this Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.

* (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 Conversion Agent, 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 Conversion Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

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EX-4.8

Exhibit 4.8

FORM OF STOCK WARRANT AGREEMENT

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

and

As Warrant Agent

WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of                     ,         

TABLE OF CONTENTS¹

		Page
ARTICLE I ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES		1
Section 1.1	Issuance of Warrant Certificates	1
Section 1.2	Form of Warrant Certificate	1
Section 1.3	Execution and Authentication of Warrant Certificates	2
Section 1.4	Temporary Warrant Certificates	2
Section 1.5	Payment of Taxes	3
Section 1.6	Definition of Holder	3
ARTICLE II WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS		3
Section 2.1	Warrant Price	3
Section 2.2	Duration of Warrants	3
Section 2.3	Exercise of Warrants	3
Section 2.4	Reservation of Shares	4
ARTICLE III OTHER TERMS OF WARRANTS		5
Section 3.1	[Call of Warrants by the Corporation]	5
Section 3.2	Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Shares Purchasable or Number of Warrants	5
ARTICLE IV REGISTRATION, EXCHANGE, TRANSFER AND SUBSTITUTION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES		8
Section 4.1	Registration, Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates	8
Section 4.2	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates	9
Section 4.3	Persons Deemed Owners	9
Section 4.4	Cancellation of Warrant Certificates	10
ARTICLE V OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES		10
Section 5.1	No Rights as Stockholders Conferred by Warrants or Warrant Certificates	10
Section 5.2	Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights	10
ARTICLE VI CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT		10
Section 6.1	Warrant Agent	10

¹ The Table of Contents is not a part of the Warrant Agreement

i

		Page
Section 6.2	Conditions of Warrant Agent’s Obligations	11
Section 6.3	Resignation, Removal and Appointment of Successor	12
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS		13
Section 7.1	Consolidations and Mergers of the Corporation and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions	13
Section 7.2	Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation	13
Section 7.3	Amendment	14
Section 7.4	Notices and Demands to the Corporation and Warrant Agent	14
Section 7.5	Notices to Warrant Holders	14
Section 7.6	Addresses	15
Section 7.7	Governing Law	16
Section 7.8	Delivery of Prospectus	16
Section 7.9	Obtaining of Governmental Approvals	16
Section 7.10	Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement	16
Section 7.11	Headings	16
Section 7.12	Counterparts	16
Section 7.13	Inspection of Agreement	16

Exhibit A - Form of Warrant Certificate

ii

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of                 ,         , between First State Bancorporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Mexico (the “Corporation”) and                     , a [corporation] [national banking association] organized and existing under the laws of                     , as Warrant Agent (herein called the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Corporation proposes to sell [If Offered Securities and Warrants — [title of Offered Securities being offered] (the “Offered Securities”) with] warrant certificates (such warrant certificates and other warrant certificates issued pursuant to this Agreement herein called the “Warrant Certificates”) evidencing one or more warrants (the “Warrants” or, individually, a “Warrant”) each representing the right to purchase          shares of [name of security] (the “Stock”) [describe terms of securities including liquidation preference in the case of preferred stock]; and

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Corporation, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, exchange, exercise and replacement of the Warrant Certificates, and in this Agreement wishes to set forth, among other things, the form and provisions of the Warrant Certificates and the terms and conditions on which they may be issued, exchanged, exercised and replaced;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 1.1 Issuance of Warrant Certificates. [If Warrants alone — Upon issuance, each Warrant Certificate shall evidence one or more Warrants.] [If Offered Securities and Warrants — Warrant Certificates shall be [initially] issued in units with the Offered Securities and shall [not] be separately transferable [before                 ,          (the “Detachable Date”)]. Each such unit shall consist of a Warrant Certificate or Certificates evidencing an aggregate of                  Warrants.] Each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase one share of Stock.

Section 1.2 Form of Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Certificates (including the Form(s) of Exercise [and Assignment] to be set forth on the reverse thereof) shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders (or in any other manner determined by the officers executing such Warrant Certificates, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination) and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which the Warrant Certificates may be listed or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Warrant Certificates, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination.

Section 1.3 Execution and Authentication of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, one of its Vice Presidents (any reference to a Vice President of the Company herein shall be deemed to include any Vice President of the Company whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), its Chief Financial Officer or its Controller, under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested to by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Warrant Certificates may be manual or facsimile.

Warrant Certificates may be executed by the Corporation and delivered to the Warrant Agent upon the execution of this Warrant Agreement or from time to time thereafter. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Corporation, authenticate Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants representing the right to purchase shares of Stock and shall deliver such Warrant Certificates to or upon the order of the Corporation. Subsequent to such original issuance of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall authenticate a Warrant Certificate only if the Warrant Certificate is issued in exchange or in substitution for one or more previously authenticated Warrant Certificates or in connection with their transfer, as hereinafter provided.

Each Warrant Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Warrant Agent.

No Warrant Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, and no Warrant evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been authenticated by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Corporation shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that the Warrant Certificate so authenticated has been duly issued hereunder.

Warrant Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at the time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Warrant Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of such Warrant Certificates.

Section 1.4 Temporary Warrant Certificates. Pending the preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, the Corporation may execute, and upon the order of the Corporation the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Warrant Certificates which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced substantially of the tenor of the definitive Warrant Certificates in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Warrant Certificates may determine, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination.

If temporary Warrant Certificates are issued, the Corporation will cause definitive Warrant Certificates to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, the temporary Warrant Certificates shall be exchangeable for

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definitive Warrant Certificates upon surrender of the temporary Warrant Certificates at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or                             ], without charge to the Holder (as defined in Section 1.6 below). Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Warrant Certificates, the Corporation shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Warrant Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Warrants. Until so exchanged, the temporary Warrant Certificates shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as definitive Warrant Certificates.

Section 1.5 Payment of Taxes. The Corporation will pay all stamp taxes and other duties, if any, to which, under the laws of the United States of America or any State or political subdivision thereof, this Agreement or the original issuance of the Warrant Certificates may be subject.

Section 1.6 Definition of Holder. The term “Holder” as used herein shall mean [If Offered Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — prior to the Detachable Date, the registered owner of the Offered Security to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and, after such Detachable Date,] the person in whose name at the time such Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose pursuant to Section 4.1. [If Offered Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, the Corporation will, or will cause the registrar of the Offered Securities to, make available to the Warrant Agent current information as to Holders of the Offered Securities.]

ARTICLE II

WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS

Section 2.1 Warrant Price. During the period set forth in Section 2.2, each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to purchase from the Corporation one share of Stock at the exercise price of $            . Such exercise price of each Warrant is referred to in this Agreement as the “Exercise Price.”

Section 2.2 Duration of Warrants. Any Warrant evidenced by a Warrant Certificate may be exercised at any time, as specified herein, on or after [the date thereof] [            ,         ] and at or before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on             ,          (the “Expiration Date”). Each Warrant not exercised at or before the close of business on the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant under this Agreement or otherwise shall cease.

Section 2.3 Exercise of Warrants. (a) During the period specified in Section 2.2, any whole number of Warrants may be exercised by surrendering the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants at the place or at the places set forth in the Warrant Certificate, with the purchase form set forth in the Warrant Certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment in full, in lawful money of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds] [by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds,] of the Exercise Price for each Warrant exercised. The date on which payment in full of the Exercise Price for a Warrant and the duly executed and completed

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Warrant Certificate are received by the Warrant Agent shall be deemed to be the date on which such Warrant is exercised. The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it as payment for the exercise of Warrants to the account of the Corporation maintained with it for such purpose and shall advise the Corporation by telephone at the end of each day on which such a payment is received of the amount so deposited to its account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephonic advice to the Corporation in writing.

(b) The Warrant Agent shall from time to time, as promptly as practicable after the exercise of any Warrants in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Warrant Certificates, advise the Corporation of (i) the number of Warrants so exercised, (ii) the instructions of each Holder of the Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants with respect to delivery of the certificate or certificates representing shares of Stock to which such Holder is entitled upon such exercise, and instructions of such Holder as to delivery of Warrant Certificates evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants remaining after such exercise, and (iii) such other information as the Corporation shall reasonably require.

(c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrants, the Corporation shall issue to or upon the order of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants, a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares of Stock to which such Holder is entitled in such name or names as may be directed by such Holder; and, if fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate were exercised, the Corporation shall execute and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.

(d) The Corporation shall not be required to pay any stamp or other tax or other governmental charge required to be paid in connection with any transfer involved in the issuance of the Stock; and in the event that any such transfer is involved, the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver any shares of Stock until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has been established to the Corporation’s satisfaction that no such tax or other charge is due.

Section 2.4 Reservation of Shares. For the purpose of enabling it to satisfy any obligation to issue shares of Stock upon exercise of Warrants, the Corporation will, at all times through the close of business on the Expiration Date, reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights and out of its aggregate authorized but unissued shares of Stock, the number of shares of Stock deliverable upon the exercise of all outstanding Warrants. In addition, so long as the Stock is listed on a stock exchange or is quoted on an interdealer quotation system, the Corporation will use its best efforts to list, or to be quoted, as the case may be, subject to notice of issuance, the Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants on any such stock exchange or interdealer quotation system, as the case may be.

The Corporation covenants that all shares of Stock issued upon exercise of the Warrants will, upon issuance in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, be fully paid and nonassessable and free from all taxes, liens, charges and security interests created by or imposed upon the Corporation with respect to the issuance and holding thereof.

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ARTICLE III

OTHER TERMS OF WARRANTS

Section 3.1 [Call of Warrants by the Corporation. If Warrants issued hereunder are callable by the Corporation — The Corporation shall have the right to call and repurchase any or all Warrants on or after             ,          (the “Call Date”) and upon the occurrence of [discuss events or circumstances under which Corporation may call the Warrants] (the “Call Terms”) at a price of $             per Warrant (the “Call Price”). Notice of such Call Price, Call Date and Call Terms shall be given to registered holders of Warrants in the manner provided in Section 7.5.]

Section 3.2 Adjustment of Exercise Price and Number of Shares Purchasable or Number of Warrants. The Exercise Price, the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant and the number of Warrants outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of the events enumerated in this Section 3.2.

(a) If the Corporation shall (i) pay a dividend in or make a distribution of shares of its capital stock, whether shares of Stock or shares of its capital stock of any other class, (ii) subdivide its outstanding shares of Stock, (iii) combine its outstanding shares of Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares of Stock or (iv) issue any shares of its capital stock in a reclassification of the Stock (including any such reclassification in connection with a consolidation or merger in which the Corporation is the continuing corporation), the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant immediately prior thereto shall be adjusted so that the holder of each Warrant shall be entitled to receive the kind and number of shares of Stock or other securities of the Corporation which such holder would have owned or have been entitled to receive after the happening of any of the events described above, had such Warrant been exercised immediately prior to the happening of such event or any record date with respect thereto. An adjustment made pursuant to this paragraph (a) shall become effective immediately after the effective date of such event, retroactive to immediately after the record date, if any, for such event.

(b) If the Corporation shall issue rights, options or warrants to all holders of its outstanding Stock, without any charge to such holders, entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of Stock at a price per share that is lower than the market price per share of Stock (as defined in paragraph (e) below) at the record date mentioned below, the number of shares of Stock thereafter purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Stock theretofore purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be (i) the number of shares of Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights, options or warrants plus the number of additional shares of Stock offered for subscription or purchase, and of which the denominator shall be (ii) the number of shares of Stock outstanding on the date of issuance of such rights, options or warrants plus the number of shares which the aggregate offering price of the total number of shares of Stock so offered would purchase at the market price per share of Stock at such record date. Such adjustment shall be made whenever such rights, options or warrants are issued, and shall become effective retroactive to immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such rights, options or warrants. If at the end of

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the period during which such rights, options or warrants are exercisable, not all rights, options or warrants shall have been exercised, the adjusted number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be immediately readjusted to what it would have been if the adjustments made in the foregoing formula had been based on the number of shares actually issued.

(c) If the Corporation shall distribute to all holders of its shares of Stock evidences of its indebtedness or assets (excluding cash dividends or distributions payable out of capital surplus and dividends or distributions referred to in paragraph (a) above) or rights, options or warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities containing the right to subscribe for or purchase shares of Stock (excluding those referred to in paragraph (b) above), then in each case the number of shares of Stock thereafter purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be determined by multiplying the number of shares of Stock theretofore purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant, by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be (i) the then current market price per share of Stock (as defined in paragraph (e) below) on the date of such distribution, and of which the denominator shall be (ii) the then current market price per share of Stock less the then fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be conclusive) of the portion of the assets or evidences of indebtedness so distributed or of such subscription rights, options or warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities applicable to one share of Stock. Such adjustment shall be made whenever any such distribution is made, and shall become effective on the date of distribution retroactive to immediately after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such distribution. If at the end of the period during which such rights, options or warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities are exercisable, not all rights, options or warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities shall have been exercised, the adjusted number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrants shall be immediately readjusted to what it would have been if the adjustments made in the foregoing formula had been based on the number of shares actually issued.

(d) In the event of any capital reorganization or any reclassification of the Stock (except as provided in paragraphs (a) through (c) above), any holder of Warrants upon exercise thereof shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of the Stock to which he or she would have become entitled upon exercise immediately prior to such reorganization or reclassification, the shares (of any class or classes) or other securities or property of the Corporation that he or she would have been entitled to receive at the same aggregate Exercise Price upon such reorganization or reclassification if his or her Warrants had been exercised immediately prior thereto.

(e) For the purpose of any computation under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3.02, the current or closing market price per share of Stock at any date shall be deemed to be the average of the daily closing prices for          consecutive trading days commencing              trading days before the date of such computation. The closing price for each day shall be [the last sale price] for such day, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) or if the Stock is not listed on the NASDAQ, then on the principal United States national securities exchange on which the Stock is listed or quoted. If the Stock is not listed or quoted on any United States national securities exchange, then the current or closing market price per share of Stock shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation in good faith.

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(f) Whenever the number of shares of [NAME OF SECURITY] purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant is adjusted as herein provided, the Exercise Price payable upon the exercise of each Warrant shall be adjusted by multiplying such Exercise Price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction, of which the numerator shall be the number of shares purchasable upon the exercise of each Warrant immediately prior to such adjustment, and of which the denominator shall be the number of shares so purchasable immediately thereafter.

(g) The Corporation may elect, on or after the date of any adjustment required by paragraphs (a) through (d) of this Section 3.2, to adjust the number of Warrants in substitution for an adjustment in the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Warrant. Each of the Warrants outstanding after such adjustment of the number of Warrants shall be exercisable for the same number of shares of Stock as immediately prior to such adjustment. Each Warrant held of record prior to such adjustment of the number of Warrants shall become that number of Warrants (calculated to the nearest hundredth) obtained by dividing the Exercise Price in effect prior to adjustment of the Exercise Price by the Exercise Price in effect after adjustment of the Exercise Price. The Corporation shall notify the holders of Warrants, in the same manner as provided in the first paragraph of Section 7.5, of its election to adjust the number of Warrants, indicating the record date for the adjustment, and, if known at the time, the amount of the adjustment to be made. This record date may be the date on which the Exercise Price is adjusted or any day thereafter. Upon each adjustment of the number of Warrants pursuant to this paragraph (g) the Corporation shall, as promptly as practicable, cause to be distributed to holders of record of Warrants on such record date Warrant Certificates evidencing, subject to paragraph (h), the additional Warrants to which such holders shall be entitled as a result of such adjustment, or, at the option of the Corporation, shall cause to be distributed to such holders of record in substitution and replacement for the Warrant Certificates held by such holders prior to the date of adjustment, and upon surrender thereof, if required by the Corporation, new Warrant Certificates evidencing all the Warrants to be issued, executed and registered in the manner specified in Section 1 (and which may bear, at the option of the Corporation, the adjusted Exercise Price) and shall be registered in the names of the holders of record of Warrant Certificates on the record date specified in the notice.

(h) The Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of Warrants on any distribution of Warrants to holders of Warrant Certificates pursuant to paragraph (g) or to distribute Warrant Certificates that evidence fractional Warrants. In lieu of such fractional Warrants, there shall be paid to the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates with regard to which such fractional Warrants would otherwise be issuable, an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a full Warrant on the trading day immediately prior to the date on which such fractional Warrant would have been otherwise issuable (the “Valuation Date”). For purposes of this paragraph (h), the current market value of a Warrant shall be the aggregate closing market price on the Valuation Date (determined as set forth in paragraph (e)) of all shares of Stock issuable upon exercise of one Warrant plus the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, whose determination shall be conclusive) of any other assets or securities purchasable upon exercise of one Warrant less the Exercise Price of one Warrant.

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(i) Notwithstanding any adjustment pursuant to Section 3.2 in the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon the exercise of a Warrant, the Corporation shall not be required to issue fractions of shares of Stock upon exercise of the Warrants or to distribute certificates which evidence fractional shares. In lieu of fractional shares, there shall be paid to the registered holders of Warrant Certificates at the time such Warrant Certificates are exercised as herein provided an amount in cash equal to the same fraction of the current market value of a share of Stock. For purposes of this paragraph (i), the current market value of a share of Stock shall be the closing market price (determined as set forth in paragraph (e)) of a share of Stock for the trading day immediately prior to the date of such exercise.

(j) No adjustment in the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Warrant need be made unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 0.5%. Any adjustment that is not made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment, provided that no such adjustment shall be deferred beyond the date on which a Warrant is exercised. All calculations under this Article III shall be made to the nearest 1/1000th of a share.

(k) To the extent the Warrants become convertible into cash, no adjustment need be made thereafter as to the amount of cash into which such Warrants are exercisable. Interest will not accrue on the cash.

ARTICLE IV

REGISTRATION, EXCHANGE, TRANSFER AND SUBSTITUTION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 4.1 Registration, Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Agent shall keep, at its corporate trust office [and at                 ], books in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates and transfers of outstanding Warrant Certificates.

[If Offered Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, a Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only together with the Offered Security to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or transfer of such Offered Security. Additionally, on or prior to the Detachable Date, each transfer or exchange of an Offered Security [on the register of the Offered Securities] shall operate also to transfer or exchange the Warrant Certificate or Certificates to which such Offered Security was initially attached. After the Detachable Date, upon] [If Offered Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable or if Warrants alone — Upon] surrender at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or                 ] of Warrant Certificates properly endorsed [or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer] and accompanied by written instructions for [transfer or] exchange, all in form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant Certificates or may be transferred in whole or in part; provided that

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Warrant Certificates issued in exchange for [or upon transfer of] surrendered Warrant Certificates shall evidence the same aggregate number of Warrants as the Warrant Certificates so surrendered. No service charge shall be made for any exchange [or transfer] of Warrant Certificates, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such exchange [or transfer]. Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so surrendered for exchange [or transfer], the Corporation shall execute and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver to the person or persons entitled thereto a Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates as so requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any exchange [or transfer] which would result in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate evidencing a fraction of a Warrant or a number of full Warrants and a fraction of a Warrant. All Warrant Certificates issued upon any exchange [or transfer] of Warrant Certificates shall evidence the same obligations, and be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrant Certificates surrendered for such exchange [or transfer].

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates. If any mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant Agent, the Corporation shall execute and an officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and the Warrant Agent (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Warrant Certificate and of the ownership thereof and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Corporation shall execute and upon its request an officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent) connected therewith. Every new Warrant Certificate issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall evidence an original additional contractual obligation of the Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificates.

Section 4.3 Persons Deemed Owners. [If Offered Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, the Corporation, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the owner of any Offered Security as the owner of the Warrant Certificates initially attached thereto for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificates, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding. After the Detachable Date, and] Prior to due presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the Corporation, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the Holder as the owner thereof for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.

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Section 4.4 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant Certificate surrendered for exchange[, transfer] or exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby shall, if surrendered to the Corporation, be delivered to the Warrant Agent, and all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so delivered to the Warrant Agent shall be promptly cancelled by it and shall not be reissued and, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, no Warrant Certificate shall be issued hereunder in lieu or in exchange thereof. The Corporation may at any time deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation any Warrant Certificates previously issued hereunder which the Corporation may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Warrant Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent. All cancelled Warrant Certificates held by the Warrant Agent shall be disposed of, as instructed by the Corporation, subject to applicable law.

ARTICLE V

OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 5.1 No Rights as Stockholders Conferred by Warrants or Warrant Certificates. No Warrant Certificate or Warrant evidenced thereby shall entitle the Holder thereof to any of the rights of a stockholder, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends (except in certain cases for adjustments as expressly provided in Article III hereof).

Section 5.2 Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, any Holder of any Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent, any stockholder or the Holder of any other Warrant Certificate, may, on its own behalf and for its own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Corporation suitable to enforce or otherwise in respect of its right to exercise the Warrant or Warrants evidenced by his or her Warrant Certificate in the manner provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT

Section 6.1 Warrant Agent. The Corporation hereby appoints                  as Warrant Agent of the Corporation in respect of the Warrants and the Warrant Certificates upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and                  hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the power and authority granted to and conferred upon it in the Warrant Certificates and hereby and such further power and authority to act on behalf of the Corporation as the Corporation may hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of the terms and provisions with respect to such power and authority contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and governed by the terms and provisions hereof.

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Section 6.2 Conditions of Warrant Agent’s Obligations. The Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth, upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the Corporation agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates shall be subject:

(a) Compensation and Indemnification. The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Warrant Agent the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services rendered hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Warrant Agent, arising out of or in connection with its acting as such Warrant Agent hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance at any time of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Corporation under this subsection (a) shall survive the exercise of the Warrant Certificates and the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent.

(b) Agent for the Corporation. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Corporation and does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the owners or holders of the Warrant Certificates.

(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel, which may include counsel for the Corporation, and the written 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.

(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon any notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties.

(e) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, any of its officers, directors and employees, or any other agent of the Corporation, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any Warrant Certificates, with the same rights that it would have if it were not such Warrant Agent, officer, director, employee or other agent, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Corporation and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of securities or other obligations of the Corporation as freely as if it were not such Warrant Agent, officer, director, employee or other agent.

(f) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and except for the negligence of the Warrant Agent.

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(g) No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall not incur any liability with respect to the validity of this Agreement or any of the Warrant Certificates.

(h) No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any of the Recitals or representations contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s Certificate of Authentication thereon), all of which are made solely by the Corporation.

(i) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform such duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificates specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Corporation of any of the Warrant Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Corporation of the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates or any exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Corporation in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise or, except as provided in Section 7.4 hereof, to make any demand upon the Corporation.

Section 6.3 Resignation, Removal and Appointment of Successor. (a) The Corporation agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates, that there shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all of the Warrant Certificates are no longer exercisable.

(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such agent by giving written notice to the Corporation of such intention on its part, specifying the date on which it desires its resignation to become effective; provided that, without the consent of the Corporation, such date shall not be less than three months after the date on which such notice is given. The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed at any time by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of the Corporation and specifying such removal and the date on which the Corporation expects such removal to become effective. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment by the Corporation of a successor Warrant Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers) by an instrument in writing filed with such successor Warrant Agent and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 6.3(d).

(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or be removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or consent

12

to the appointment of a receiver or custodian of all or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver or custodian of it or of all or any substantial part of its property shall be appointed, or if an order of any court shall be entered approving any petition filed by or against it under the provisions of any applicable bankruptcy or similar law, or if any public officer shall have taken charge or control of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid, shall be appointed by the Corporation by an instrument in writing, filed with the successor Warrant Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent and acceptance by the latter of such appointment, the Warrant Agent so superseded shall cease to be the Warrant Agent hereunder.

(d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over, and such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies, securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as Warrant Agent hereunder.

(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be merged or converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Warrant Agent, provided that it shall be qualified as aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Corporation and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions. The Corporation may consolidate with, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other corporation, provided that in any such case, either the Corporation shall be the continuing corporation, or the corporation (if other than the Corporation) formed by such consolidation or into which the Corporation is merged or the corporation which acquired by purchase or conveyance all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation shall expressly assume the obligations of the Corporation hereunder.

Section 7.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Corporation, with the same effect as if it had been named herein, and the predecessor corporation, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Agreement and the Warrants. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Corporation, any or all of the shares of Stock issuable pursuant to the terms hereof.

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In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in Stock thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

Section 7.3 Amendment. This Agreement [If preferred stock is to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants — and the certificate of designations of such series of Stock (the “Certificate of Designations”)] may be amended by the parties hereto, without the consent of the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein, or making such provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement [If preferred stock is to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants — or the Certificate of Designations] as the Corporation may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates in any material respect. Any amendment or supplement to this Agreement [If preferred stock is to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants — or the Certificate of Designations] or the Warrants that has a material adverse effect on the interests of Holders of any series of Warrants shall require the written consent of the Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants of such series [If preferred stock is to be issued upon exercise of the Warrants — (provided that if Stock has been issued, then the consent of holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants of such series and the Stock voting as a class shall instead be required)]. The consent of each Holder of a Warrant affected shall be required for any amendment pursuant to which the Warrant Price would be increased or the number of shares of Stock purchasable upon exercise of Warrants would be decreased. The Warrant Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any amendment to this Agreement which affects the Warrant Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 7.4 Notices and Demands to the Corporation and Warrant Agent. If the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Corporation by the Holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to the Corporation.

Section 7.5 Notices to Warrant Holders. Upon any adjustment of the number of shares purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant, the Exercise Price or the number of Warrants outstanding pursuant to Section 3.2, the Corporation within              calendar days thereafter shall (i) cause to be filed with the Warrant Agent a certificate of a firm of independent public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Corporation (who may be the regular auditors of the Corporation) setting forth the Exercise Price and either the number of shares of Stock and other securities or assets purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant or the additional number of Warrants to be issued for each previously outstanding Warrant, as the case may be, after such adjustment and setting forth in reasonable detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such adjustment are made, which certificate shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of the matters set forth therein, and (ii) cause to be given to each of the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates at such holder’s address appearing on the Warrant Register written notice of such adjustments by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Where appropriate, such notice may be given in advance and included as part of the notice required to be mailed under the provisions of this Section 7.5.

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Pursuant to Sections 3.1 [add other sections as applicable], the Corporation shall cause written notice of such Call Price, Call Date and Call Terms [reference other items as applicable], as the case may be, to be given as soon as practicable to the Warrant Agent and to each of the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates by first class mail, postage prepaid, at such holder’s address appearing on the Warrant Register. In addition to the written notice referred to in the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall make a public announcement in a daily morning newspaper of general circulation in                  of such Call Price, Call Date, and Call Terms [reference other items as applicable], as the case may be, at least once a week for two successive weeks prior to the implementation of such terms.

If:

(a) the Corporation shall declare any dividend payable in any securities upon its shares of Stock or make any distribution (other than a cash dividend) to the holders of its shares of Stock; or

(b) the Corporation shall offer to the holders of its shares of Stock any additional shares of Stock or securities convertible into shares of Stock or any right to subscribe thereto; or

(c) there shall be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation (other than in connection with a consolidation, merger, or sale of all or substantially all of its property, assets, and business as an entirety);

then the Corporation shall (i) cause written notice of such event to be filed with the Warrant Agent and shall cause written notice of such event to be given to each of the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates at such holder’s address appearing on the Warrant Register, by first-class mail, postage prepaid, and (ii) make a public announcement in a daily newspaper of general circulation in                                  of such event, such giving of notice and publication to be completed at least                  calendar days prior to the date fixed as a record date or the date of closing the transfer books for the determination of the stockholders entitled to such dividend, distribution, or subscription rights, or for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote on such proposed dissolution, liquidation or winding up. Such notice shall specify such record date or the date of closing the transfer books, as the case may be. The failure to give the notice required by this Section 7.5 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of any distribution, right, warrant, dissolution, liquidation or winding up or the vote upon or any other action taken in connection therewith.

Section 7.6 Addresses. Any communications from the Corporation to the Warrant Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to                         , Attention:                     , and any communications from the Warrant Agent to the Corporation with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to First State Bancorporation, 7900 Jefferson N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, Attention: Corporate Secretary (or such other address as shall be specified in writing by the Warrant Agent or by the Corporation).

15

Section 7.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and each Warrant Certificate issued hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

Section 7.8 Delivery of Prospectus. The Corporation will furnish to the Warrant Agent sufficient copies of a prospectus, appropriately supplemented, relating to the Stock (the “Prospectus”), and the Warrant Agent agrees that upon the exercise of any Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent will deliver to the person designated to receive a certificate representing shares of Stock, prior to or concurrently with the delivery of such Securities, a Prospectus.

Section 7.9 Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. The Corporation will from time to time take all action which may be necessary to obtain and keep effective any and all permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and securities acts filings under United States Federal and State laws (including, without limitation, to the extent required, the maintenance of the effectiveness of a registration statement in respect of the Stock under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), which may be or become required in connection with exercise of the Warrant Certificates and the original issuance and delivery of the Stock.

Section 7.10 Persons Having Rights Under Warrant Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied and nothing that may be inferred from any of the provisions herein is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the Corporation, the Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Warrant Certificates any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof; and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and their successors and of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates.

Section 7.11 Headings. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

Section 7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 7.13 Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [and at                 ] for inspection by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent may require such Holder to submit its Warrant Certificate for inspection by it.

16

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[SEAL]

Attest

[Assistant] Secretary

[SEAL] Attest:

[Assistant] Secretary

[NAME OF WARRANT AGENT]
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[SEAL]

Attest:

[Assistant] Secretary

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

[Face]

Form of Legend if Offered Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable	[Prior to ___________, this Warrant Certificate may be transferred or exchanged if and only if the [Title of Security] to which it was initially attached is so transferred or exchanged.]
Form of Legend if Warrants are not immediately exercisable	[Prior to _________________, Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate cannot be exercised.]

EXERCISABLE ONLY IF AUTHENTICATED BY THE WARRANT

AGENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN

VOID AFTER THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON                 ,         

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

Warrant Certificate representing

Warrants to purchase

[name of security]

as described herein.

No.                  Warrants

This certifies that              or registered assigns is the registered owner of the above indicated number of Warrants, each Warrant entitling such registered owner to purchase, at any time [after the close of business on                 ,         , and] on or before the close of business on             ,         , one share of the [designation of [name of security]] (“Stock”) of First State Bancorporation (the “Corporation”), on the following basis.* During such period, each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Corporation one share of Stock at the exercise price of $             (the “Exercise Price”). The Holder of this Warrant Certificate may exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby, in whole or in part, by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the purchase form set forth hereon duly completed, accompanied by payment in full, in lawful money of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in

* Complete and modify the following provisions as appropriate to reflect the terms of the Warrants.

A-1

New York Clearing House funds or by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds], the Exercise Price for each Warrant exercised, to the Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined), at the corporate trust office of [name of Warrant Agent], or its successor, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) [or at                 ], the addresses specified on the reverse hereof and upon compliance with and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement.

The term “Holder” as used herein shall mean [If Offered Debt Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable — prior to                 ,          (the “Detachable Date”), the registered owner of the Corporation’s [title of Offered Securities] to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and after such Detachable Date,] the person in whose name at the time such Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose pursuant to Section 4.1 of the Warrant Agreement.

Any whole number of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be exercised to purchase shares of Stock. Upon any exercise of fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, there shall be issued to the registered owner hereof a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.

This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with the Warrant Agreement dated as of             ,          (the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and is subject to the terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office of the Warrant Agent [and at             ].

[If Offered Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable — prior to             ,          (the “Detachable Date”), this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only together with the [title of Offered Security] (the “Offered Security”) to which this Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or transfer of such Offered Security. Additionally, on or prior to the Detachable Date, each transfer of such Offered Security on the register of the Offered Securities shall operate also to transfer this Warrant Certificate. After the Detachable Date, this] [If Offered Debt Securities with Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants alone — This] Warrant Certificate and all rights hereunder, may be transferred when surrendered at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or             ] by the registered owner or his assigns, in person or by an attorney duly authorized in writing, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement.

[If Offered Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, after] [If Offered Debt Securities with Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants alone-After] authentication by the Warrant Agent and prior to the expiration of this Warrant Certificate, this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or at                             ] for Warrant Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Warrants.

A-2

This Warrant Certificate shall not entitle the registered owner hereof to any of the rights of a stockholder, including, without limitation, the right to receive dividends.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the Warrant Agent.

A-3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:                     

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:
	Name:
	Title:

Attest:

Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the Warrant Certificates referred to in the within-mentioned Warrant Agreement.

As Warrant Agent

By:
	Authorized Signature

A-4

[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

[REVERSE]

(Instructions for Exercise of Warrants)

To exercise any Warrants evidenced hereby, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate must pay [in cash or by certified check or by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds], the Exercise Price in full for each of the Warrants exercised, to             , Corporate Trust Department,             , Attn: [or             ], which payment should specify the name of the Holder of this Warrant Certificate and the number of Warrants exercised by such Holder. In addition, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate should complete the information required below and present in person or mail by registered mail this Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at the addresses set forth below.

[FORM OF EXERCISE]

(To be executed upon exercise of Warrants.)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise Warrants, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to purchase              shares of the [designation of [name of security]] (“Stock”) of First State Bancorporation and represents that he or she has tendered payment for such shares of Stock [in cash or by certified check official bank check in New York Clearing House funds or by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds] to the order of First State Bancorporation, c/o Chief Financial Officer, in the amount of $             in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that said shares of Stock be registered in such names and delivered, all as specified in accordance with the instructions set forth below.

If said number of shares of Stock is less than all of the shares of Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.

Dated:

Name
	(Please Print)

(Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Holder)

A-5

Address

Signature (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and 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 Warrant Agent, 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 Warrant Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

This Warrant may be exercised at the following addresses:

By hand at

By mail at

(Instructions as to form and delivery of certificates representing shares of Stock and/or Warrant Certificates):

A-6

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]

(TO BE EXECUTED TO TRANSFER

THE WARRANT CERTIFICATE)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED                      hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

Please print name and address

(including zip code)

Please insert social security or other identifying number

                                                                                                                       the right represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                 , Attorney, to transfer said Warrant Certificate on the books of the Warrant Agent with full power of substitution.

Dated:

Signature

(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and 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 Warrant Agent, 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 Warrant Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

Signature Guaranteed:

A-7

EX-4.9

Exhibit 4.9

FORM OF DEBT SECURITIES WARRANT AGREEMENT

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

and

As Warrant Agent

WARRANT AGREEMENT

Dated as of                      ,         

____________________

TABLE OF CONTENTS¹

		Page
ARTICLE I
ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND COUNTERSIGNATURE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
Section 1.1	Issuance of Warrant Certificates	2
Section 1.2	Form of Warrant Certificates	2
Section 1.3	Execution and Authentication of Warrant Certificates	2
Section 1.4	Temporary Warrant Certificates	3
Section 1.5	Payment of Taxes	3
Section 1.6	Definition of Holder	4
ARTICLE II
WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
Section 2.1	Warrant Price	4
Section 2.2	Duration of Warrants	4
Section 2.3	Exercise of Warrants	4
ARTICLE III
OTHER TERMS OF WARRANTS
Section 3.1	[Call of Warrants by the Corporation]	5
ARTICLE IV
[REGISTRATION,] EXCHANGE, TRANSFER AND SUBSTITUTION OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
Section 4.1	[Registration,] Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates	6
Section 4.2	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates	6
Section 4.3	Persons Deemed Owners	7
Section 4.4	Cancellation of Warrant Certificates	7

¹ The Table of Contents is not a part of the Warrant Agreement.

i

ARTICLE V
OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES
Section 5.1	No Rights as Holders of Warrant Debt Securities Conferred by Warrants or Warrant Certificates	8
Section 5.2	Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights	8
ARTICLE VI
CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT
Section 6.1	Warrant Agent	8
Section 6.2	Conditions of Warrant Agent’s Obligations	9
Section 6.3	Resignation, Removal and Appointment of Successor	10
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1	Consolidations and Mergers of the Corporation and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions	11
Section 7.2	Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation	12
Section 7.3	Amendment	12
Section 7.4	Notice and Demands to the Corporation and Warrant Agent	12
Section 7.5	Notices to Warrant Holders	12
Section 7.6	Addresses	13
Section 7.7	Governing Law	13
Section 7.8	Delivery of Prospectus	13
Section 7.9	Obtaining of Governmental Approvals	13
Section 7.10	Persons Having Rights under Warrant Agreement	13
Section 7.11	Headings	13
Section 7.12	Counterparts	14
Section 7.13	Inspection of Agreement	14

ii

THIS WARRANT AGREEMENT, dated as of                     ,         , between First State Bancorporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New Mexico (the “Corporation”) and                                         , a [corporation] [national banking association] organized and existing under the laws of                             , as Warrant Agent (herein called the “Warrant Agent”).

WHEREAS, the Corporation has entered into an Indenture (the “Indenture”) dated as of                     ,         , with [                            ] as trustee (such trustee, and any successors to such trustee, herein called the “Trustee”), providing for the issuance from time to time, in one or more series, of its [Senior] [Senior Subordinated] [Subordinated] [Junior Subordinated] Debt Securities; and

WHEREAS, the Corporation proposes to sell [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants — [title of Debt Securities being offered] (the “Offered Debt Securities”) with] warrant certificates (such warrant certificates and other warrant certificates issued pursuant to this Agreement herein called the “Warrant Certificates”) evidencing one or more warrants (“Warrants” or, individually, a “Warrant”) representing the right to purchase [title of Debt Securities purchasable through exercise of Warrants] (the “Warrant Debt Securities”); and

WHEREAS, the Corporation desires the Warrant Agent to act on behalf of the Corporation, and the Warrant Agent is willing to so act, in connection with the issuance, exchange, exercise and replacement of the Warrant Certificates, and in this Agreement wishes to set forth, among other things, the form and provisions of the Warrant Certificates and the terms and conditions on which they may be issued, exchanged, exercised and replaced;

1

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

ISSUANCE, EXECUTION AND COUNTERSIGNATURE OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 1.1 Issuance of Warrant Certificates. [If Warrants alone — Upon issuance, each Warrant Certificate shall evidence one or more Warrants.] [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants — Warrant Certificates shall be [initially] issued in units with the Offered Debt Securities and shall [not] be separately transferable [before                     ,          (the “Detachable Date”)]. Each such unit shall consist of a Warrant Certificate or Certificates evidencing an aggregate of          Warrants for each $                     principal amount of Offered Debt Securities.] Each Warrant evidenced thereby shall represent the right, subject to the provisions contained herein and therein, to purchase Warrant Debt Securities in the aggregate principal amount of $                .

Section 1.2 Form of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Certificates (including the Form[s] of Exercise [and Assignment] to be set forth on the reverse thereof) shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders (or in any other manner determined by the officers executing such Warrant Certificates, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination) and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which the Warrant Certificates may be listed or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Warrant Certificates, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination.

Section 1.3 Execution and Authentication of Warrant Certificates. The Warrant Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Chief Executive Officer, its President, one of its Vice Presidents (any reference to a Vice President of the Company herein shall be deemed to include any Vice President of the Company whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President”), its Chief Financial Officer or its Controller under its corporate seal reproduced thereon attested to by its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary. The signature of any of these officers on the Warrant Certificates may be manual or facsimile.

Warrant Certificates evidencing the right to purchase an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $                     of Warrant Debt Securities (except as provided in Sections 1.4, 2.3(c), 4.1 and 4.2) may be executed by the Corporation and delivered to the Warrant Agent upon the execution of this Warrant Agreement or from time to time thereafter. The Warrant Agent shall, upon receipt of Warrant Certificates duly executed on behalf of the Corporation, authenticate Warrant Certificates evidencing Warrants representing the right to purchase up to $                     aggregate principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities and shall deliver such Warrant Certificates to or upon the order of the Corporation. Subsequent to such original issuance of the Warrant

2

Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall authenticate a Warrant Certificate only if the Warrant Certificate is issued in exchange or substitution for one or more previously authenticated Warrant Certificates [If registered Warrants — or in connection with their transfer], as hereinafter provided.

Each Warrant Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Warrant Agent.

No Warrant Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, and no Warrant evidenced thereby shall be exercisable, until such Warrant Certificate has been authenticated by the manual signature of the Warrant Agent. Such signature by the Warrant Agent upon any Warrant Certificate executed by the Corporation shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that the Warrant Certificate so authenticated has been duly issued hereunder.

Warrant Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at the time the proper officers of the Corporation shall bind the Corporation, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Warrant Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of such Warrant Certificates.

Section 1.4 Temporary Warrant Certificates. Pending the preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, the Corporation may execute, and upon the order of the Corporation the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Warrant Certificates which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Warrant Certificates in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Warrant Certificates may determine, with the execution thereof by such officers conclusively evidencing such determination.

If temporary Warrant Certificates are issued, the Corporation will cause definitive Warrant Certificates to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Warrant Certificates, the temporary Warrant Certificates shall be exchangeable for definitive Warrant Certificates upon surrender of the temporary Warrant Certificates at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or                     ], without charge to the Holder (as defined in Section 1.6 below). Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Warrant Certificates the Corporation shall execute and the Warrant Agent shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor definitive Warrant Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Warrants. Until so exchanged, the temporary Warrant Certificates shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement as definitive Warrant Certificates.

Section 1.5 Payment of Taxes. The Corporation will pay all stamp taxes and other duties, if any, to which, under the laws of the United States of America or any State or political subdivision thereof, this Agreement or the original issuance of the Warrant Certificates may be subject.

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Section 1.6 Definition of Holder. The term “Holder” as used herein shall mean [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable —, prior to the Detachable Date, the registered owner of the Offered Debt Security to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and, after such Detachable Date,] [if bearer Warrants, the bearer of such Warrant Certificates] [if registered Warrants, the person in whose name at the time such Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose pursuant to Section 4.1]. [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, the Corporation will, or will cause the registrar of the Offered Debt Securities to, make available to the Warrant Agent current information as to Holders of the Offered Debt Securities.]

ARTICLE II

WARRANT PRICE, DURATION AND EXERCISE OF WARRANTS

Section 2.1 Warrant Price. During the period from                     ,          through and including                     ,         , each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to purchase from the Corporation the principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities stated in the Warrant Certificate at the exercise price of         % of the principal amount thereof [plus accrued amortization, if any, of the original issue discount of the Warrant Debt Securities] [plus accrued interest, if any, from the most recent date from which interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt Securities or, if no interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt Securities, from                     ,         ]. [In each case, the original issue discount ($ for each $1,000 principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities) will be amortized at a         % annual rate, computed on a[n] [semi-]annual basis [using a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months].] Such exercise price of each Warrant is referred to in this Agreement as the “Exercise Price.”

Section 2.2 Duration of Warrants. Any Warrant evidenced by a Warrant Certificate may be exercised at any time, as specified herein, on or after [the date thereof] [                     ,         ] and at or before 5:00 p.m. New York City time on                     ,          (the “Expiration Date”). Each Warrant not exercised at or before the close of business on the Expiration Date shall become void, and all rights of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrant under this Agreement or otherwise shall cease.

Section 2.3 Exercise of Warrants. (a) During the period specified in Section 2.2, any whole number of Warrants may be exercised by surrendering the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants at the place or at the places set forth in the Warrant Certificate, with the purchase form set forth in the Warrant Certificate duly executed, accompanied by payment in full, in lawful money of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds] [by surrender of the [specified aggregate amount of [identified securities]] [by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds], of the Exercise Price for each Warrant exercised. The date on which payment in full of the Exercise Price for a

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Warrant and the duly executed and completed Warrant Certificate are received by the Warrant Agent shall be deemed to be the date on which such Warrant is exercised. The Warrant Agent shall deposit all funds received by it as payment for the exercise of Warrants to the account of the Corporation maintained with it for such purpose and shall advise the Corporation by telephone at the end of each day on which such a payment is received of the amount so deposited to its account. The Warrant Agent shall promptly confirm such telephonic advice to the Corporation in writing.

(b) The Warrant Agent shall from time to time, as promptly as practicable after the exercise of any Warrants in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Warrant Certificates, advise the Corporation and the Trustee of (i) the number of Warrants so exercised, (ii) the instructions of each Holder of the Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants with respect to delivery of the Warrant Debt Securities to which such Holder is entitled upon such exercise, and instructions of such Holder as to delivery of Warrant Certificates evidencing the balance, if any, of the Warrants remaining after such exercise, and (iii) such other information as the Corporation or the Trustee shall reasonably require.

(c) As soon as practicable after the exercise of any Warrants, the Corporation shall issue, pursuant to the Indenture, in authorized denominations, to or upon the order of the Holder of the Warrant Certificate evidencing such Warrants, the Warrant Debt Security or Warrant Debt Securities to which such Holder is entitled in fully registered form, registered in such name or names as may be directed by such Holder; and, if fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificate were exercised, the Corporation shall execute and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.

(d) The Corporation shall not be required to pay any stamp or other tax or other governmental charge required to be paid in connection with any transfer involved in the issue of the Warrant Debt Securities; and in the event that any such transfer is involved, the Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver any Warrant Debt Securities until such tax or other charge shall have been paid or it has been established to the Corporation’s satisfaction that no such tax or other charge is due.

ARTICLE III

OTHER TERMS OF WARRANTS

Section 3.1 [Call of Warrants by the Corporation. If Warrants issued hereunder are callable by the Corporation — The Corporation shall have the right to call and repurchase any or all Warrants on or after                 ,          (the “Call Date”) and upon the occurrence of [describe events or circumstances under which Corporation may call the Warrants] (the “Call Terms”) at a price of $                 per Warrant (the “Call Price”). Notice of such Call Price, Call Date and Call Terms shall be given to registered holders of Warrants in the manner provided in Section 7.5.]

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ARTICLE IV

[REGISTRATION,] EXCHANGE, TRANSFER AND SUBSTITUTION OF

WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 4.1 [Registration,] Exchange and Transfer of Warrant Certificates. [If registered Warrants — The Warrant Agent shall keep, at its corporate trust office [and at                     ], books in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it shall register Warrant Certificates and transfers of outstanding Warrant Certificates].

[If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, a Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only together with the Offered Debt Security to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or transfer of such Offered Debt Security. Additionally, on or prior to the Detachable Date, each transfer or exchange of an Offered Debt Security [on the register of the Offered Debt Securities] shall operate also to transfer or exchange the Warrant Certificate or Certificates to which such Offered Debt Security was initially attached. After the Detachable Date, upon] [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable or if Warrants alone — Upon] surrender at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or                             ] of Warrant Certificates properly endorsed [or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer] and accompanied by written instructions for [transfer or] exchange, all in a form satisfactory to the Corporation and the Warrant Agent, such Warrant Certificates may be exchanged for other Warrant Certificates [If registered Warrants — or may be transferred in whole or in part]; provided that Warrant Certificates issued in exchange for [or upon transfer of] surrendered Warrant Certificates shall evidence the same aggregate number of Warrants as the Warrant Certificates so surrendered. No service charge shall be made for any exchange [or transfer] of Warrant Certificates, but the Corporation may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any stamp or other tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any such exchange [or transfer]. Whenever any Warrant Certificates are so surrendered for exchange [or transfer], the Corporation shall execute and an authorized officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver to the person or persons entitled thereto a Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates as so requested. The Warrant Agent shall not be required to effect any exchange [or transfer] which would result in the issuance of a Warrant Certificate evidencing a fraction of a Warrant or a number of full Warrants and a fraction of a Warrant. All Warrant Certificates issued upon any exchange [or transfer] of Warrant Certificates shall evidence the same obligations, and be entitled to the same benefits under this Agreement, as the Warrant Certificates surrendered for such exchange [or transfer].

Section 4.2 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Warrant Certificates. If any mutilated Warrant Certificate is surrendered to the Warrant Agent, the Corporation shall execute and an officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and bearing a number not

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contemporaneously outstanding. If there shall be delivered to the Corporation and the Warrant Agent (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Warrant Certificate and of the ownership thereof and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Corporation or the Warrant Agent that such Warrant Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Corporation shall execute and upon its request an officer of the Warrant Agent shall manually authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate, a new Warrant Certificate of like tenor and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding. Upon the issuance of any new Warrant Certificate under this Section, the Corporation may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Warrant Agent) connected therewith. Every new Warrant Certificate issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall evidence an original additional contractual obligation of the Corporation, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificate shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Warrant Certificates duly issued hereunder. The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Warrant Certificates.

Section 4.3 Persons Deemed Owners. [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to the Detachable Date, the Corporation, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the registered owner of any Offered Debt Security as the owner of the Warrant Certificates initially attached thereto for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced by such Warrant Certificates, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding. After the Detachable Date,] [If registered Warrants — and prior to due presentment of a Warrant Certificate for registration of transfer, the] [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants alone — The] Corporation, the Warrant Agent and all other persons may treat the Holder as the owner thereof for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the Warrants evidenced thereby, any notice to the contrary notwithstanding.

Section 4.4 Cancellation of Warrant Certificates. Any Warrant Certificate surrendered for exchange[, transfer] or exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby shall, if surrendered to the Corporation, be delivered to the Warrant Agent, and [If Warrant Certificates are issued in bearer form — , except as provided below,] all Warrant Certificates surrendered or so delivered to the Warrant Agent shall be promptly cancelled by it and shall not be reissued and, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement, no Warrant Certificate shall be issued hereunder in lieu or in exchange thereof. [If Warrant Certificates are issued in bearer form — Warrant Certificates delivered to the Warrant Agent in exchange for Warrant Certificates of other denominations may be retained by the Warrant Agent for reissue as authorized hereunder.] The Corporation may at any time deliver to the Warrant Agent for cancellation any Warrant Certificates previously issued hereunder which the Corporation

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may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Warrant Certificates so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Warrant Agent. All cancelled Warrant Certificates held by the Warrant Agent shall be disposed of, as instructed by the Corporation, subject to applicable law.

ARTICLE V

OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO RIGHTS OF

HOLDERS OF WARRANT CERTIFICATES

Section 5.1 No Rights as Holders of Warrant Debt Securities Conferred by Warrants or Warrant Certificates. No Warrant Certificate or Warrant evidenced thereby shall entitle the Holder thereof to any of the rights of a Holder of the Warrant Debt Securities, including, without limitation, the right to receive the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Warrant Debt Securities or to enforce any of the covenants in the Indenture.

Section 5.2 Holder of Warrant Certificate May Enforce Rights. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement, any Holder of any Warrant Certificate, without the consent of the Warrant Agent, the Trustee, the holder of any Warrant Debt Securities or the Holder of any other Warrant Certificate, may, on its own behalf and for its own benefit, enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or proceeding against the Corporation suitable to enforce or otherwise in respect of its right to exercise the Warrant or Warrants evidenced by his or her Warrant Certificate in the manner provided in the Warrant Certificates and in this Agreement.

ARTICLE VI

CONCERNING THE WARRANT AGENT

Section 6.1 Warrant Agent. The Corporation hereby appoints                                          as Warrant Agent of the Corporation in respect of the Warrants and the Warrant Certificates upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein set forth, and                                          hereby accepts such appointment. The Warrant Agent shall have the power and authority granted to and conferred upon it in the Warrant Certificates and hereby and such further power and authority to act on behalf of the Corporation as the Corporation may hereafter grant to or confer upon it. All of the terms and provisions with respect to such power and authority contained in the Warrant Certificates are subject to and governed by the terms and provisions hereof.

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Section 6.2 Conditions of Warrant Agent’s Obligations. The Warrant Agent accepts its obligations herein set forth, upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the Corporation agrees and to all of which the rights hereunder of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates shall be subject:

(a) Compensation and Indemnification. The Corporation agrees promptly to pay the Warrant Agent the compensation to be agreed upon with the Corporation for all services rendered by the Warrant Agent and to reimburse the Warrant Agent for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Warrant Agent in connection with the services rendered hereunder by the Warrant Agent. The Corporation also agrees to indemnify the Warrant Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Warrant Agent, arising out of or in connection with its acting as such Warrant Agent hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance at any time of its powers or duties hereunder. The obligations of the Corporation under this subsection (a) shall survive the exercise of the Warrant Certificates and the resignation or removal of the Warrant Agent.

(b) Agent for the Corporation. In acting under this Warrant Agreement and in connection with the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent is acting solely as agent of the Corporation and does not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any of the owners or Holders of the Warrant Certificates.

(c) Counsel. The Warrant Agent may consult with counsel, which may include counsel for the Corporation, and the written 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.

(d) Documents. The Warrant Agent shall be protected and shall incur no liability for or in respect of any action taken or omitted by it in reliance upon any notice, direction, consent, certificate, affidavit, statement or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been presented or signed by the proper parties.

(e) Certain Transactions. The Warrant Agent, any of its officers, directors and employees, or any other agent of the Corporation, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner of, or acquire any interest in, any Warrant Certificates, with the same rights that it would have if it were not such Warrant Agent, officer, director, employee or other agent, and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, it may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Corporation and may act on, or as depositary, trustee or agent for, any committee or body of holders of Warrant Debt Securities or other obligations of the Corporation as freely as if it were not such Warrant Agent, officer, director, employee or other agent. Nothing in this Warrant Agreement shall be deemed to prevent the Warrant Agent from acting as Trustee under the Indenture.

(f) No Liability for Interest. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any liability for interest on any monies at any time received by it pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement or of the Warrant Certificates unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and except for the negligence of the Warrant Agent.

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(g) No Liability for Invalidity. The Warrant Agent shall not incur any liability with respect to the validity of this Agreement or any of the Warrant Certificates.

(h) No Responsibility for Representations. The Warrant Agent shall not be responsible for any of the recitals or representations contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates (except as to the Warrant Agent’s Certificate of Authentication thereon), all of which are made solely by the Corporation.

(i) No Implied Obligations. The Warrant Agent shall be obligated to perform such duties as are herein and in the Warrant Certificates specifically set forth and no implied duties or obligations shall be read into this Agreement or the Warrant Certificates against the Warrant Agent. The Warrant Agent shall not be under any obligation to take any action hereunder which may tend to involve it in any expense or liability, the payment of which within a reasonable time is not, in its reasonable opinion, assured to it. The Warrant Agent shall not be accountable or under any duty or responsibility for the use by the Corporation of any of the Warrant Certificates authenticated by the Warrant Agent and delivered by it to the Corporation pursuant to this Agreement or for the application by the Corporation of the proceeds of the Warrant Certificates or any exercise of the Warrants evidenced thereby. The Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by the Corporation in the performance of its covenants or agreements contained herein or in the Warrant Certificates or in the Warrant Debt Securities or in the case of the receipt of any written demand from a Holder of a Warrant Certificate with respect to such default, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any duty or responsibility to initiate or attempt to initiate any proceeding at law or otherwise or, except as provided in Section 7.4 hereof, to make any demand upon the Corporation.

Section 6.3 Resignation, Removal and Appointment of Successor. (a) The Corporation agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Warrant Certificates, that there shall at all times be a Warrant Agent hereunder until all of the Warrant Certificates are no longer exercisable.

(b) The Warrant Agent may at any time resign as such agent by giving written notice to the Corporation of such intention on its part, specifying the date on which it desires its resignation to become effective; provided that, without the consent of the Corporation, such date shall not be less than three months after the date on which such notice is given. The Warrant Agent hereunder may be removed at any time by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of the Corporation and specifying such removal and the date on which the Corporation expects such removal to become effective. Such resignation or removal shall take effect upon the appointment by the Corporation of a successor Warrant Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers) by an instrument in writing filed with such successor Warrant Agent and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Warrant Agent pursuant to Section 6.3(d).

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(c) In case at any time the Warrant Agent shall resign, or be removed, or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or make an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or consent to the appointment of a receiver or custodian of all or any substantial part of its property, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay or meet its debts as they mature, or if a receiver or custodian of it or of all or any substantial part of its property shall be appointed, or if an order of any court shall be entered approving any petition filed by or against it under the provisions of any applicable bankruptcy or similar law, or if any public officer shall have taken charge or control of the Warrant Agent or of its property or affairs, a successor Warrant Agent, qualified as aforesaid, shall be appointed by the Corporation by an instrument in writing, filed with the successor Warrant Agent. Upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Warrant Agent and acceptance by the latter of such appointment, the Warrant Agent so superseded shall cease to be Warrant Agent hereunder.

(d) Any successor Warrant Agent appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor and to the Corporation an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Warrant Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations of such predecessor with like effect as if originally named as Warrant Agent hereunder, and such predecessor, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to transfer, deliver and pay over, and such successor Warrant Agent shall be entitled to receive, all monies, securities and other property on deposit with or held by such predecessor, as Warrant Agent hereunder.

(e) Any corporation into which the Warrant Agent hereunder may be merged or converted or any corporation with which the Warrant Agent may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Warrant Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Warrant Agent, provided that it shall be qualified as aforesaid, shall be the successor Warrant Agent under this Agreement without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.1 Consolidations and Mergers of the Corporation and Sales, Leases and Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions. To the extent permitted in the Indenture, the Corporation may consolidate with, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other corporation.

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Section 7.2 Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation. In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance and upon any such assumption by the successor corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be

substituted for the Corporation, with the same effect as if it had been named herein, and the predecessor corporation, except in the event of a lease, shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Agreement and the Warrants. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Corporation, any or all of the Warrant Debt Securities issuable pursuant to the terms hereof. All the Warrant Debt Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under the Indenture as the Warrant Debt Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Indenture.

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Warrant Debt Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

Section 7.3 Amendment. This Agreement [and the Indenture] may be amended by the parties hereto, without the consent of the Holder of any Warrant Certificate, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained herein, or making such provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this Agreement [or the Indenture] as the Corporation may deem necessary or desirable; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates in any material respect. Any amendment or supplement to this Agreement[, the Indenture] or the Warrants that has a material adverse effect on the interests of Holders of any series of Warrants shall require the written consent of Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants of such series [(provided that if Warrant Debt Securities have been issued, then the consent of Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants of such series and the Warrant Debt Securities voting as a class shall instead be required)]. The consent of each Holder of a Warrant affected shall be required for any amendment pursuant to which the Warrant Price would be increased or the number of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of Warrants would be decreased. The Warrant Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any amendment to this Agreement which affects the Warrant Agent’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.

Section 7.4 Notice and Demands to the Corporation and Warrant Agent. If the Warrant Agent shall receive any notice or demand addressed to the Corporation by the Holder of a Warrant Certificate pursuant to the provisions of the Warrant Certificates, the Warrant Agent shall promptly forward such notice or demand to the Corporation.

Section 7.5 Notices to Warrant Holders. Pursuant to Sections 3.1 [add other sections as applicable], the Corporation shall cause written notice of such Call Price, Call Date and Call Terms [reference other items as applicable], as the case may be, to be given as soon as practicable to the Warrant Agent and to each of the registered holders of the Warrant Certificates by first class mail, postage prepaid, at such holder’s address appearing on the Warrant Register. In addition to the written notice referred to in the preceding sentence, the Corporation shall make a public announcement in a daily morning newspaper of general circulation in                  of such Call Price, Call Date, and Call Terms [reference other items as applicable], as the case may be, at least once a week for two successive weeks prior to the implementation of such terms.

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Section 7.6 Addresses. Any communications from the Corporation to the Warrant Agent with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to                     , Attention:                     , and any communications from the Warrant Agent to the Corporation with respect to this Agreement shall be addressed to First State Bancorporation, 7900 Jefferson N.E. Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109, Attention: Corporate Secretary (or such other address as shall be specified in writing by the Warrant Agent or by the Corporation).

Section 7.7 Governing Law. This Agreement and each Warrant Certificate issued hereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York including, without limitation, Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law.

Section 7.8 Delivery of Prospectus. The Corporation will furnish to the Warrant Agent sufficient copies of a prospectus, appropriately supplemented, relating to the Warrant Debt Securities (the “Prospectus”), and the Warrant Agent agrees that, upon the exercise of any Warrant Certificate, the Warrant Agent will deliver to the person designated to receive Warrant Debt Securities, prior to or concurrently with the delivery of such Securities, a Prospectus.

Section 7.9 Obtaining of Governmental Approvals. The Corporation will from time to time take all action which may be necessary to obtain and keep effective any and all permits, consents and approvals of governmental agencies and authorities and securities acts filings under United States Federal and State laws (including, without limitation, to the extent required, the maintenance of the effectiveness of a registration statement in respect of the Warrant Debt Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended), which may be or become required in connection with the exercise of the Warrant Certificates and the original issuance and delivery of the Warrant Debt Securities.

Section 7.10 Persons Having Rights under Warrant Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement expressed or implied and nothing that may be inferred from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person or corporation other than the Corporation, the Warrant Agent and the Holders of the Warrant Certificates any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or of any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof; and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements contained in this Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and their successors and of the Holders of the Warrant Certificates.

Section 7.11 Headings. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

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Section 7.12 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original; but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 7.13 Inspection of Agreement. A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times at the principal corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [and at                     ] for inspection by the Holder of any Warrant Certificate. The Warrant Agent may require such Holder to submit its Warrant Certificate for inspection by it.

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seal to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above written.

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[SEAL]

Attest:

[NAME OF WARRANT AGENT]
By:
	Name:
	Title:

[SEAL]

Attest:

[Assistant Secretary]

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

[Face]

Form of Legend if Offered Debt Securities with Warrants which are not immediately detachable:	[Prior to __________, this Warrant Certificate may be transferred or exchanged if and only if the [Title of Offered Debt Security] to which it was initially attached is so transferred or exchanged.]
Form of Legend if Warrants are not immediately exercisable:	[Prior to ____________, Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate cannot be exercised.]

EXERCISABLE ONLY IF AUTHENTICATED BY THE WARRANT

AGENT AS PROVIDED HEREIN

VOID AFTER THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON                 ,         

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION

Warrant Certificate representing

Warrants to purchase

[Title of Warrant Debt Securities]

as described herein

No.                  Warrants

This certifies that [the bearer is the] [                                         or registered assigns is the registered] owner of the above indicated number of Warrants, each Warrant entitling such [bearer [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable —, subject to the bearer qualifying as a “Holder” of this Warrant Certificate, as hereinafter defined] [registered owner] to purchase, at any time [after the close of business on                 ,         , and] on or before the close of business on                 ,         , $                 principal amount of [Title of Warrant Debt Securities] (the “Warrant Debt Securities”) of First State Bancorporation (the “Corporation”), issued or to be issued under the Indenture (as hereinafter defined), on the following basis.*

* Complete and modify the following provisions as appropriate to reflect the terms of the Warrants and the Warrant Debt Securities.

A-1

[During the period from                 ,          through and including                 ,         , each Warrant shall entitle the Holder thereof, subject to the provisions of the Warrant Agreement (as defined below), to purchase from the Corporation the principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities stated above in this Warrant Certificate at the exercise price of         % of the principal amount thereof [plus accrued amortization, if any, of the original issue discount of the Warrant Debt Securities] [plus accrued interest, if any, from the most recent date from which interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt Securities or, if no interest shall have been paid on the Warrant Debt Securities, from                 ,         ]; [in each case, the original issue discount ($                 for each $1,000 principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities) will be amortized at a         % annual rate, computed on a[n] [semi-]annual basis[, using a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months] [(the “Exercise Price”)]. The Holder of this Warrant Certificate may exercise the Warrants evidenced hereby, in whole or in part, by surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the purchase form set forth hereon duly completed, accompanied [by payment in full, in lawful money of the United States of America, [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds] [by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds]] [by surrender of the [specified aggregate principal amount of [identified securities]], the Exercise Price for each Warrant exercised, to the Warrant Agent (as hereinafter defined), at the corporate trust office of [name of Warrant Agent], or its successor as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agent”) [or at             ,] at the addresses specified on the reverse hereof and upon compliance with and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement. This Warrant Certificate may be exercised only for the purchase of Warrant Debt Securities in the principal amount of [$1,000] or any integral multiple thereof.

The term “Holder” as used herein shall mean [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — , prior to                     ,          (the “Detachable Date”), the registered owner of the Corporation’s [title of Offered Debt Securities] to which such Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and after such Detachable Date,] [the bearer of such Warrant Certificate] [the person in whose name at the time such Warrant Certificate shall be registered upon the books to be maintained by the Warrant Agent for that purpose pursuant to Section 4.01 of the Warrant Agreement].

Any whole number of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may be exercised to purchase Warrant Debt Securities in registered form. Upon any exercise of fewer than all of the Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate, there shall be issued to the [bearer] [registered owner] hereof a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants remaining unexercised.

This Warrant Certificate is issued under and in accordance with the Warrant Agreement dated as of                     ,          (the “Warrant Agreement”), between the Corporation and the Warrant Agent and is subject to the terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Agreement, to all of which terms and provisions the Holder of this Warrant Certificate consents by acceptance hereof. Copies of the Warrant Agreement are on file at the above-mentioned office at the Warrant Agent [and at                     ].

A-2

The Warrant Debt Securities to be issued and delivered upon the exercise of warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate will be issued under and in accordance with an Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of                     ,          between the Corporation and                                     , as trustee (such trustee, and any successors to such trustee, the “Trustee”) and will be subject to the terms and provisions contained in the Warrant Debt Securities and in the Indenture. Copies of the Indenture, including the form of the Warrant Debt Securities, are on file at the corporate trust office of the Trustee [and at                                     ].

[If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Prior to                     ,          (the “Detachable Date”), this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged or transferred only together with the [title of Offered Debt Security] (the “Offered Debt Security”) to which this Warrant Certificate was initially attached, and only for the purpose of effecting, or in conjunction with, an exchange or transfer of such Offered Debt Security. Additionally, on or prior to the Detachable Date each transfer of such Offered Debt Security on the register of the Offered Debt Securities shall operate also to transfer this Warrant Certificate. After the Detachable Date, this] [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants alone — This] Warrant Certificate, and all rights hereunder, may be transferred [If bearer Warrants — by delivery and the Corporation and the Warrant Agent may treat the bearer hereof as the owner for all purposes] [If registered Warrants — when surrendered at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent [or                 ] by the registered owner or his assigns, in person or by an attorney duly authorized in writing, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement].

[If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are not immediately detachable — Except as provided in the immediately preceding paragraph, after] [If Offered Debt Securities and Warrants which are immediately detachable or Warrants alone — After] authentication by the Warrant Agent and prior to the expiration of this Warrant Certificate, this Warrant Certificate may be exchanged at the corporate trust office at the Warrant Agent [or at                         ] for Warrant Certificates representing the same aggregate number of Warrants.

This Warrant Certificate shall not entitle the [bearer] [registered owner] hereof to any of the rights of a [registered] [holder] of the Warrant Debt Securities, including, without limitation, the right to receive payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Warrant Debt Securities or to enforce any of the covenants of the Indenture.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

This Warrant Certificate shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until authenticated by the Warrant Agent.

A-3

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Warrant Certificate to be duly executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:                             

FIRST STATE BANCORPORATION
By:
	Name:
	Title:

Attest:

Certificate of Authentication

This is one of the Warrant Certificates referred to in the within-mentioned Warrant Agreement.

As Warrant Agent

By:
	Authorized Signature

A-4

[FORM OF WARRANT CERTIFICATE]

[REVERSE]

(Instructions for Exercise of Warrants)

To exercise any Warrants evidenced hereby, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate must pay [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds or by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds], the Exercise Price in full for each of the Warrants exercised, to                         , Corporate Trust Department,                         , Attn:                      [or                         ], which payment should specify the name of the Holder of this Warrant Certificate and the number of Warrants exercised by such Holder. In addition, the Holder of this Warrant Certificate should complete the information required below and present in person or mail by registered mail this Warrant Certificate to the Warrant Agent at the addresses set forth below.

[FORM OF EXERCISE]

(To be executed upon exercise of Warrants.)

The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise          Warrants, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to purchase $                 principal amount of the [Title of Warrant Debt Securities] (the “Warrant Debt Securities”) of First State Bancorporation and represents that he has tendered payment for such Warrant Debt Securities [in cash or by certified check or official bank check in New York Clearing House funds or by bank wire transfer in immediately available funds] to the order of First State Bancorporation, c/o Chief Financial Officer, in the amount of $                 in accordance with the terms hereof. The undersigned requests that said principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities be in fully registered form, in the authorized denominations, registered in such names and delivered, all as specified in accordance with the instructions set forth below.

If said principal amount of Warrant Debt Securities is less than all of the Warrant Debt Securities purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant Certificate representing the remaining balance of the Warrants evidenced hereby be issued and delivered to the undersigned unless otherwise specified in the instructions below.

Dated:
	Name
	Address
(Insert Social Security or Other Identifying Number of Holder)

A-5

Signature _______________________________ [If registered warrant — (Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and 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 Warrant Agent, 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 Warrant Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)]

This Warrant may be exercised at the following addresses:

By hand at

By mail at

(Instructions as to form and delivery of Warrant Debt Securities and/or Warrant Certificates):

A-6

[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]

(TO BE EXECUTED TO TRANSFER THE WARRANT CERTIFICATE)

FOR VALUE RECEIVED                                  hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto

(Please print name and

address including zip code)

Please insert social security or other

identifying number

____________________________________________________________________________________________

the right represented by the within Warrant Certificate and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint                             , Attorney, to transfer said Warrant Certificate on the books of the Warrant Agent with full power of substitution.

Dated:
	Signature
	(Signature must conform in all respects to name of holder as specified on the face of the Warrant Certificate and 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 Warrant Agent, 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 Warrant Agent in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

Signature Guaranteed:

A-7

EX-12.1

Exhibit 12.1

First State Bancorporation

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

	Nine Months Ended September 30, 2008		Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in thousands)			2007		2006		2005		2004		2003
Earnings(1):
Income (loss) before income tax expense	(144,508	)	38,119		35,272		33,186		23,780		22,820
Fixed charges	59,582		98,875		68,866		39,263		25,380		23,885
Total earnings (a)	(84,926	)	136,994		104,138		72,449		49,160		46,705
Fixed charges (1):
Interest expense on deposits	45,203		71,843		50,441		24,725		19,222		18,712
Interest on borrowings	12,462		24,582		16,610		12,987		4,653		3,917
Interest portion of rental expense (2)	1,917		2,450		1,815		1,551		1,505		1,256
Total fixed charges (b)	59,582		98,875		68,866		39,263		25,380		23,885
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (a/b)	(1.43	)x	1.39	x	1.51	x	1.85	x	1.94	x	1.96	x
Earnings, excluding interest on deposits:
Total earnings	(84,926	)	136,994		104,138		72,449		49,160		46,705
Less interest on deposits	45,203		71,843		50,441		24,725		19,222		18,712
Total earnings excluding interest on deposits (c)	(130,129	)	65,151		53,697		47,724		29,938		27,993
Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits:
Total fixed charges	59,582		98,875		68,866		39,263		25,380		23,885
Less interest on deposits	45,203		71,843		50,441		24,725		19,222		18,712
Total fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits (d)	14,379		27,032		18,425		14,538		6,158		5,173
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits (c/d) (3)	(9.05	)x	2.41	x	2.91	x	3.28	x	4.86	x	5.41	x

(1) As defined in Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K.

(2) The appropriate portion of rental expense (one-third) deemed representative of the interest factor.

(3) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, is being provided as an additional measure to provide comparability to the ratios disclosed by all other issuers of debt securities.

EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors

First State Bancorporation:

We consent to the use of our reports dated March 14, 2008, with respect to the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2007, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, which reports appear in the December 31, 2007 annual report on Form 10-K of First State Bancorporation, incorporated by reference herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

Our report with respect to the 2006 consolidated financial statements refers to a change in accounting for share-based transactions.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Albuquerque, New Mexico

December 29, 2008