exv4w2







Exhibit 4.2




WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK



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




WARRANT

to purchase

6,437,677

Shares of Common Stock




of Sterling Financial Corporation




Issue Date: December 5, 2008




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



     “Affiliate” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.



     “Appraisal Procedure” means a procedure whereby two independent appraisers, one chosen by the
Company and one by the Original Warrantholder, shall mutually agree upon the determinations then
the subject of appraisal. Each party shall deliver a notice to the other appointing its appraiser
within 15 days after the Appraisal Procedure is invoked. If within 30 days after appointment of
the two appraisers they are unable to agree upon the amount in question, a third independent
appraiser shall be chosen within 10 days thereafter by the mutual consent of such first two
appraisers. The decision of the third appraiser so appointed and chosen shall be given within 30
days after the selection of such third appraiser. If three appraisers shall be appointed and the
determination of one appraiser is disparate from the middle determination by more than twice the
amount by which the other determination is disparate from the middle determination, then the
determination of such appraiser shall be excluded, the remaining two determinations shall be
averaged and such average shall be binding and conclusive upon the



 









 







Company and the Original Warrantholder; otherwise, the average of all three determinations
shall be binding upon the Company and the Original Warrantholder. The costs of conducting any
Appraisal Procedure shall be borne by the Company.



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



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



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



     “Capital Stock” means (A) with respect to any Person that is a corporation or company, any
and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated) of capital or
capital stock of such Person and (B) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation or
company, any and all partnership or other equity interests of such Person.



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



     “Common Stock” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.



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



     “conversion” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).



     “convertible securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).



     “CPP” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.



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



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



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



     “Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any security or other property, the fair market
value of such security or other property as determined by the Board of Directors, acting in good
faith or, with respect to Section 14, as determined by the Original Warrantholder acting in good
faith. For so long as the Original Warrantholder holds this Warrant or any portion thereof, it
may object in writing to the Board of Director’s calculation of fair market value within 10 days of
receipt of written notice thereof. If the Original Warrantholder and the Company are unable to
agree on fair market value during the 10-day period following the delivery of the Original
Warrantholder’s objection, the Appraisal Procedure may be invoked by either party to



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determine Fair Market Value by delivering written notification thereof not later than the
30th day after delivery of the Original Warrantholder’s objection.



     “Governmental Entities” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.



     “Initial Number” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).



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



     “Market Price” means, with respect to a particular security, on any given day, the last
reported sale price regular way or, in case no such reported sale takes place on such day, the
average of the last closing bid and ask prices regular way, in either case on the principal
national securities exchange on which the applicable securities are listed or admitted to trading,
or if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the average of the
closing bid and ask prices as furnished by two members of the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority, Inc. selected from time to time by the Company for that purpose. “Market Price” shall
be determined without reference to after hours or extended hours trading. If such security is not
listed and traded in a manner that the quotations referred to above are available for the period
required hereunder, the Market Price per share of Common Stock shall be deemed to be (i) in the
event that any portion of the Warrant is held by the Original Warrantholder, the fair market value
per share of such security as determined in good faith by the Original Warrantholder or (ii) in
all other circumstances, the fair market value per share of such security as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors in reliance on an opinion of a nationally recognized independent
investment banking corporation retained by the Company for this purpose and certified in a
resolution to the Warrantholder. For the purposes of determining the Market Price of the Common
Stock on the “trading day” preceding, on or following the occurrence of an event, (i) that trading
day shall be deemed to commence immediately after the regular scheduled closing time of trading on
the New York Stock Exchange or, if trading is closed at an earlier time, such earlier time and
(ii) that trading day shall end at the next regular scheduled closing time, or if trading is
closed at an earlier time, such earlier time (for the avoidance of doubt, and as an example, if
the Market Price is to be determined as of the last trading day preceding a specified event and
the closing time of trading on a particular day is 4:00 p.m. and the specified event occurs at
5:00 p.m. on that day, the Market Price would be determined by reference to such 4:00 p.m. closing
price).



     “Ordinary Cash Dividends” means a regular quarterly cash dividend on shares of Common Stock
out of surplus or net profits legally available therefor (determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time), provided that Ordinary Cash Dividends
shall not include any cash dividends paid subsequent to the Issue Date to the extent the aggregate
per share dividends paid on the outstanding Common Stock in any quarter exceed the amount set
forth in Item 4 of Schedule A hereto, as adjusted for any stock split, stock dividend, reverse
stock split, reclassification or similar transaction.



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



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     “Permitted Transactions” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(B).



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



     “Per Share Fair Market Value” has the meaning set forth in Section 13(C).



     “Preferred Shares” means the perpetual preferred stock issued to the Original
Warrantholder on the Issue Date pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.



     “Pro Rata Repurchases” means any purchase of shares of Common Stock by the Company or any
Affiliate thereof pursuant to (A) any tender offer or exchange offer subject to Section 13(e) or
14(e) of the Exchange Act or Regulation 14E promulgated thereunder or (B) any other offer
available to substantially all holders of Common Stock, in the case of both (A) or (B), whether
for cash, shares of Capital Stock of the Company, other securities of the Company, evidences of
indebtedness of the Company or any other Person or any other property (including, without
limitation, shares of Capital Stock, other securities or evidences of indebtedness of a
subsidiary), or any combination thereof, effected while this Warrant is outstanding. The
"Effective Date” of a Pro Rata Repurchase shall mean the date of acceptance of shares for purchase
or exchange by the Company under any tender or exchange offer which is a Pro Rata Repurchase or
the date of purchase with respect to any Pro Rata Repurchase that is not a tender or exchange
offer.



     “Purchase Agreement” means the Securities Purchase Agreement — Standard Terms incorporated
into the Letter Agreement, dated as of the date set forth in Item 5 of Schedule A hereto, as
amended from time to time, between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury
(the “Letter Agreement”), including all annexes and schedules thereto.



     “Qualified Equity Offering” has the meaning ascribed to it in the Purchase Agreement.



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



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



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



     “Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.



     “trading day” means (A) if the shares of Common Stock are not traded on any national or
regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market, a business day or (B) if
the shares of Common Stock are traded on any national or regional securities exchange or




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association or over-the-counter market, a business day on which such relevant exchange or quotation system is scheduled to be open for business and on which the shares of Common
Stock (i) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or
association or over-the-counter market for any period or periods aggregating one half hour or
longer; and (ii) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or
association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the shares of
Common Stock.



     “U.S. GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles. 


     “Warrantholder” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.



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



     2. Number of Shares; Exercise Price. This certifies that, for value received, the
United States Department of the Treasury or its permitted assigns (the “Warrantholder”) is
entitled, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth, to acquire from the
Company, in whole or in part, after the receipt of all applicable Regulatory Approvals, if any, up
to an aggregate of the number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock set forth in
Item 6 of Schedule A hereto, at a purchase price per share of Common Stock equal to the Exercise
Price. The number of shares of Common Stock (the “Shares”) and the Exercise Price are subject to
adjustment as provided herein, and all references to “Common Stock,” “Shares” and “Exercise Price”
herein shall be deemed to include any such adjustment or series of adjustments.



     3. Exercise of Warrant; Term. Subject to Section 2, to the extent permitted by
applicable laws and regulations, the right to purchase the Shares represented by this Warrant is
exercisable, in whole or in part by the Warrantholder, at any time or from time to time after the
execution and delivery of this Warrant by the Company on the date hereof, but in no event later
than 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the tenth anniversary of the Issue Date (the “Expiration
Time”), by (A) the surrender of this Warrant and Notice of Exercise annexed hereto, duly completed
and executed on behalf of the Warrantholder, at the principal executive office of the Company
located at the address set forth in Item 7 of Schedule A hereto (or such other office or agency of
the Company in the United States as it may designate by notice in writing to the Warrantholder at
the address of the Warrantholder appearing on the books of the Company), and (B) payment of the
Exercise Price for the Shares thereby purchased:



          (i) by having the Company withhold, from the shares of Common Stock that would otherwise be
delivered to the Warrantholder upon such exercise, shares of Common stock issuable upon exercise
of the Warrant equal in value to the aggregate Exercise Price as to which this Warrant is so
exercised based on the Market Price of the Common Stock on the trading day on which this Warrant
is exercised and the Notice of Exercise is delivered to the Company pursuant to this Section 3, or




          (ii) with the consent of both the Company and the Warrantholder, by tendering in cash, by
certified or cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company, or by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account designated by the Company.




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




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



     5. No Fractional Shares or Scrip. No fractional Shares or scrip representing
fractional Shares shall be issued upon any exercise of this Warrant. In lieu of any fractional
Share to which the Warrantholder would otherwise be entitled, the Warrantholder shall be entitled
to receive a cash payment equal to the Market Price of the Common Stock on the last trading day
preceding the date of exercise less the pro-rated Exercise Price for such fractional share.



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



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



     8. Transfer/Assignment.



     (A) Subject to compliance with clause (B) of this Section 8, this Warrant and all rights
hereunder are transferable, in whole or in part, upon the books of the Company by the registered
holder hereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, and a new warrant shall be made and
delivered by the Company, of the same tenor and date as this Warrant but registered in the name of
one or more transferees, upon surrender of this Warrant, duly endorsed, to the office or agency of
the Company described in Section 3. All expenses (other than stock transfer taxes) and other
charges payable in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the new warrants
pursuant to this Section 8 shall be paid by the Company.



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



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



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



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



     12. Rule 144 Information. The Company covenants that it will use its reasonable best
efforts to timely file all reports and other documents required to be filed by it under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC



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



     13. Adjustments and Other Rights. The Exercise Price and the number of Shares
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be subject to adjustment from time to time as
follows; provided, that if more than one subsection of this Section 13 is applicable to a single
event, the subsection shall be applied that produces the largest adjustment and no single event
shall cause an adjustment under more than one subsection of this Section 13 so as to result in
duplication:



     (A) Stock Splits, Subdivisions, Reclassifications or Combinations. If the Company
shall (i) declare and pay a dividend or make a distribution on its Common Stock in shares of
Common Stock, (ii) subdivide or reclassify the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a greater
number of shares, or (iii) combine or reclassify the outstanding shares of Common Stock into a
smaller number of shares, the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant at the time
of the record date for such dividend or distribution or the effective date of such subdivision,
combination or reclassification shall be proportionately adjusted so that the Warrantholder after
such date shall be entitled to purchase the number of shares of Common Stock which such holder
would have owned or been entitled to receive in respect of the shares of Common Stock subject to
this Warrant after such date had this Warrant been exercised immediately prior to such date. In
such event, the Exercise Price in effect at the time of the record date for such dividend or
distribution or the effective date of such subdivision, combination or reclassification shall be
adjusted to the number obtained by dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable
upon the exercise of this Warrant before such adjustment and (2) the Exercise Price in effect
immediately prior to the record or effective date, as the case may be, for the dividend,
distribution, subdivision, combination or reclassification giving rise to this adjustment by (y)
the new number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrant determined pursuant to the
immediately preceding sentence.



     (B) Certain Issuances of Common Shares or Convertible Securities. Until the earlier
of (i) the date on which the Original Warrantholder no longer holds this Warrant or any portion
thereof and (ii) the third anniversary of the Issue Date, if the Company shall issue shares of
Common Stock (or rights or warrants or other securities exercisable or convertible into or
exchangeable (collectively, a “conversion”) for shares of Common Stock) (collectively,
"convertible securities”) (other than in Permitted Transactions (as defined below) or a
transaction to which subsection (A) of this Section 13 is applicable) without consideration or at a
consideration per share (or having a conversion price per share) that is less than 90% of the



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Market Price on the last trading day preceding the date of the agreement on pricing such shares
(or such convertible securities) then, in such event:




(A) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant immediately
prior to the date of the agreement on pricing of such shares (or of such convertible
securities) (the “Initial Number”) shall be increased to the number obtained by
multiplying the Initial Number by a fraction (A) the numerator of which shall be
the sum of (x) the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company outstanding on
such date and (y) the number of additional shares of Common Stock issued (or into
which convertible securities may be exercised or convert) and (B) the denominator
of which shall be the sum of (I) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
on such date and (II) the number of shares of Common Stock which the aggregate
consideration receivable by the Company for the total number of shares of Common
Stock so issued (or into which convertible securities may be exercised or convert)
would purchase at the Market Price on the last trading day preceding the date of
the agreement on pricing such shares (or such convertible securities); and




(B) the Exercise Price payable upon exercise of the Warrant shall be adjusted by
multiplying such Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the date of the
agreement on pricing of such shares (or of such convertible securities) by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of this Warrant prior to such date and the denominator of
which shall be the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of this
Warrant immediately after the adjustment described in clause (A) above.



     For purposes of the foregoing, the aggregate consideration receivable by the Company in
connection with the issuance of such shares of Common Stock or convertible securities shall be
deemed to be equal to the sum of the net offering price (including the Fair Market Value of any
non-cash consideration and after deduction of any related expenses payable to third parties) of all
such securities plus the minimum aggregate amount, if any, payable upon exercise or conversion of
any such convertible securities into shares of Common Stock; and “Permitted Transactions” shall
mean issuances (i) as consideration for or to fund the acquisition of businesses and/or related
assets, (ii) in connection with employee benefit plans and compensation related arrangements in
the ordinary course and consistent with past practice approved by the Board of Directors, (iii) in
connection with a public or broadly marketed offering and sale of Common Stock or convertible
securities for cash conducted by the Company or its affiliates pursuant to registration under the
Securities Act or Rule 144A thereunder on a basis consistent with capital raising transactions by
comparable financial institutions and (iv) in connection with the exercise of preemptive rights on
terms existing as of the Issue Date. Any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 13(B) shall
become effective immediately upon the date of such issuance.



     (C) Other Distributions. In case the Company shall fix a record date for the making
of a distribution to all holders of shares of its Common Stock of securities, evidences of
indebtedness, assets, cash, rights or warrants (excluding Ordinary Cash Dividends, dividends of
its Common Stock and other dividends or distributions referred to in Section 13(A)), in each



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such case, the Exercise Price in effect prior to such record date shall be reduced immediately
thereafter to the price determined by multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to
the reduction by the quotient of (x) the Market Price of the Common Stock on the last trading day
preceding the first date on which the Common Stock trades regular way on the principal national
securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading without the right
to receive such distribution, minus the amount of cash and/or the Fair Market Value of the
securities, evidences of indebtedness, assets, rights or warrants to be so distributed in respect
of one share of Common Stock (such amount and/or Fair Market Value, the “Per Share Fair Market
Value”) divided by (y) such Market Price on such date specified in clause (x); such adjustment
shall be made successively whenever such a record date is fixed. In such event, the number of
Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number obtained by
dividing (x) the product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant
before such adjustment, and (2) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the distribution
giving rise to this adjustment by (y) the new Exercise Price determined in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence. In the case of adjustment for a cash dividend that is, or is
coincident with, a regular quarterly cash dividend, the Per Share Fair Market Value would be
reduced by the per share amount of the portion of the cash dividend that would constitute an
Ordinary Cash Dividend. In the event that such distribution is not so made, the Exercise Price
and the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant then in effect shall be
readjusted, effective as of the date when the Board of Directors determines not to distribute such
shares, evidences of indebtedness, assets, rights, cash or warrants, as the case may be, to the
Exercise Price that would then be in effect and the number of Shares that would then be issuable
upon exercise of this Warrant if such record date had not been fixed.



     (D) Certain Repurchases of Common Stock. In case the Company effects a Pro Rata
Repurchase of Common Stock, then the Exercise Price shall be reduced to the price determined by
multiplying the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date of such Pro Rata
Repurchase by a fraction of which the numerator shall be (i) the product of (x) the number of
shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately before such Pro Rata Repurchase and (y) the Market
Price of a share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately preceding the first public
announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to effect such Pro Rata
Repurchase, minus (ii) the aggregate purchase price of the Pro Rata Repurchase, and of which the
denominator shall be the product of (i) the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding
immediately prior to such Pro Rata Repurchase minus the number of shares of Common Stock so
repurchased and (ii) the Market Price per share of Common Stock on the trading day immediately
preceding the first public announcement by the Company or any of its Affiliates of the intent to
effect such Pro Rata Repurchase. In such event, the number of shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of this Warrant shall be increased to the number obtained by dividing (x) the
product of (1) the number of Shares issuable upon the exercise of this Warrant before such
adjustment, and (2) the Exercise Price in effect immediately prior to the Pro Rata Repurchase
giving rise to this adjustment by (y) the new Exercise Price determined in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, no increase to the Exercise Price or
decrease in the number of Shares issuable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be made pursuant to
this Section 13(D).



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     (E) Business Combinations. In case of any Business Combination or reclassification
of Common Stock (other than a reclassification of Common Stock referred to in Section 13(A)), the
Warrantholder’s right to receive Shares upon exercise of this Warrant shall be converted into the
right to exercise this Warrant to acquire the number of shares of stock or other securities or
property (including cash) which the Common Stock issuable (at the time of such Business
Combination or reclassification) upon exercise of this Warrant immediately prior to such Business
Combination or reclassification would have been entitled to receive upon consummation of such
Business Combination or reclassification; and in any such case, if necessary, the provisions set
forth herein with respect to the rights and interests thereafter of the Warrantholder shall
be appropriately adjusted so as to be applicable, as nearly as may reasonably be, to the
Warrantholder’s right to exercise this Warrant in exchange for any shares of stock or other
securities or property pursuant to this paragraph. In determining the kind and amount of stock,
securities or the property receivable upon exercise of this Warrant following the consummation of
such Business Combination, if the holders of Common Stock have the right to elect the kind or
amount of consideration receivable upon consummation of such Business Combination, then the
consideration that the Warrantholder shall be entitled to receive upon exercise shall be deemed to
be the types and amounts of consideration received by the majority of all holders of the shares of
common stock that affirmatively make an election (or of all such holders if none make an
election).



     (F) Rounding of Calculations; Minimum Adjustments. All calculations under this
Section 13 shall be made to the nearest one-tenth (1/10th) of a cent or to the nearest onehundredth
(1/100th) of a share, as the case may be. Any provision of this Section 13 to the contrary
notwithstanding, no adjustment in the Exercise Price or the number of Shares into which this
Warrant is exercisable shall be made if the amount of such adjustment would be less than $0.01 or
one-tenth (1/10th) of a share of Common Stock, but any such amount shall be carried forward and an
adjustment with respect thereto shall be made at the time of and together with any subsequent
adjustment which, together with such amount and any other amount or amounts so carried forward,
shall aggregate $0.01 or 1/10th of a share of Common Stock, or more.



     (G) Timing of Issuance of Additional Common Stock Upon Certain Adjustments. In any
case in which the provisions of this Section 13 shall require that an adjustment shall become
effective immediately after a record date for an event, the Company may defer until the occurrence
of such event (i) issuing to the Warrantholder of this Warrant exercised after such record date
and before the occurrence of such event the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon such
exercise by reason of the adjustment required by such event over and above the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such exercise before giving effect to such adjustment and (ii) paying to such
Warrantholder any amount of cash in lieu of a fractional share of Common Stock; provided, however,
that the Company upon request shall deliver to such Warrantholder a due bill or other appropriate
instrument evidencing such Warrantholder’s right to receive such additional shares, and such cash,
upon the occurrence of the event requiring such adjustment.



     (H) Completion of Qualified Equity Offering. In the event the Company (or any
successor by Business Combination) completes one or more Qualified Equity Offerings on or



11









 







prior to
December 31, 2009 that result in the Company (or any such successor ) receiving aggregate gross
proceeds of not less than 100% of the aggregate liquidation preference of the Preferred Shares
(and any preferred stock issued by any such successor to the Original Warrantholder under the
CPP), the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the portion of this Warrant then held by the
Original Warrantholder shall be thereafter reduced by a number of shares of Common Stock equal to
the product of (i) 0.5 and (ii) the number of shares underlying the Warrant on the Issue Date
(adjusted to take into account all other theretofore made adjustments pursuant to this Section
13).



     (I) Other Events. For so long as the Original Warrantholder holds this Warrant or
any portion thereof, if any event occurs as to which the provisions of this Section 13 are not
strictly applicable or, if strictly applicable, would not, in the good faith judgment of the Board
of Directors of the Company, fairly and adequately protect the purchase rights of the Warrants in
accordance with the essential intent and principles of such provisions, then the Board of
Directors shall make such adjustments in the application of such provisions, in accordance with
such essential intent and principles, as shall be reasonably necessary, in the good faith opinion
of the Board of Directors, to protect such purchase rights as aforesaid. The Exercise Price or
the number of Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall not be adjusted in the event of
a change in the par value of the Common Stock or a change in the jurisdiction of incorporation of
the Company.



     (J) Statement Regarding Adjustments. Whenever the Exercise Price or the number of
Shares into which this Warrant is exercisable shall be adjusted as provided in Section 13, the
Company shall forthwith file at the principal office of the Company a statement showing in
reasonable detail the facts requiring such adjustment and the Exercise Price that shall be in
effect and the number of Shares into which this Warrant shall be exercisable after such
adjustment, and the Company shall also cause a copy of such statement to be sent by mail, first
class postage prepaid, to each Warrantholder at the address appearing in the Company’s records.



     (K) Notice of Adjustment Event. In the event that the Company shall propose to take
any action of the type described in this Section 13 (but only if the action of the type described
in this Section 13 would result in an adjustment in the Exercise Price or the number of Shares
into which this Warrant is exercisable or a change in the type of securities or property to be
delivered upon exercise of this Warrant), the Company shall give notice to the Warrantholder, in
the manner set forth in Section 13(J), which notice shall specify the record date, if any, with
respect to any such action and the approximate date on which such action is to take place. Such
notice shall also set forth the facts with respect thereto as shall be reasonably necessary to
indicate the effect on the Exercise Price and the number, kind or class of shares or other
securities or property which shall be deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant. In the case of
any action which would require the fixing of a record date, such notice shall be given at least 10
days prior to the date so fixed, and in case of all other action, such notice shall be given at
least 15 days prior to the taking of such proposed action. Failure to give such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not affect the legality or validity of any such action.



     (L) Proceedings Prior to Any Action Requiring Adjustment. As a condition precedent
to the taking of any action which would require an adjustment pursuant to this Section 13, the



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Company shall take any action which may be necessary, including obtaining regulatory, New York
Stock Exchange or stockholder approvals or exemptions, in order that the Company may thereafter
validly and legally issue as fully paid and nonassessable all shares of Common Stock that the
Warrantholder is entitled to receive upon exercise of this Warrant pursuant to this Section 13.



     (M) Adjustment Rules. Any adjustments pursuant to this Section 13 shall be made
successively whenever an event referred to herein shall occur. If an adjustment in Exercise Price
made hereunder would reduce the Exercise Price to an amount below par value of the Common
Stock, then such adjustment in Exercise Price made hereunder shall reduce the Exercise Price
to the par value of the Common Stock.



     14. Exchange. At any time following the date on which the shares of Common Stock of
the Company are no longer listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange (other
than in connection with any Business Combination), the Original Warrantholder may cause the
Company to exchange all or a portion of this Warrant for an economic interest (to be determined by
the Original Warrantholder after consultation with the Company) of the Company classified as
permanent equity under U.S. GAAP having a value equal to the Fair Market Value of the portion of
the Warrant so exchanged. The Original Warrantholder shall calculate any Fair Market Value
required to be calculated pursuant to this Section 14, which shall not be subject to the Appraisal
Procedure.



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



     16. Governing Law. This Warrant will be governed by and construed in accordance with
the federal law of the United States if and to the extent such law is applicable, and otherwise in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed
entirely within such State. Each of the Company and the Warrantholder agrees (a) to submit to the
exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
for any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Warrant or the transactions
contemplated hereby, and (b) that notice may be served upon the Company at the address in Section
20 below and upon the Warrantholder at the address for the Warrantholder set forth in the registry
maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 9 hereof. To the extent permitted by applicable
law, each of the Company and the Warrantholder hereby unconditionally waives trial by jury in any
legal action or proceeding relating to the Warrant or the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby.



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



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



     19 . Prohibited Actions. The Company agrees that it will not take any action which
would entitle the Warrantholder to an adjustment of the Exercise Price if the total number of
shares of Common Stock issuable after such action upon exercise of this Warrant, together with all
shares of Common Stock then outstanding and all shares of Common Stock then issuable upon the
exercise of all outstanding options, warrants, conversion and other rights, would exceed the total
number of shares of Common Stock then authorized by its Charter.



     20. Notices. Any notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder
by any party to the other will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given (a) on the
date of delivery if delivered personally, or by facsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, or (b) on
the second business day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next day
courier service. All notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth in Item 8 of Schedule A
hereto, or pursuant to such other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to
receive such notice.



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


[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]




14









 








[Form of Notice of Exercise]

Date:                     





			
	TO:	 	[Company]






			
	RE:	 	Election to Purchase Common Stock





     The undersigned, pursuant to the provisions set forth in the attached Warrant, hereby agrees
to subscribe for and purchase the number of shares of the Common Stock set forth below covered by
such Warrant. The undersigned, in accordance with Section 3 of the Warrant, hereby agrees to pay
the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of Common Stock in the manner set forth below. A new
warrant evidencing the remaining shares of Common Stock covered by such Warrant, but not yet
subscribed for and purchased, if any, should be issued in the name set forth below.



Number of Shares of Common Stock                                                             



Method of Payment of Exercise Price (note if cashless exercise pursuant to Section 3(i) of the
Warrant or cash exercise pursuant to Section 3(ii) of the Warrant, with consent of the Company and
the Warrantholder)                                                             



Aggregate Exercise Price:                                                                   
    




	 	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Holder:
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Name:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	 	 	 	 	 





15









 






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



Dated: December 5, 2008




	 	 	 	 	 
	            COMPANY: Sterling Financial Corporation

 
	 	By:  	/s/ Daniel G. Byrne
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Daniel G. Byrne 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Executive Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary 	 
	 
	 	Attest:

 	 
	 	By:  	/s/   Andrew J. Schultheis
 	 
	 	 	Name:  	Andrew J. Schultheis 	 
	 	 	Title:  	Secretary 	 
	 


[Signature Page to Warrant]




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SCHEDULE A




Item 1




Name: Sterling Financial Corporation




Corporate or other organizational form: Corporation




Jurisdiction of organization: Washington




Item 2 





Exercise Price:1  $7.06




Item 3




Issue Date: December 5, 2008




Item 4



Amount of last dividend declared prior to the Issue Date: $0.10 per quarter




Item 5



Date of Letter Agreement between the Company and the United States Department of the Treasury:
December 5, 2008




Item 6




Number of shares of Common Stock: 6,437,677




Item 7





			
	Company’s address:	 	111 N. Wall

Spokane, WA 99201





Item 8





			
	Notice information:	 	Daniel G. Byrne

111 N. Wall

Spokane, WA 99201







 




			
	1	 	Initial exercise price to be calculated based on the
average of closing prices of the Common Stock on the 20 trading days ending on
the last trading day prior to the date the Company’s application for
participation in the Capital Purchase Program was approved by the United
States Department of the Treasury.






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