Exhibit








Exhibit 4.1
    


INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.
$50,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due               March 15, 2029
ISSUING AND PAYING AGENCY AGREEMENT
ISSUING AND PAYING AGENCY AGREEMENT, dated as of March 14, 2019 (the “Agreement”), between Independent Bank Corp. (the “Company”), a corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as issuer (the “Issuer”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a national banking association, as issuing and paying agent (the “Issuing and Paying Agent”).
WHEREAS the Issuer proposes initially to issue $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Fixed-to-Floating Rate Subordinated Notes Due 2029 (each a “Note” and collectively, the “Notes”) in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act.
WHEREAS the Issuer desires to appoint the Issuing and Paying Agent as issuing and paying agent in connection with the issuance of the Notes.
WHEREAS the Issuing and Paying Agent has agreed to act as issuing and paying agent in connection with the Notes in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
SECTION 1.Appointment of Issuing and Paying Agent.  This Agreement does not limit the aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be issued pursuant hereto.  However, as of the date hereof, the Issuer proposes to issue $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Notes; provided, that, the Issuer reserves the right to increase such amount of Notes, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the Notes, from time to time, as reflected in the Issuer’s register (the “Registered Holders”) of Notes or owners of beneficial interests therein.  The Issuer has appointed Sandler O’Neill + Partners, L.P. and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. (or such other placement agent(s) as may be appointed by the Issuer from time to time in connection with the Notes) as the placement agents for the Notes (the “Placement Agents”).  The Issuer hereby appoints the Issuing and Paying Agent to act, on the terms and conditions specified herein, as issuing and paying agent for the Notes, and the Issuing and Paying Agent hereby accepts such appointments in accordance with such terms and conditions.


SECTION 2.Forms of Note; Global Notes; Proxies; Supply of Notes; Terms.  
        
     Forms of Notes.  The Notes shall be issued in fully registered book-entry form (the “Book-Entry Notes”) represented by one or more global Notes (the “Global Notes”) or in fully registered certificated form (the “Certificated Notes”), without interest coupons, substantially in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such other forms as shall be delivered to the Issuing and Paying Agent by the Issuer. 











Notes sold to institutional investors that qualify as “accredited investors” within the meaning of Rule 501(a) (1), (2), (3), or (7) under the Securities Act will be evidenced by either a permanent Global Note or Certificated Notes, as the case may be.  Notes sold within the United States or to U.S. persons reasonably believed to be “qualified institutional buyers” within the meaning of Rule 144A (“Rule 144A”) under the Securities Act may be represented by a permanent Global Note (each, a “Rule 144A Global Note”).  
(a)Global Notes.  This Section 2(b) shall apply to any Book-Entry Notes represented by one or more Global Notes that are registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company or another depositary specified by the Issuer (the “Depositary”) or a nominee thereof:


(i)each Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof;


(ii)notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or a Global Note, such Global Note shall not be transferred except as a whole by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or such nominee to a successor of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor.  A Global Note may be exchanged for a Certificated Note in the event that (A) the Depositary has notified the Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Notes or the Depositary has ceased to be a “clearing agency” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Issuer within sixty (60) days thereafter, (B) an Event of Default (as defined in the Notes) has occurred and is continuing with respect to the Notes or (C) the Issuer, in its sole discretion, determines that all of the Book-Entry Notes shall no longer be represented by Global Notes.  Any Global Note exchanged pursuant to clause (A) or (C) above shall be so exchanged in whole but not in part, while any Global Note exchanged pursuant to clause (B) above may be exchanged in whole or from time to time in part as directed by the Depositary;


(iii)Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note or any portion thereof shall be issued as Certificated Notes, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Note or portion thereof to be so exchanged and shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof shall designate.  If a Global Note to be exchanged in whole is not then held by the Issuing and Paying Agent as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, such Global Note shall be surrendered by the Depositary to the Corporate Trust Office of the Issuing and Paying Agent located at One Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110 (the “Corporate Trust Office”), to be so exchanged.  With regard to any Global Note to be exchanged in part, either such Global Note shall be so surrendered for exchange by the Depositary or, if the Issuing and Paying Agent is acting as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee with respect to such Global Note, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced, by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Issuing and Paying Agent.  Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of instructions from an Authorized Representative (as defined in Section 3) of the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver, each Certificated Note issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depositary or an authorized representative thereof and, in the case of such surrender, the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of instructions from an Authorized Representative of the 











Issuer the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver, a new Global Note on behalf of the Depositary for the remaining principal amount thereof; and


(iv)neither any members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Participants”) nor any other persons on whose behalf Participants may act shall have any rights under this Agreement with respect to any Global Note registered in the name of the Depositary or any nominee thereof, or under any such Global Note, and the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent and any agent of the Issuer or the Issuing and Paying Agent as the absolute owner and Registered Holder of such Global Note in accordance with Section 12(f) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent or any agent of the Issuer or the Issuing and Paying Agent from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, or impair, as between the Depositary, its Participants and any other person on whose behalf a Participant may act, the operation of customary practices of such persons governing the exercise of the rights of a Registered Holder of a Global Note.


(b)Proxies.  The Registered Holder of a Note may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person, including Participants and persons that may hold interests through Participants, to take any action which such Registered Holder is entitled to take under this Agreement or such Note.


(c)Supply of Notes.  If the Issuer intends to issue additional Notes, the Issuer will then furnish the Issuing and Paying Agent with an adequate supply of Notes bearing consecutive control numbers, which will have the Registered Holder, principal amount and certain terms on the face thereof left blank.  Upon reasonable notice given by the Issuing and Paying Agent to the Issuer, the Issuer shall provide to the Issuing and Paying Agent such additional number of Notes as is appropriate in the Issuer’s sole discretion.  Each Note will have been executed by the manual or facsimile signature of an Authorized Representative of the Issuer.  The Issuing and Paying Agent will hold such blank Notes in safekeeping in accordance with its customary practice and shall issue such Notes in the order of the control numbers imprinted thereon upon receipt of Issuance Instructions (as defined below).


(d)Terms.  The Notes shall mature on March 15, 2029 or such earlier date of redemption as may occur in accordance with the terms of the Notes (the “Maturity Date”) and shall each be issuable in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof (the “Authorized Denominations”).


SECTION 3.Authorized Representatives.  From time to time, the Issuer will furnish the Issuing and Paying Agent with an incumbency certificate certifying as to the incumbency and specimen signatures of officers authorized (i) to execute Notes on behalf of the Issuer by manual or facsimile signature and (ii) to give Issuance Instructions to the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance with Section 4 hereof (each such officer, an “Authorized Representative”).  Until the Issuing and Paying Agent receives a subsequent incumbency certificate of the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the last such certificate delivered to it for purposes of determining the Authorized Representatives of the Issuer.  The Issuing and Paying Agent shall have no responsibility to the Issuer to determine by whom or by what means a facsimile signature may have been affixed on the Notes, or to determine whether any facsimile or manual signature is genuine, provided that such facsimile or manual signature resembles reasonably closely any specimen signatures filed with the Issuing and Paying Agent 











by an Authorized Representative of the Issuer.  Any Note bearing the manual or facsimile signature of a person who is an Authorized Representative of the Issuer on the date such signature is affixed thereto shall bind the Issuer after the authentication thereof by the Issuing and Paying Agent, notwithstanding that such person shall have ceased to hold office on the date such Note is authenticated and delivered by the Issuing and Paying Agent.


SECTION 4.Issuance Instructions; Registration, Authentication and Delivery; Receipt of Instructions; Payment.  


(a)Issuance Instructions.  All Note issuance instructions (“Issuance Instructions”) shall be given by an Authorized Representative by facsimile transmission, in writing or by reasonably secure electronic means agreed to by the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent.  Such Issuance Instructions shall include or otherwise reference:
(i)the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be issued;


(ii)name of the person in whose name the related Note is to be registered (the “Registered Holder”);


(iii)address of the Registered Holder;


(iv)wire transfer instructions, if any, for payments to the Registered Holder;


(v)taxpayer identifying number of the Registered Holder;


(vi)form of such Note (i.e., whether such Note is a Global Note or a Certificated Note);


(vii)original issue date and settlement date of such Note;


(viii)trade date of such Note;


(ix)principal amount, specified currency and Authorized Denominations of such Note;


(x)Maturity Date of such Note;


(xi)if such Note is a fixed rate note, the interest rate;


(xii)if such Note is a floating rate note, such of the following as are applicable:


(A)the interest category (i.e., whether such Note is a regular floating rate note, an inverse floating rate note, a floating rate/fixed rate note or another type of floating rate note);


(B)interest rate basis or bases and any relevant related information;


(C)initial interest rate;


(D)index maturity;













(E)spread and/or spread multiplier;


(F)minimum and/or maximum interest rate;


(G)initial interest reset date;


(H)interest reset dates;


(I)day count convention; and


(J)calculation agent;


(xiii)Interest Payment Dates (as defined in Section 7(a) hereof);


(xiv)if such Note is an amortizing note, the applicable terms thereof;


(xv)if such Note is a discount note, the issue price thereof;


(xvi)any redemption date and price;


(xvii)any optional repayment date(s);


(xviii)rate of Placement Agents’ discount or commission and amount to be received in payment for such Note;


(xix)delivery and payment instructions for such Note;


(xx)additional terms, if any; and


(xxi)any additional information as the Issuing and Paying Agent may reasonably request.


(b)Registration, Authentication and Delivery.  Upon receipt from an Authorized Representative of the Issuance Instructions referred to in Section 4(a) in respect of a Note, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall withdraw the necessary Notes from safekeeping and, in accordance with such instructions, shall:


(i)complete each Note as to the matters referred to in Section 4(a);


(ii)record the ownership of each Note in the Note Register (as defined in Section 12(a) hereof);


(iii)cause each Note to be manually authenticated by any one of the officers or employees of the Issuing and Paying Agent duly authorized and designated by it for such purpose; and


(iv)in the case of a Global Note, deliver each such Note to the Issuing and Paying Agent as custodian on behalf of the Depositary, which delivery shall be made against receipt of 











payment in immediately available funds or, in the case of Certificated Notes, deliver each such Note to the Registered Holder thereof, which delivery shall be made against payment in immediately available funds.
    
                    (c)       Receipt of Instructions.  Issuance Instructions given by an Authorized Representative by facsimile transmission, in writing or by other electronic means must be received by the Issuing and Paying Agent not later than one (1) Business Day prior to the date any additional Notes are to be issued or such other times as may be mutually agreed in writing between the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent.  For purposes hereof, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in the City of New York, New York, is not a day on which banking institutions are generally authorized or obligated by law to close.  In the event that instructions are received by the Issuing and Paying Agent later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on such date, such instructions shall not be deemed to be received until the Business Day following such receipt.


                 (d)        Payment.  It is understood that, although the Issuing and Paying Agent is instructed to deliver Notes against payment in immediately available funds, delivery of the Notes may be made before actual receipt of payment in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Issuance Instructions.  Once the Issuing and Paying Agent has delivered any Certificated Note to the Registered Holder or the Registered Holder’s designated agent or custodian, as the case may be, against receipt therefor, the Issuer shall bear the risk that the Registered Holder or such designated agent or custodian, as the case may be, fails to remit payment for the Notes or return same to the Issuing and Paying Agent.  In the case of any Global Notes, it is further understood that each delivery of such Global Notes hereunder shall be subject to the rules of the Depositary in effect at the time of such delivery.


SECTION 5.Representations and Warranties.  Each delivery of Issuance Instructions to the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance with Section 4 hereof shall constitute a continuing representation and warranty to the Issuing and Paying Agent by the Issuer that the issuance and delivery of such Notes have been duly and validly authorized by the Issuer and that the Notes, when completed, authenticated and delivered pursuant hereto, will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer.
SECTION 6.Proceeds of Sale of Notes.  Proceeds received in payment for Notes are to be in immediately available funds and shall be immediately credited to an account designated in writing by the Issuer to the Issuing and Paying Agent and maintained by the Issuer.  Subject to the availability of funds, upon receipt of instructions from an Authorized Representative of the Issuer, proceeds from the sale of Notes may, prior to the time such proceeds are received, be used in payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, other Notes of the Issuer presented for payment on the Maturity Date or any earlier date on which the principal thereof is due and payable, or be transferred for credit to the account of the Issuer at another bank.


SECTION 7.Interest Payment Dates Other Than Maturity Date; Payment Mechanics.  


Interest Payment Dates.  Interest on the Notes shall be payable on the dates set forth in such Notes (each, an “Interest Payment Date”).  If any Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment of interest shall be made in accordance with the terms specified in the Notes.  All interest payments on an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date will be made to those parties who are Registered Holders as of the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day (whether 











or not a Business Day) immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date, or such other dates specified in such Notes (each, a “Regular Record Date”).  Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date will forthwith cease to be payable to the Registered Holder thereof at the close of business on the applicable Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the person in whose name such Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Issuer, notice whereof shall be given to the Registered Holders of Notes not less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to such special record date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner.
(a)Payment Mechanics.  


Certificated Notes.   On each Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date, the Issuer will pay or cause to be paid, not later than 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to the Issuing and Paying Agent in immediately available funds an amount sufficient to make the required payment on such date and, upon receipt of such funds, the Issuing and Paying Agent, in turn, will disburse such amounts by check, charges prepaid, mailed to the Registered Holders at their addresses appearing in the Note Register (as defined in Section 12(a) hereof) on the applicable Regular Record Date or to such other address in the United States as any Registered Holder shall designate to the Issuing and Paying Agent in writing not later than such Regular Record Date; provided, however, that Registered Holders of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of Certificated Notes (whether or not having identical terms and provisions) shall be entitled to receive payments of interest on an Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account at a bank designated by each such Registered Holder not later than the Regular Record Date prior to such Interest Payment Date.
(i)Book-Entry Notes.  On each Interest Payment Date other than the Maturity Date, the Issuer will pay or cause to be paid to the Issuing and Paying Agent in immediately available funds an amount sufficient to make the required payment on such date and, upon receipt of such funds, the Issuing and Paying Agent, in turn, will pay to the Depositary such total amount of interest due on such Interest Payment Date.


SECTION 8.Optional Redemption.  In the event the Issuer elects to redeem any Notes in whole or in part, the Issuer shall give written notice to the Issuing and Paying Agent of the principal amount of such Notes to be so redeemed in accordance with the terms set forth in the Notes.  In any such written notice, (a) if Certificated Notes are to be redeemed, the Issuer shall identify such Notes by specifying the interest rate or formula pursuant to which interest is calculated on such Notes, the Interest Payment Dates, the stated maturity date and redemption terms or (b) if Book-Entry Notes are to be redeemed, the Issuer shall identify such Notes by specifying the CUSIP number assigned to the Global Note or Notes representing such Notes.  At the direction of the Issuer and in the name of and at the expense of the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall cause any such notice of redemption to be forwarded to the Registered Holders of the Notes to be redeemed in accordance with the terms set forth in the Notes in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.  Whenever less than all of the Notes of like tenor and terms are to be redeemed, (a) if such Notes are Global Notes held by the Issuing and Paying Agent as custodian for the Depositary or its nominee, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall reduce the principal amount of one or more Global Notes, by the amount of such redemption, by means of an appropriate adjustment on the records of the Issuing and Paying Agent, subject to the rules and procedures of the Depositary, or (b) in the case of all other Notes, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall select the Notes to be so redeemed  by lot or such other method as the Issuing and Paying Agent shall deem fair and reasonable, subject to the rules and procedures of the Depositary.  Any Note which is to be redeemed in part only 











pursuant to clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be surrendered to the Corporate Trust Office, and the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of Issuance Instructions from an Authorized Representative of the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver to the Registered Holder of such Note, without service charge, a new Note of like tenor and terms, of any Authorized Denomination as requested by such Registered Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of such Note so surrendered.


SECTION 9.Payment on the Maturity Date.   In accordance with Section 11 hereof, the Issuer shall pay to the Issuing and Paying Agent by wire transfer in immediately available funds the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Notes then outstanding on the Maturity Date  and  the Issuing and Paying Agent shall remit such funds to the Depositary (in the case of Book-Entry Notes) or the Registered Holders (in the case of Certificated Notes) by wire transfer in immediately available funds.  Interest payable on any Note on the Maturity Date will be payable to the person to whom the principal of such Note is payable.  If the Maturity Date for any Note falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the related payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day as if it were made on the date such payment was due, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Maturity Date until such next succeeding Business Day.  The Issuing and Paying Agent will forthwith cancel each such Note pursuant to Section 21 hereof.


SECTION 10.Information Regarding Amounts Due.  
Promptly following each Regular Record Date, the Issuing and Paying Agent will advise the Issuer of the amount of interest (to the extent then known) due on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date; provided, however, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall have no responsibility to determine or calculate any premium due on the Notes or a make-whole amount due and owing on the Notes.
(a)The Issuer may appoint a calculation agent (the “Calculation Agent”) to calculate the interest due with respect to the Notes on each Floating Interest Payment Date (as that term is defined in the Notes).  The Issuing and Paying Agent may serve as Calculation Agent subject to terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent.  If at any time the Issuing and Paying Agent is not acting as the Calculation Agent with respect to any Note, the Issuing and Paying Agent will give any appointed Calculation Agent, which may include the Issuer, written notice of each Interest Payment Date with respect to such Note at least three (3) Business Days prior to such Interest Payment Date. If the Issuer is unable to reach an agreement with a bank or other entity that the Issuer deems appropriately qualified to act as Calculation Agent, the Issuer may appoint itself as Calculation Agent.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall have no responsibility to determine or calculate any premium due on the Notes or a make-whole amount due and owing on the Notes. 


(b)From and after the Determination Date for the first Floating Rate Distribution Period and promptly following each Regular Record Date, the Calculation Agent shall calculate the amount of interest (to the extent then known) due on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date and advise the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent of such amount.


SECTION 11.Accounts and Deposit of Funds.  Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall establish the following accounts: (i) a “Note Proceeds Account” for the proceeds from the sale of the Notes; (ii) a “Principal Account”; (iii) an “Interest Account”; (iv) a “Premium Account”; and (v) a “Redemption Account”.  If and when additional Notes are issued, additional accounts may be established upon the written request of the Issuer.  During 











the term of this Agreement, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall have no obligation to invest or reinvest any monies deposited or received hereunder.  On a timely basis, the Issuer shall remit to the Issuing and Paying Agent the amount of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payable in respect of Notes then outstanding.  The Issuer shall wire or cause to be wired such amount in immediately available funds prior to 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time, at least one (1) Business Day prior to the relevant Interest Payment Date or the Maturity Date, as the case may be, while the Issuing and Paying Agent will pay such amount to the Depositary (in the case of Book Entry Notes) or the Registered Holders (in the case of Certificated Notes) at or prior to 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the aforementioned Interest Payment Dates or Maturity Dates.  Notwithstanding any provision elsewhere contained herein, payments by the Issuing and Paying Agent shall be made only out of amounts deposited with the Issuing and Paying Agent with respect to such payment.  In the event the amount deposited with respect to a payment date is less than the sum of the aggregate amounts needed to make the payments due on such payment date, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall immediately notify the Issuer, and shall effect no payments with respect to such payment date until such discrepancy has been resolved.  Until paid as hereinafter provided, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall hold such amounts deposited by the Issuer pursuant to this Agreement in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Notes.


SECTION 12.Note Register Exchanges; Transfers; No Service Charges, etc.; Removal of Legends; Persons Deemed Owners.  


Note Register. The Issuing and Paying Agent, as agent of the Issuer for this purpose, shall maintain at the Corporate Trust Office, a register of Notes for the registration of ownership of Notes and transfers and exchanges thereof (the “Note Register”).  Subject to the provisions of this Section 12, upon presentation for transfer or exchange of any Note at the Corporate Trust Office accompanied by a written instrument of transfer or exchange in the form approved by the Issuer (it being understood that, until notice to the contrary is given to Registered Holders, the Issuer shall be deemed to have approved the form of instrument of transfer or exchange printed on any Note), executed by the Registered Holder thereof, in person or by such Registered Holder’s attorney thereunto duly authorized in writing, such Note shall be transferred upon the Note Register, and the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of Issuance Instructions, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver, a new Note of like tenor and terms, in any Authorized Denomination requested by such Registered Holder, in the name of the transferee.
(a)Exchanges.  Upon the receipt by the Issuing and Paying Agent at its Corporate Trust Office of a Note accompanied by a written and executed instrument of exchange as provided in Section 12(a), then, if such Note is owned by the Registered Holder thereof and is being exchanged without transfer, the Issuer shall execute, and upon receipt of Issuance Instructions, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for such Note one or more Notes of like tenor and terms, in any Authorized Denomination requested by such Registered Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Note.
(b)Transfers.  So long as the Legend (as defined in Section 12(e) hereof) has not been removed from a Note, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall not register the resale or other transfer of such Note unless such resale or other transfer is made in accordance with the Legend.  In the case of a resale or other transfer of a Certificated Note, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall register the resale or other transfer of a Certificated Note to the Issuer or the Placement Agents or by, through or in a transaction approved by the Placement Agents upon the written approval of such resale or other transfer by the Issuer or the Placement Agents, as the case may be.  In the case of a resale or other transfer 











of a Certificated Note through the services of a broker, dealer or similar intermediary other than the Placement Agents, the Registered Holder and the prospective transferee of such Certificated Note shall be required to complete the reverse of such Certificated Note or a bond power and deliver the Certificated Note (and any applicable bond power) to the Issuing and Paying Agent to advise of the basis for such resale or other transfer being exempt from registration under the Securities Act.
The Issuing and Paying Agent shall keep a record of all letters, notices or written communications received pursuant to this Section 12(c).  The Issuer has the right to inspect all such documents, notices, letters or other written communications.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein, so long as a Global Note remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depositary, transfers of a Global Note, in whole or in part, shall be made only in accordance with this Section 12(c).  Transfers of a Global Note shall be limited to transfers of such Global Note in whole, but not in part, to nominees of the Depositary or to a successor of the Depositary or such successor’s nominee.
In the event that a Global Note is exchanged for Certificated Notes pursuant to this Section 12(c), such Global Notes and Certificated Notes may be exchanged or transferred for one another only in accordance with such procedures as may be from time to time adopted by the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent.
(c)No Service Charges, etc.  Registration of transfers and exchanges of Notes as aforesaid may be made, from time to time, and each such registration shall be noted on the Note Register.  No service charge (other than any cost of delivery) shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, but the Issuing and Paying Agent or the Issuer may require payment from the party requesting such transfer or exchange of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than exchanges pursuant to this Agreement not involving any transfer) or presentation of evidence that such tax or charge has been paid.


(d)Removal of Legends.  Except as provided below, the Global Notes and the Certificated Notes shall contain the legend specified in Exhibit A (the “Legend”).  If Notes are issued upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes in the same form not bearing the Legend, the Notes so issued shall not bear the Legend.  If Notes are issued upon the transfer, exchange or replacement of Notes in the same form bearing the Legend or if a request is made to remove the Legend on a Note, the Notes so issued shall bear the Legend or the Legend shall not be removed, as the case may be, unless there is delivered to the Issuer such satisfactory evidence as may be reasonably required by the Issuer that neither the Legend nor the resale and other transfer restrictions set forth therein are required to ensure that transfers thereof comply with the relevant provisions of the Securities Act or that such Notes are not “restricted securities” within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act.  Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence to the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent, upon receipt of Issuance Instructions, shall authenticate and deliver a Note in the same form of like tenor and terms that does not bear the Legend.  The Issuer agrees to indemnify the Issuing and Paying Agent for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, including the fees and expenses of counsel, reasonably incurred, arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by the Issuing and Paying Agent in accordance with the instructions from an Authorized Representative of the Issuer; provided, however, that the Issuer shall not be required to 











indemnify the Issuing and Paying Agent for any loss, liability or expense arising from the negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of the Issuing and Paying Agent.


(e)Persons Deemed Owners.  The Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent (and any of their agents) may deem and treat the Registered Holder of any Note as the absolute owner of such Note for the purpose of receiving payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, such Note and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Issuer nor the Issuing and Paying Agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.


SECTION 13.Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Notes.  In case any Note shall become mutilated or destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer, in its discretion, shall execute, and upon receipt of Issuance Instructions, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall authenticate and deliver a new Note of like tenor and terms, having a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Note or in lieu of and substitution for the Note destroyed, lost or stolen; provided, however, that the applicant for a substituted Note shall furnish to the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent such security or indemnity as may be required by the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent 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 Issuing and Paying Agent evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Note and of the ownership thereof.  Upon the issuance of any substituted Note, the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent may require payment from the party requesting such issuance of a sum sufficient to cover any fees and expenses connected therewith.  In case any Note which has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may, instead of issuing a substitute Note, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Note) upon compliance by the Registered Holder with the provisions of this Section 13, as hereinabove set forth.


SECTION 14.Application of Funds; Return of Unclaimed Funds.  Until used or applied as herein provided, all funds received by the Issuing and Paying Agent hereunder shall be held for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds, except to the extent required by law.  Any funds deposited with the Issuing and Paying Agent and remaining unclaimed for two (2) years after the date upon which the last payment of the principal of, and/or premium, if any, and/or interest on, any Note to which such deposit relates shall, subject to applicable laws relating to escheat of funds, be repaid to the Issuer by the Issuing and Paying Agent upon the written instructions of the Issuer, and the Registered Holder of any Note to which such deposit relates entitled to receive payment thereof shall thereafter look only to the Issuer for the payment thereof, and all liability of the Issuing and Paying Agent with respect to such funds shall thereupon cease.  Upon written request by the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall promptly provide the Issuer with a report accounting for all funds deposited with the Issuing and Paying Agent that have remained unclaimed for two (2) years, as contemplated by this Section 14.


SECTION 15.Events of Default.  Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default on any Note, the Issuer shall promptly provide the Issuing and Paying Agent written notice as to, and instruct the Issuing and Paying Agent in writing to promptly provide all of the Registered Holders of such Notes such written notice as to, such occurrence of such Event of Default.  Upon receipt of any such written instruction in respect of the occurrence of any such Event of Default, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall promptly mail to all Registered Holders of such Notes, at the addresses of such Registered Holders as they appear in the Note Register, or, in the case of Global Notes, deliver electronically through the facilities of the Depositary, any such written notice of such Event of Default, unless the Issuer shall have notified the 











Issuing and Paying Agent in writing that such Event of Default shall have been cured before the sending of such written notice by the Issuing and Paying Agent.  The Issuing and Paying Agent shall not be charged with any knowledge of any Event of Default, unless it has received written notice of an Event of Default from the Issuer as provided in this Section 15.


SECTION 16.Liability.  Neither the Issuing and Paying Agent nor its directors, officers or employees shall be liable for any act or omission hereunder except in the case of its or any of their negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.  The duties and obligations of the Issuing and Paying Agent, its directors, officers and employees shall be determined by the express provisions of this Agreement and they shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth herein and no implied covenants shall be read into this Agreement against them.  The Issuing and Paying Agent may consult with counsel satisfactory to it and shall be fully protected in any action taken in good faith in accordance with the written opinion or advice of counsel.  Neither the Issuing and Paying Agent nor its officers or employees shall be required to ascertain whether the issuance or sale of the Notes (or any amendment or termination of this Agreement) has been duly authorized or is in compliance with any other agreement to which the Issuer is a party (whether or not the Issuing and Paying Agent is also a party to such other agreement).  The Issuing and Paying Agent may rely conclusively on any notice, certificate or other document furnished to it hereunder and reasonably believed by it in good faith to be genuine and delivered by the proper person.  The Issuing and Paying Agent shall not be liable for any actions taken by it pursuant to any direction or instruction by which it is governed hereunder, or omitted to be taken by it by reason of the lack of direction or instruction required hereby or thereby for such action.  The Issuing and Paying Agent shall not be bound to make any investigation into or to recalculate or otherwise verify the facts or matters stated in any certificate, report or other document.  The Issuing and Paying Agent shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.


SECTION 17.Indemnification.  


The Issuer agrees to indemnify the Issuing and Paying Agent, its directors, officers, employees and agents (each an “Indemnified Party”) for, and to hold each of them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense, incurred without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct arising out of or in connection with its or their performance of their duties under this Agreement, as well as the reasonable costs and expenses of defending against any claim or liability relating thereto.  This indemnity shall survive payment of all of the Notes and, if applicable, the resignation or removal of the Issuing and Paying Agent.
(a)Each Indemnified Party shall give prompt notice to the Issuer of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder.  The Issuer shall have no liability for indemnity hereunder with respect to an action commenced against an Indemnified Party where such Indemnified Party failed to give notice to the Issuer of such action; provided, however, failure so to notify the Issuer shall not relieve the Issuer from any liability which it may otherwise have on account of this indemnity agreement.  The Issuer shall be entitled to assume the defense of any such action; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party shall have the right prior to the employing of any counsel by the Issuer in connection with its assumption of such defense to consent to any such counsel; provided, further, that if any Indemnified Party is advised in a written opinion of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to such Indemnified Party 











which are adverse to or in conflict with those available to the Issuer, the Issuer shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action, but shall be responsible for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party in accordance with the terms hereof.  The Issuer may participate at its own expense in the defense of such action.  In no event shall the Issuer be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Issuer shall not be liable for any settlement of any action without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.


SECTION 18.Compensation of the Issuing and Paying Agent.  The Issuer agrees to pay the compensation of the Issuing and Paying Agent at such rates as shall be agreed upon in writing, from time to time, including an annual administration fee, and to reimburse the Issuing and Paying Agent for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Issuing and Paying Agent in the performance of its duties under this Agreement; provided, however, that travel expenses shall not exceed $5,000 without the consent of the Issuer.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the issuance of any additional Notes, the Issuer agrees to pay to the Issuing and Paying Agent its reasonable fees, costs and expenses, including those of its counsel, and any additional mutually agreed to increase to the Issuing and Paying Agent’s annual administration fee.  The obligations of the Issuer to the Issuing and Paying Agent pursuant to this Section 18 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Issuing and Paying Agent and the satisfaction or termination of this Agreement.


SECTION 19.Notices.  


All communications by or on behalf of the Issuer relating to the issuance, transfer, exchange or payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of any Note shall be directed to the Issuing and Paying Agent at its address set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 19 and the Issuer will send all Notes to be completed, authenticated and delivered by the Issuing and Paying Agent to such address (or such other address as the Issuing and Paying Agent shall specify in writing to the Issuer).
(a)Notices and other communications hereunder to the parties hereto shall be in writing, sent by e-mail transmission or by first class mail, postage prepaid, and shall be addressed as follows, or to such other addresses as the parties hereto shall specify from time to time:


(i)if to the Issuer:
Independent Bank Corp.
288 Union Street
Rockland, Massachusetts  02370
Attention:  Edward H. Seksay
E-mail: Edward.Seksay@RocklandTrust.com 


with a copy to:
Day Pitney LLP
One Jefferson Road
Parsippany, New Jersey  07054











Attention:  Michael T. Rave, Esq.
E-mail: mrave@daypitney.com 


(ii)if to the Issuing and Paying Agent:
U.S. Bank National Association
Global Corporate Trust Services
One Federal Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Steven J. Gomes, Vice President
E-mail: steven.gomes@usbank.com


(b)Notices and other communications hereunder or under the Notes to the Registered Holders thereof shall be in writing, sent by first class mail, postage prepaid, to the addresses of such Registered Holders as they appear in the Note Register or in such other addresses as such Registered Holders shall specify to the Issuing and Paying Agent from time to time, or, in the case of Global Notes, delivered electronically through the facilities of the Depositary.


SECTION 20.Resignation or Removal of Issuing and Paying Agent.  The Issuing and Paying Agent may at any time resign as such Issuing and Paying Agent by giving written notice to the Issuer of such intention on its part, specifying the date on which its desired resignation shall become effective; provided, however, that such date shall not be less than three (3) months after the giving of such notice by the Issuing and Paying Agent to the Issuer.  The Issuing and Paying Agent may be removed at any time, for any reason or no reason, by the filing with it of an instrument in writing signed by a duly authorized officer of the Issuer and specifying such removal and the date upon which it is intended to become effective.  Such resignation or removal shall take effect on the date of the appointment by the Issuer of a successor Issuing and Paying Agent and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Issuing and Paying Agent.  Any successor Issuing and Paying Agent into which the Issuing and Paying Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated or to which it may sell or transfer its corporate trust business and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety or any successor Issuing and Paying Agent succeeding to the business of the Issuing and Paying Agent shall be the successor of the Issuing and Paying Agent hereunder; provided, however, that such successor Issuing and Paying Agent shall succeed to the rights and assume the obligations of the Issuing and Paying Agent under this Agreement, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary.  Unless prohibited by law or contract, notice of any such merger, conversion, consolidation, sale or transfer shall be promptly given to the Issuer.  In the event of resignation by the Issuing and Paying Agent, if a successor Issuing and Paying Agent has not been appointed by the Issuer within three (3) months after the giving of notice by the Issuing and Paying Agent of its intention to resign, the Issuing and Paying Agent may, at the reasonable expense of the Issuer, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a successor Issuing and Paying Agent.


SECTION 21.Cancellation of Notes.  All Notes surrendered for payment or registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the Issuing and Paying Agent, be delivered to the Issuing and Paying Agent and shall be canceled by it.  The Issuer may at any time deliver to the Issuing and Paying Agent for cancellation any Note previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Issuer may have redeemed or otherwise acquired, and all Notes so delivered shall be canceled by the Issuing and Paying Agent.  No Notes shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes canceled as provided in this Section 21, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement.  All canceled Notes held by the Issuing and Paying Agent shall be destroyed by the Issuing and Paying Agent 











upon the written instructions of the Issuer, and Issuing and Paying Agent shall deliver a certificate of destruction to the Issuer.  Upon the written request of the Issuer, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall cancel and return to the Issuer all unissued Notes in its possession at the time of such request.


SECTION 22.Benefit of Agreement.  This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the parties hereto, their successors and assigns and the Registered Holders of Notes, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by a virtue hereof.


SECTION 23.Notes Held by the Issuing and Paying Agent.  The Issuing and Paying Agent, in its individual or other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of the Notes with the same rights it would have if it were not acting as Issuing and Paying Agent hereunder.


SECTION 24.Modification and Amendment.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 24, without the consent of any Registered Holder of the Notes, the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent may enter into one or more modifications of this Agreement or the Notes, in form reasonably satisfactory to both the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent, to (i) evidence the succession of another entity to the Issuer and the assumption by any such successor of the obligations of the Issuer contained in this Agreement and the Notes, (ii) change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Agreement, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Note created prior to the execution of such amendment or modification which is entitled to the benefit of such provisions, (iii) establish other forms or terms of the Notes as permitted in this Agreement, (iv) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Agreement by a successor Issuing and Paying Agent, (v) cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provisions in this Agreement or in the Notes which may be inconsistent with any other provisions herein or therein, or make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising herein or therein; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Registered Holder in any material respect as determined in good faith by the board of directors of the Issuer, (vi) modify the restrictions on and procedures for resales and other transfers of the Notes to reflect any change in applicable law or regulation (or the interpretation thereof) or in practices relating to the resale or other transfer of restricted securities generally, or (vii) modify, eliminate or add to the provisions of this Agreement to such extent as shall be necessary to qualify this Agreement (including any supplemental agreement hereto) under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or under such similar statute hereafter enacted.


(a)With the consent of the Registered Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes affected thereby, the Issuer and the Issuing and Paying Agent may enter into one or more agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to, or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of, this Agreement or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Registered Holders of the Notes under this Agreement; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall, without the consent of the Registered Holder of each outstanding Note affected thereby: (i) change the stated maturity date of the principal (or any installment of principal) of any Note, (ii) change any Interest Payment Date on which interest on any Note is to be paid, (iii) reduce the principal amount of any Note, (iv) reduce the rate of interest on any Note, (v) change the manner of calculation of interest of any Note, (vi) change any of the redemption provisions of any Note, (vii) change any place of payment of any Note, (viii) change the currency in which, the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Note is payable, (ix) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any required payment in respect of any Note on or after the stated maturity thereof, or (x) reduce the percentage of the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding 











Notes, the consent of whose Registered Holders is required for the modification and amendment of this Agreement or the Notes.


(b)Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Issuing and Paying Agent shall not execute any amendment to this Agreement unless there shall have been filed with the Issuing and Paying Agent an opinion of counsel in customary form stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and complies with its terms and that upon execution it will be valid and binding upon the Issuer in accordance with its terms. 


SECTION 25.Subordination. 


The Issuer’s obligation to make payments of principal and interest on the Notes will be subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Issuer, including depositors of the Issuer and its bank subsidiary and general creditors.  
(a)For purposes of this Section 25, “Senior Indebtedness” shall mean the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on: (i) all indebtedness and obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, the Issuer for money borrowed, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, securities, notes or other similar instruments, and including, but not limited to, deposits of the Issuer’s bank subsidiary, and all obligations to the Issuer’s general and secured creditors, (ii) any deferred obligations of the Issuer for the payment of the purchase price of property or assets acquired other than in the ordinary course of business, (iii) all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Issuer in respect of any letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances, security purchase facilities and similar direct credit substitutes, (iv) any capital lease obligations of the Issuer, (v) all obligations of the Issuer in respect of interest rate swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or option contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option contracts, commodity contracts and other similar arrangements or derivative products, (vi) all obligations that are similar to those in clauses (i) through (v) of other persons for the payment of which the Issuer is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise arising from an off-balance sheet guarantee, (vii) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through (vi) of other persons secured by a lien on any property or asset of the Issuer, and (viii) in the case of (i) through (vii) above, all amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refunding’s of such indebtedness and obligations; unless, in any case in the instrument creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation, or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such indebtedness or obligation is not superior in right of payment to the Notes or to other debt that is pari passu with or subordinate to the Notes.


SECTION 26.GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT IS TO BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES.


SECTION 27.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, and by each of the parties hereto in separate counterparts.  Each such counterpart, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.













IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed on their behalf by their officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first above written.


	
			
	 
	INDEPENDENT BANK CORP.

	 
	  as Issuer

	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/Jonathan Nelson

	 
	 
	Name:  Jonathan Nelson

	 
	 
	Title:  Senior Vice President and Treasurer  

	 
	 

	 
	

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Issuing and Paying Agent

	 
	 

	 
	By:
	/s/Steven J. Gomes

	 
	 
	Name:Steven J. Gomes

	 
	 
	Title:Vice President
























                                         [Issuing and Paying Agency Agreement Signature Page]