Document:

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

_________________________________________________

 

 

 

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

by and between

Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

and

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

Dated as of March 26, 2007

 

 

_________________________________________________

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (this "Guarantee"), dated as of March 26, 2007, is executed and delivered by Sterling Bancshares, Inc., a Texas corporation (the "Guarantor"), and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein) of Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust IV, a Delaware statutory trust (the "Issuer").

WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of the date hereof among Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but as institutional trustee and Delaware trustee, the administrators of the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing on the date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an aggregate liquidation amount of $25,000,000.00 (the "Capital Securities"); and

WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth in this Guarantee, to pay to the Holders of Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of the Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.

	

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

	Definitions and Interpretation.  

In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise requires:

	capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1;

	a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;

	all references to "the Guarantee" or "this Guarantee" are to this Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

	all references in this Guarantee to "Articles" or "Sections" are to Articles or Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;

	terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of execution of this Guarantee have the same meanings when used in this Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Guarantee or unless the context otherwise requires; and

	a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule thereunder.

"Beneficiaries" means any Person to whom the Issuer is or hereafter becomes indebted or liable.

"Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Guarantee.

"Common Securities" means the common securities issued by the Issuer to the Guarantor pursuant to the Declaration.

"Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Guarantee is located at Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600, Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration.

"Covered Person" means any Holder of Capital Securities.

"Debentures" means the debt securities of the Guarantor designated the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2037 held by the Institutional Trustee (as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.

"Declaration Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Declaration.

"Event of Default" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(a).

"Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer:  (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) which are required to be paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, (iii) the Special Redemption Price to the extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to Capital Securities redeemed upon the occurrence of a Special Event, and (iv) upon a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders of the Capital Securities in exchange therefor as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").

"Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

"Guarantor" means Sterling Bancshares, Inc. and each of its successors and assigns.

"Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in determining whether the Holders of the requisite percentage of Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the Guarantor.

"Indemnified Person" means the Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate of the Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Guarantee Trustee.

"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof between the Guarantor and Wilmington Trust Company, not in its individual capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the institutional trustee of the Issuer.

"Issuer" has the meaning set forth in the opening paragraph to this Guarantee.

"Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Guarantee Payments" herein.

"Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities" means Holder(s) of outstanding Capital Securities, voting together as a class, but separately from the holders of Common Securities, of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities then outstanding.

"Obligations" means any costs, expenses or liabilities (but not including liabilities related to taxes) of the Issuer other than obligations of the Issuer to pay to holders of any Trust Securities the amounts due such holders pursuant to the terms of the Trust Securities.

"Officer's Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by one Authorized Officer of such Person. Any Officer's Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee shall include:

	a statement that the officer signing the Officer's Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions relating thereto;

	a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or investigation undertaken by the officer in rendering the Officer's Certificate;

	a statement that the officer has made such examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

	a statement as to whether, in the opinion of the officer, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

"Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Guarantee Trustee including any Vice President, Assistant Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary or any other officer of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

"Special Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

"Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 3.1.

"Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Capital Securities.

	

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

	Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee.

	This Guarantee shall be held by the Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 4.4(b) or to a Successor Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Guarantee Trustee.  The right, title and interest of the Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

	If an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.

	The Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default and after curing all Events of Default that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been waived pursuant to Section 2.4) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

	No provision of this Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

	prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

	the duties and obligations of the Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Guarantee, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Guarantee against the Guarantee Trustee; and

	in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;

	the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that such Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee or the Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts upon which such judgment was made;

	the Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the written direction of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee, or relating to the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; and

	no provision of this Guarantee shall require the Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Guarantee Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Guarantee or security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

	Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee.

	Subject to the provisions of Section 2.1:

	The Guarantee Trustee may conclusively rely, and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon, any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or presented by the proper party or parties.

	Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officer's Certificate.

	Whenever, in the administration of this Guarantee, the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer's Certificate of the Guarantor which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any re-recording, refiling or re-registration thereof).

	The Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates and may include any of its employees.  The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Guarantee Trustee; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Section 2.2(a)(vi) shall relieve the Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

	The Guarantee Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or attorneys, and the Guarantee Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

	Any action taken by the Guarantee Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Capital Securities, and the signature of the Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any such action.  No third party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the Guarantee Trustee to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Guarantee Trustee's or its agent's taking such action.

	Whenever in the administration of this Guarantee the Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance with such instructions.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Guarantee.

	No provision of this Guarantee shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal or in which the Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.  No permissive power or authority available to the Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Guarantee.  

The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness.  The Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.

	Events of Default; Waiver.

	An Event of Default under this Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the Guarantor to perform any of its payment or other obligations hereunder.

	The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may, voting or consenting as a class, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

	Events of Default; Notice.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor, notices of all Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, however, that the Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice from the Guarantor or a Holder of the Capital Securities (except in the case of a payment default), or a Responsible Officer of the Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of this Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge thereof.

	

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

	Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.

	There shall at all times be a Guarantee Trustee which shall:

	not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor, and

	be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or Person authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section 3.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

	If at any time the Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 3.1(a), the Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 3.2(c).

	If the Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to this Guarantee.

	Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Guarantee Trustee.

	Subject to Section 3.2(b), the Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor except during an Event of Default.

	The Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with Section 3.2(a) until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

	The Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until a Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until its removal or resignation.  The Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by an instrument in writing executed by such Successor Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Guarantee Trustee.

	If no Successor Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 3.2 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Guarantee Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Guarantee Trustee.

	No Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Guarantee Trustee.

	Upon termination of this Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this Section 3.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Guarantee Trustee all amounts owing to the Guarantee Trustee under Sections 7.2 and 7.3 accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.

	

GUARANTEE

	Guarantee.

	The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense (except the defense of payment by the Issuer), right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or assert.  The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.

	The Guarantor hereby also agrees to assume any and all Obligations of the Issuer and in the event any such Obligation is not so assumed, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Guarantor hereby irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to each Beneficiary the full payment, when and as due, of any and all Obligations to such Beneficiaries.  This Guarantee is intended to be for the benefit of, and to be enforceable by, all such Beneficiaries, whether or not such Beneficiaries have received notice hereof.

	Waiver of Notice and Demand.  

The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

	Obligations Not Affected.  

The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:

	the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;

	the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation under, arising out of or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price, Special Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);

	any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or extension of any kind;

	the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;

	any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the Capital Securities;

	the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or

	any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the intent of this Section 4.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.

	Rights of Holders.

	The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee; provided, however, that (subject to Section 2.1) the Guarantee Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Guarantee Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Guarantee Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committees or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the Guarantee Trustee in personal liability.

	The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee's rights under this Guarantee, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.  The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so proceeding directly against the Guarantor.

	Guarantee of Payment.  

This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.

	Subrogation.  

The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.  If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

	Independent Obligations.  

The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.

	Enforcement by a Beneficiary.  

A Beneficiary may enforce the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b) directly against the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity before proceeding against the Guarantor.  The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights (if any) of any Beneficiary against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Beneficiaries by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee, if at the time of any such payment, and after giving effect to such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.

	

LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

	Limitation of Transactions.  

So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to (x) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Guarantor's or such Affiliate's capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Guarantor) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or (y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor or any Affiliate that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above, (i) repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Guarantor in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Guarantor (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into prior to the occurrence of the Event of Default, Declaration Event of Default or Extension Period, as applicable, (ii) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Guarantor) for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or of any class or series of the Guarantor's indebtedness for any class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock, (iii) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, (iv) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (v) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (vi) payments under this Guarantee).

	Ranking.  

This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.  By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the other terms set forth herein.

The right of the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.  Accordingly, the Guarantor's obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Guarantor's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder.  This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture that the Guarantor may enter into in the future or otherwise.

	

TERMINATION

	Termination.  

This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities (i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or (iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer.  This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.

	

INDEMNIFICATION

	Exculpation.

	No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

	An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Issuer or the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Issuer or the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or expert competence and who, if selected by such Indemnified Person, has been selected with reasonable care by such Indemnified Person, including information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities might properly be paid.

	Indemnification.

	The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for, and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Indemnified Person, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including, but not limited to, the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of the Indemnified Person defending itself against, or investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Indemnified Person's powers or duties hereunder.  The obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 7.2 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.

	Promptly after receipt by an Indemnified Person under this Section 7.2 of notice of the commencement of any action, such Indemnified Person will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the Guarantor under this Section 7.2, notify the Guarantor in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Guarantor (i) will not relieve the Guarantor from liability under paragraph (a) above unless and to the extent that the Guarantor did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Guarantor of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the Guarantor from any obligations to any Indemnified Person other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) above.  The Guarantor shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the Guarantor's choice at the Guarantor's expense to represent the Indemnified Person in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the Guarantor shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the Indemnified Person or Persons except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person.  Notwithstanding the Guarantor's election to appoint counsel to represent the Indemnified Person in an action, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Guarantor shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Guarantor to represent the Indemnified Person would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the Indemnified Person and the Guarantor and the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Person(s) which are different from or additional to those available to the Guarantor, (iii) the Guarantor shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the Guarantor shall authorize the Indemnified Person to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Guarantor.  The Guarantor will not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Persons, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Persons are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each Indemnified Person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.

	Compensation; Reimbursement of Expenses.  

The Guarantor agrees:

	to pay to the Guarantee Trustee from time to time such compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the parties shall agree to from time to time (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust); and

	except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Guarantee Trustee upon request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it in accordance with any provision of this Guarantee (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or willful misconduct.

For purposes of clarification, this Section 7.3 does not contemplate the payment by the Guarantor of acceptance or annual administration fees owing to the Guarantee Trustee for services to be provided by the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee or the fees and expenses of the Guarantee Trustee's counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Guarantee.  The provisions of this Section 7.3 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Guarantee Trustee and the termination of this Guarantee.

	

MISCELLANEOUS

	Successors and Assigns.  

All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding.  Except in connection with any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor's assets to another entity, in each case, to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.

	Amendments.  

Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities.  The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof apply to the giving of such approval.

	Notices.  

All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:

	If given to the Guarantee Trustee, at the Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and the Guarantor):

Wilmington Trust Company

Rodney Square North

1100 North Market Street

Wilmington, Delaware  19890-1600

Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration

Telecopy:  302-636-4140

	If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital Securities and to the Guarantee Trustee):

Sterling Bancshares, Inc.

2550 North Loop West, Suite 600

Houston, Texas  77092

Attention:  Patrick Oakes

Telecopy:  713-507-2955

	If given to any Holder of the Capital Securities, at the address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.

All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

	Benefit.  

This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital Securities.

	Governing Law.  

THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

	Counterparts.  

This Guarantee may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

Section 8.7Separability.  

In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

Signatures appear on the following page

THIS GUARANTEE is executed as of the day and year first above written.

Sterling Bancshares, Inc., as Guarantor

By: /s/ J. Downey Bridgwater

Name:  J. Downey Bridgwater

Title:  Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, as Guarantee Trustee

By: /s/ Christopher J. Slaybaugh

Name:  Christopher J. Slaybaugh

Title:  Senior Financial Services OfficerFORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

Certificate Number P-125,000 Capital Securities
CUSIP NO. 85916L AA 5

This capital security is a global security within the meaning of the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or a nominee of DTC.  This capital security is exchangeable for capital securities registered in the name of a person other than DTC or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Declaration, and no transfer of this capital security (other than a transfer of this capital security as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC) may be registered except in limited circumstances.

Unless this capital security is presented by an authorized representative of DTC to Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust IV or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any capital security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), any transfer, pledge or other use hereof for value or otherwise by or to any person is wrongful inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This security has not been registered under the securities act of 1933, as amended (the "securities act"), any state securities laws or any other applicable securities law.  Neither this security nor any interest or participation herein may be reoffered, sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, encumbered or otherwise disposed of in the absence of such registration or unless such transaction is exempt from, or not subject to, the registration requirements of the securities act and any applicable state securities laws.  The holder of this security by its acceptance hereof agrees to offer, sell or otherwise transfer this security only (a) to the sponsor or the trust, (b) pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective under the securities act, (c) to a person whom the seller reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of rule 144a so long as this security is eligible for resale pursuant to rule 144a in accordance with rule 144a, (d) to a non-u.s. person in an offshore transaction in accordance with rule 903 or rule 904 (as applicable) of regulation s under the securities act, (e) to an institutional "accredited investor" within the meaning of subparagraph (a) of rule 501 under the securities act that is acquiring this capital security for its own account, or for the account of such an institutional accredited investor for investment purposes and not with a view to, or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution in violation of the securities act, or (f) pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements of the securities act, subject to the sponsor's and the trust's right prior to any such offer, sale or transfer to require the delivery of an opinion of counsel, certification and/or other information satisfactory to each of them in accordance with the declaration of trust, a copy of which may be obtained from the sponsor or the trust.  Hedging transactions involving this security may not be conducted unless in compliance with the securities act.

the holder of this security by its acceptance hereof also agrees, represents and warrants that it is not an employee benefit, individual retirement account or other plan or arrangement subject to title i of the employee retirement income security act of 1974, as amended ("erisa"), or section 4975 of the internal revenue code of 1986, as amended (the "code") (each a "plan"), or an entity whose underlying assets include "plan assets" by reason of any plan's investment in the entity, and no person investing "plan assets" of any plan may acquire or hold the securities or any interest therein, unless such purchaser or holder is eligible for exemptive relief available under u.s. department of labor prohibited transaction class exemption 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable exemption or its purchase and holding of this security is not prohibited by section 406 of erisa or section 4975 of the code with respect to such purchase or holding.  any purchaser or holder of the securities or any interest therein will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that either (i) it is not an employee benefit plan within the meaning of section 3(3) of erisa, or a plan to which section 4975 of the code is applicable, a trustee or other person acting on behalf of an employee benefit plan or plan, or any other person or entity using the assets of any employee benefit plan or plan to finance such purchase, or (ii) such purchase will not result in a prohibited transaction under section 406 of erisa or section 4975 of the code for which there is no applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

This security will be issued and may be transferred only in blocks having a liquidation amount of not less than $100,000.00 (100 securities) and multiples of $1,000.00 in excess thereof.  Any attempted transfer of securities in a block having a liquidation amount of less than $100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

the holder of this security agrees that it will comply with the foregoing restrictions.

In connection with any transfer, the holder will deliver to the registrar and transfer agent such certificates and other information as may be required by the Declaration to confirm that the transfer complies with the foregoing restrictions.

March 26, 2007

Certificate Evidencing Floating Rate Capital Securities

of

Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust IV

(liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)

Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust IV, a statutory trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Cede & Co. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of capital securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (liquidation amount $1,000 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities").  Subject to the Declaration (as defined below), the Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this Certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer.  The Capital Securities represented hereby are issued pursuant to, and the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Capital Securities shall in all respects be subject to, the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of March 26, 2007, among Patrick Oakes, James W. Goolsby, Jr. and Zach Wasson, as Administrators, Wilmington Trust Company, as Delaware Trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, as Institutional Trustee, Sterling Bancshares, Inc., as Sponsor, and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to such amended and restated declaration as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration").  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Guarantee, and the Indenture to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.

Upon receipt of this Security, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

By acceptance of this Security, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital Securities as evidence of beneficial ownership in the Debentures.

This Capital Security is governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

Signature appears on following page

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has duly executed this certificate.
Sterling Bancshares Capital Trust IV

 

 

By:
Name:

Title:  Administrator

 

CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration.

 
WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,

as the Institutional Trustee

 

By:

Authorized Officer

 

REVERSE OF CAPITAL SECURITY

Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be payable at an annual rate equal to 6.95% beginning on (and including) the date of original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Distribution Payment Date in June 2007 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and including) the Distribution Payment Date in June 2007, and each succeeding Distribution Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Distribution Payment Date (each a "Distribution Period"), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined as described below, plus 1.60% (the "Coupon Rate"), applied to the stated liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Institutional Trustee. Distributions in arrears will bear interest thereon compounded quarterly at the Distribution Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).  The term "Distributions" as used herein includes cash distributions and any such compounded distributions unless otherwise noted.  A Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Institutional Trustee and to the extent the Institutional Trustee has funds available therefor.  As used herein, "Determination Date" means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution Period.  The amount of the Distribution payable for any Distribution Period will be calculated by applying the Distribution Rate to the stated liquidation amount outstanding at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.

"3-Month LIBOR" as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Debenture Trustee in the following order of priority:  (i) the rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date ("Telerate Page 3750" means the display designated as "Page 3750" on the Moneyline Telerate Service or such other page as may replace Page 3750 on that service or such other service or services as may be nominated by the British Bankers' Association as the information vendor for the purpose of displaying London interbank offered rates for U.S. dollar deposits); (ii) if such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Debenture Trustee will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above, the Debenture Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks' offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and (iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.  If the rate for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date is superseded on the Telerate Page 3750 by a corrected rate by 12:00 noon (London time) on such Determination Date, then the corrected rate as so substituted on the applicable page will be the applicable 3-Month LIBOR for such Determination Date.

The Distribution Rate for any Distribution Period will at no time be higher than the maximum rate then permitted by New York law as the same may be modified by United States law.

All percentages resulting from any calculations on the Capital Securities will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being rounded upward)).

Except as otherwise described below, Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from the date of original issuance and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of each year or if any such day is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such day, a "Distribution Payment Date") (it being understood that interest accrues for any such non-Business Day), commencing on the Distribution Payment Date in June 2007.  The Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest on the Debentures, so long as no Acceleration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, by extending the interest payment period for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each an "Extension Period") at any time and from time to time on the Debentures, subject to the conditions described below, during which Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable.  During any Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the Distribution Rate in effect for each such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as "Additional Interest"). No Extension Period may end on a date other than a Distribution Payment Date. At the end of any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date.  Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further extend such period, provided that such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements.  No interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest.  During any Extension Period, Distributions on the Capital Securities shall be deferred for a period equal to the Extension Period.  If Distributions are deferred, the Distributions due shall be paid on the date that the related Extension Period terminates, to Holders of the Securities as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date immediately preceding such date. Distributions on the Securities must be paid on the dates payable (after giving effect to any Extension Period) to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such distributions in the Property Account of the Trust.  The Trust's funds available for Distribution to the Holders of the Securities will be limited to payments received from the Debenture Issuer.  The payment of Distributions out of moneys held by the Trust is guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Guarantee.

The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the Declaration.

ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security Certificate to:

(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number) 

(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoints

agent to transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.  The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

Date:

Signature:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital Security Certificate)

Signature Guarantee:

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