Document:

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP,

as Issuer

 

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of March 17, 2004

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee

 

 

FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE
INTEREST DEBENTURES

 

 

DUE 2034

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
  ARTICLE I.
  DEFINITIONS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 1.1.

  	
  Definitions.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE II.
  DEBENTURES

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.1.

  	
  Authentication and Dating.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.2.

  	
  Form of
  Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.3.

  	
  Form and
  Denomination of Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.4.

  	
  Execution of Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.5.

  	
  Exchange
  and Registration of Transfer of Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.6.

  	
  Mutilated,
  Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.7.

  	
  Temporary Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.8.

  	
  Payment of
  Interest and Additional Interest.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.9.

  	
  Cancellation of
  Debentures Paid, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.10.

  	
  Computation of Interest.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.11.

  	
  Extension of
  Interest Payment Period.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 2.12.

  	
  CUSIP
  Numbers.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE III. PARTICULAR
  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.1.

  	
  Payment
  of Principal, Premium and Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.2.

  	
  Offices for
  Notices and Payments, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.3.

  	
  Appointments
  to Fill Vacancies in Trustee’s Office.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.4.

  	
  Provision as to Paying
  Agent.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.5.

  	
  Certificate to Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.6.

  	
  Additional
  Sums.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.7.

  	
  Compliance
  with Consolidation Provisions.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.8.

  	
  Limitation on Dividends.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.9.

  	
  Covenants as to the Trust.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 3.10.

  	
  Additional Junior
  Indebtedness.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE IV. SECURITYHOLDERS’
  LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 4.1.

  	
  Securityholders’ Lists.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 4.2.

  	
  Preservation and
  Disclosure of Lists.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE V. REMEDIES OF THE
  TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.1.

  	
  Events of Default.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.2.

  	
  Payment
  of Debentures on Default; Suit Therefor.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.3.

  	
  Application
  of Moneys Collected by Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.4.

  	
  Proceedings by
  Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.5.

  	
  Proceedings by Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.6.

  	
  Remedies
  Cumulative and Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.

  	
   

  

 

i

 

	
  Section 5.7.

  	
  Direction
  of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.8.

  	
  Notice of Defaults.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 5.9.

  	
  Undertaking to Pay Costs.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE VI. CONCERNING THE
  TRUSTEE

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.1.

  	
  Duties and
  Responsibilities of Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.2.

  	
  Reliance on
  Documents, Opinions, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.3.

  	
  No Responsibility
  for Recitals, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.4.

  	
  Trustee,
  Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own
  Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.5.

  	
  Moneys to be Held in Trust.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.6.

  	
  Compensation
  and Expenses of Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.7.

  	
  Officers’
  Certificate as Evidence.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.8.

  	
  Eligibility of
  Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.9.

  	
  Resignation
  or Removal of Trustee

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.10.

  	
  Acceptance
  by Successor Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.11.

  	
  Succession by
  Merger, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 6.12.

  	
  Authenticating
  Agents.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE VII. CONCERNING THE
  SECURITYHOLDERS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.1.

  	
  Action by
  Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.2.

  	
  Proof
  of Execution by Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.3.

  	
  Who Are
  Deemed Absolute Owners.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.4.

  	
  Debentures
  Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 7.5.

  	
  Revocation
  of Consents; Future Holders Bound.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE VIII. SECURITYHOLDERS’
  MEETINGS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.1.

  	
  Purposes of Meetings.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.2.

  	
  Call of
  Meetings by Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.3.

  	
  Call
  of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.4.

  	
  Qualifications
  for Voting.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.5.

  	
  Regulations.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.6.

  	
  Voting.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 8.7.

  	
  Quorum; Actions.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE IX. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.1.

  	
  Supplemental
  Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.2.

  	
  Supplemental
  Indentures with Consent of Securityholders.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.3.

  	
  Effect
  of Supplemental Indentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.4.

  	
  Notation on
  Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 9.5.

  	
  Evidence
  of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE X. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 10.1.

  	
  Optional Redemption.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 10.2.

  	
  Special Event
  Redemption.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 10.3.

  	
  Notice
  of Redemption; Selection of Debentures.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 10.4.

  	
  Payment
  of Debentures Called for Redemption.

  	
   

  

 

ii

 

	
  ARTICLE XI. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER,
  SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 11.1.

  	
  Company
  May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 11.2.

  	
  Successor
  Entity to be Substituted.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 11.3.

  	
  Opinion
  of Counsel to be Given to Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE XII. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
  OF INDENTURE

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 12.1.

  	
  Discharge of
  Indenture.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 12.2.

  	
  Deposited
  Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 12.3.

  	
  Paying
  Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 12.4.

  	
  Return of
  Unclaimed Moneys.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE XIII. IMMUNITY OF
  INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 13.1.

  	
  Indenture
  and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE XIV. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.1.

  	
  Successors.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.2.

  	
  Official
  Acts by Successor Entity.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.3.

  	
  Surrender of
  Company Powers.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.4.

  	
  Addresses for
  Notices, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.5.

  	
  Governing Law.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.6.

  	
  Evidence
  of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.7.

  	
  Table of
  Contents, Headings, etc.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.8.

  	
  Execution in
  Counterparts.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.9.

  	
  Separability.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.10.

  	
  Assignment.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 14.11.

  	
  Acknowledgment
  of Rights.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  ARTICLE XV. SUBORDINATION OF
  DEBENTURES

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.1.

  	
  Agreement to
  Subordinate.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.2.

  	
  Default on
  Senior Indebtedness.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.3.

  	
  Liquidation,
  Dissolution, Bankruptcy.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.4.

  	
  Subrogation.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.5.

  	
  Trustee
  to Effectuate Subordination.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.6.

  	
  Notice by the
  Company.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.7.

  	
  Rights
  of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

  	
   

  
	
  Section 15.8.

  	
  Subordination
  May Not Be Impaired.

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Exhibit A

  	
  Form of Floating Rate
  Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

  	
   

  
				

 

iii

 

THIS INDENTURE,
dated as of March 17, 2004, between First Regional Bancorp, a California
corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. Bank National Association, a
national banking association organized under the laws of the United States of
America, as debenture trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

WITNESSETH:

 

WHEREAS, for its
lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the issuance of its
Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2034 (the
“Debentures”) under this Indenture to provide, among other things, for
the execution and authentication, delivery and administration thereof, and the
Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

NOW, THEREFORE,
This Indenture Witnesseth:

 

In consideration
of the premises, and the purchase of the Debentures by the holders thereof, the
Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee for the equal and proportionate
benefit of the respective holders from time to time of the Debentures as
follows:

 

ARTICLE I.

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1.                                Definitions.   The terms defined in this Section 1.1
(except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise
requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental
hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this
Section 1.1.  All accounting terms
used herein and not expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the term
“generally accepted accounting principles” means such accounting principles as
are generally accepted in the United States at the time of any computation.  The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder”
and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to
any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

 

“Additional
Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Additional
Junior Indebtedness” means, without duplication and other than the
Debentures, any indebtedness, liabilities or obligations of the Company, or any
Subsidiary of the Company, under debt securities (or guarantees in respect of
debt securities) initially issued after the date of this Indenture to any
trust, or a trustee of a trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the
Company that is, directly or indirectly, a finance subsidiary (as such term is
defined in Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940) or other financing
vehicle of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company in connection with the
issuance by that entity of preferred securities or other securities that are
eligible to qualify for Tier 1 capital treatment (or its then equivalent)
for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then
in effect and applicable to the Company (or, if the Company is not a bank
holding company, such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were
subject to such guidelines); provided, however, that the
inability of the Company to treat all or any portion of the Additional Junior
Indebtedness as Tier 1 capital shall not disqualify it as Additional
Junior Indebtedness if such inability results from the Company having
cumulative preferred stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or
any other class of security or interest which the Federal Reserve now or may
hereafter accord Tier 1 capital treatment (including the Debentures) in
excess of the amount which may qualify for treatment as Tier 1 capital
under applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

 

“Additional
Sums” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

 

1

 

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

 

“Authenticating
Agent” means any agent or agents of the Trustee which at the time shall be
appointed and acting pursuant to Section 6.12.

 

“Bankruptcy Law”
means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the
relief of debtors.

 

“Board of
Directors” means the board of directors or the executive committee or any
other duly authorized designated officers of the Company.

 

“Board
Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of
Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification
and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day”
means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or any other day on which banking
institutions in New York City or Hartford, Connecticut are permitted or
required by any applicable law or executive order to close.

 

“Capital
Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
which rank pari  passu with Common Securities issued by the
Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence and
continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration), the rights
of holders of such Common Securities to payment in respect of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are subordinated to the
rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

“Capital
Securities Guarantee” means the guarantee agreement that the Company enters
into with U.S. Bank National Association, as guarantee trustee, or other
Persons that operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of
Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

“Capital
Treatment Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an
opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
of the occurrence of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws, rules or regulations of the United States or
any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as the result of any official
or administrative pronouncement or action or decision interpreting or applying
such laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which pronouncement, action or decision is announced on or after the date of original
issuance of the Debentures, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Company will not, within 90 days of the date of such opinion, be entitled to
treat an amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its then equivalent) for purposes of
the capital adequacy guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and
applicable to the Company (or if the Company is not a bank holding company,
such guidelines applied to the Company as if the Company were subject to such
guidelines); provided, however, that the inability of the Company
to treat all or any portion of the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
as Tier l Capital shall not constitute the basis for a Capital Treatment
Event, if such inability results from the Company having cumulative preferred
stock, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries, or any other class of
security or interest which the Federal Reserve or OTS, as applicable, may now
or hereafter accord Tier 1 Capital treatment in excess of the amount which
may now or hereafter qualify for treatment as Tier 1 Capital under
applicable capital adequacy guidelines; provided  further, however,
that the distribution of Debentures in connection with the liquidation of the Trust
shall not in and of itself constitute a Capital Treatment Event unless such
liquidation shall have occurred in connection with a Tax Event or an Investment
Company Event.

 

2

 

“Certificate”
means a certificate signed by any one of the principal executive officer, the
principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Common
Securities” means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
which rank pari passu with
Capital Securities issued by the Trust; provided, however, that
upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default (as defined in the
Declaration), the rights of holders of such Common Securities to payment in
respect of distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise are subordinated to the rights of holders of such Capital Securities.

 

“Company”
means First Regional Bancorp, a California corporation, and, subject to the
provisions of Article XI, shall include its successors and assigns.

 

“Coupon Rate”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

“Debenture”
or “Debentures” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture.

 

“Debenture
Register” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5.

 

“Declaration”
means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, as amended or
supplemented from time to time.

 

“Default”
means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both,
would constitute an Event of Default.

 

“Defaulted
Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.8.

 

“Distribution
Period” means (i) with respect to interest paid on the first Interest
Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the date of original
issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in
June 2004 and (ii) thereafter, with respect to interest paid on each
successive Interest Payment Date, the period beginning on (and including) the
preceding Interest Payment Date and ending on (but excluding) such current
Interest Payment Date.

 

“Determination
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

“Event of
Default” means any event specified in Section 5.1, continued for the
period of time, if any, and after the giving of the notice, if any, therein
designated.

 

“Extension
Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.

 

“Federal
Reserve” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, or its
designated district bank, as applicable, and any successor federal agency that
is primarily responsible for regulating the activities of bank holding
companies.

 

“Indenture”
means this instrument as originally executed or, if amended or supplemented as
herein provided, as so amended or supplemented, or both.

 

“Institutional
Trustee” has the meaning set forth in the Declaration.

 

“Interest Payment
Date” means March 17, June 17, September 17 and
December 17 of each year during the term of this Indenture, or if such day
is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day, commencing in
June 2004.

 

3

 

“Interest Rate”
means for the Distribution Period beginning on (and including) the date of
original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in
June 2004 the rate per annum of 3.90%, and for each Distribution Period beginning
on or after the Interest Payment Date in June 2004, the Coupon Rate for
such Distribution Period.

 

“Investment
Company Event” means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion
of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of the
occurrence of a change in law or regulation or written change (including any
announced prospective change) in interpretation or application of law or
regulation by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
authority, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or,
within 90 days of the date of such opinion will be considered an “investment
company” that is required to be registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended which change or prospective change becomes effective or would
become effective, as the case may be, on or after the date of the issuance of
the Debentures.

 

“Liquidation
Amount” means the stated amount of $1,000.00 per Trust Security.

 

“Maturity Date”
means March 17, 2034.

 

“Officers’
Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Managing
Director or any Vice President, and by the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer,
the Comptroller, an Assistant Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.  Each such certificate shall include the
statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and to the extent required by
the provisions of such Section.

 

“Opinion of
Counsel” means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an
employee of or counsel to the Company, or may be other counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each such
opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.6 if and
to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.

 

“OTS” means
the Office of Thrift Supervision and any successor federal agency that is
primarily responsible for regulating the activities of savings and loan holding
companies.

 

The term “outstanding,”
when used with reference to Debentures, means, subject to the provisions of
Section 7.4, as of any particular time, all Debentures authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent under this Indenture,
except:

 

(a)                                  Debentures
theretofore canceled by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b)                                 Debentures,
or portions thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys in the
necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with
any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and
segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying
agent); provided, however, that, if such Debentures, or portions
thereof, are to be redeemed prior to maturity thereof, notice of such
redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 10.3 or provision
satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and

 

(c)                                  Debentures
paid pursuant to Section 2.6 or in lieu of or in substitution for which
other Debentures shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the
terms of Section 2.6 unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the
Trustee is presented that any such Debentures are held by bona fide holders in
due course.

 

4

 

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

 

“Predecessor
Security” of any particular Debenture means every previous Debenture
evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Debenture; and, for purposes of this definition, any Debenture
authenticated and delivered under Section 2.6 in lieu of a lost, destroyed
or stolen Debenture shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost,
destroyed or stolen Debenture.

 

“Principal
Office of the Trustee,” or other similar term, means the office of the
Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
principally administered, which at the time of the execution of this Indenture
shall be 225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square, Hartford, Connecticut  06103.

 

“Redemption
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

 

“Redemption
Price” means 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed,
plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any Additional Interest) on such
Debentures to the Redemption Date.

 

“Responsible
Officer” means, with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the
Principal Office of the Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant
vice-president, any secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer, any trust officer or other officer of the Principal Trust
Office of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect
to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter
is referred because of that officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.

 

“Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time or any successor
legislation.

 

“Securityholder,”
“holder of Debentures,” or other similar terms, means any Person in whose name
at the time a particular Debenture is registered on the register kept by the
Company or the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

“Senior
Indebtedness” means, with respect to the Company, (i) the principal,
premium, if any, and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the
Company for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, notes, bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company;
(ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all
obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations
of the Company under any title retention agreement; (iv) all obligations
of the Company for the reimbursement of any letter of credit, any banker’s
acceptance, any security purchase facility, any repurchase agreement or similar
arrangement, any interest rate swap, any other hedging arrangement, any
obligation under options or any similar credit or other transaction;
(v) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through
(iv) above of other Persons for the payment of which the Company is responsible
or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of
the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other Persons
secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company (whether or not
such obligation is assumed by the Company), whether incurred on or prior to the
date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing, “Senior Indebtedness” shall not include
(1) any Additional Junior Indebtedness, (2) Debentures issued
pursuant to this Indenture and guarantees in respect of such Debentures, (3)
trade accounts payable of the Company arising in the ordinary course of
business (such trade accounts payable being pari
passu in right of payment to the Debentures), or (4)

 

5

 

obligations with respect to which (a) in the instrument creating or
evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is
provided that such obligations are pari
passu, junior or otherwise not superior in right of payment to the
Debentures and (b) the Company, prior to the issuance thereof, has notified
(and, if then required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating
entity, has received approval from) the Federal Reserve (if the Company is a
bank holding company) or the OTS (if the Company is a savings and loan holding
company).  Senior Indebtedness shall
continue to be Senior Indebtedness and be entitled to the subordination
provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of
such Senior Indebtedness.

 

“Special Event”
means any of a Capital Treatment Event, an Investment Company Event or a Tax
Event.

 

“Special
Redemption Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.2.

 

“Special
Redemption Price” means the price set forth in the following table for any
Special Redemption Date that occurs on the date indicated below (or if such day
is not a Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day), expressed as the
percentage of the principal amount of the Debentures being redeemed:

 

	
  Month in which Special

  Redemption Date Occurs

  	
   

  	
  Special Redemption Price

  	
   

  
	
  June 2004

  	
   

  	
  104.625

  	
  %

  
	
  September 2004

  	
   

  	
  104.300

  	
  %

  
	
  December 2004

  	
   

  	
  104.000

  	
  %

  
	
  March 2005

  	
   

  	
  103.650

  	
  %

  
	
  June 2005

  	
   

  	
  103.350

  	
  %

  
	
  September 2005

  	
   

  	
  103.000

  	
  %

  
	
  December 2005

  	
   

  	
  102.700

  	
  %

  
	
  March 2006

  	
   

  	
  102.350

  	
  %

  
	
  June 2006

  	
   

  	
  102.050

  	
  %

  
	
  September 2006

  	
   

  	
  101.700

  	
  %

  
	
  December 2006

  	
   

  	
  101.400

  	
  %

  
	
  March 2007

  	
   

  	
  101.050

  	
  %

  
	
  June 2007

  	
   

  	
  100.750

  	
  %

  
	
  September 2007

  	
   

  	
  100.450

  	
  %

  
	
  December 2007

  	
   

  	
  100.200

  	
  %

  
	
  March 2008 and thereafter

  	
   

  	
  100.000

  	
  %

  

 

6

 

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest (including any
Additional Interest) on such Debentures to the Special Redemption Date.

 

“Subsidiary”
means with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority
of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by
such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or
more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or
similar entity, at least a majority of the outstanding partnership or similar
interests of which shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more
of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and
(iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its
Subsidiaries is a general partner.  For
the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated)
in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of
the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests,
participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the
occurrence of a contingency.

 

“Tax Event”
means the receipt by the Company and the Trust of an opinion of counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to
or change (including any announced prospective change) in the laws or any
regulations thereunder of the United States or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official
administrative pronouncement (including any private letter ruling, technical
advice memorandum, field service advice, regulatory procedure, notice or
announcement, including any notice or announcement of intent to adopt such
procedures or regulations) (an “Administrative Action”) or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, regardless of
whether such Administrative Action or judicial decision is issued to or in
connection with a proceeding involving the Company or the Trust and whether or
not subject to review or appeal, which amendment, clarification, change,
Administrative Action or decision is enacted, promulgated or announced, in each
case on or after the date of original issuance of the Debentures, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that: 
(i) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of
such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to
income received or accrued on the Debentures; (ii) interest payable by the
Company on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for
United States federal income tax purposes; or (iii) the Trust is, or will
be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de
minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

 

“3-Month LIBOR”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

“Telerate Page
3750” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.

 

“Trust”
shall mean First Regional Statutory Trust III, a Connecticut statutory
trust, or any other similar trust created for the purpose of issuing Capital
Securities in connection with the issuance of Debentures under this Indenture,
of which the Company is the sponsor.

 

“Trust
Securities” means Common Securities and Capital Securities of the Trust.

 

“Trustee”
means U.S. Bank National Association, and, subject to the provisions of
Article VI hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as
Trustee hereunder.

 

7

 

ARTICLE II.

DEBENTURES

 

Section 2.1.                                Authentication
and Dating.   Upon
the execution and delivery of this Indenture, or from time to time thereafter,
Debentures in an aggregate principal amount not in excess of $7,732,000.00 may
be executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and
the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and make available for delivery said
Debentures to or upon the written order of the Company, signed by its Chairman
of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, the
President, one of its Managing Directors or one of its Vice Presidents without
any further action by the Company hereunder. 
In authenticating such Debentures, and accepting the additional
responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Debentures, the
Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall
be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(a)                                  a
copy of any Board Resolution or Board Resolutions relating thereto and, if
applicable, an appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such
resolution, in each case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Company, as the case may be; and

 

(b)                                 an
Opinion of Counsel prepared in accordance with Section 14.6 which shall
also state:

 

(1)                                   that
such Debentures, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by
the Company in each case in the manner and subject to any conditions specified
in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company, subject to or limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, conservatorship, receivership, moratorium and other
statutory or decisional laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights or the
reorganization of financial institutions (including, without limitation,
preference and fraudulent conveyance or transfer laws), heretofore or hereafter
enacted or in effect, affecting the rights of creditors generally; and

 

(2)                                   that
all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery by the
Company of the Debentures have been complied with and that authentication and
delivery of the Debentures by the Trustee will not violate the terms of this
Indenture.

 

The Trustee shall
have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Debentures under this
Section if the Trustee, being advised in writing by counsel, determines
that such action may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee
in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to
personal liability to existing holders.

 

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

 

Section 2.2.                                Form
of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.   The Trustee’s certificate of authentication on all Debentures
shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

	
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

  
	
   

  
	
  By

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  Authorized Signer

  

 

8

 

Section 2.3.                                Form
and Denomination of Debentures.   The Debentures shall be substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. 
The Debentures shall be in registered, certificated form without coupons
and in minimum denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in
excess thereof.  Any attempted transfer
of the Debentures in a block having an aggregate principal amount of less than
$100,000.00 shall be deemed to be void and of no legal effect whatsoever.  Any such purported transferee shall be
deemed not to be a holder of such Debentures for any purpose, including, but
not limited to the receipt of payments on such Debentures, and such purported
transferee shall be deemed to have no interest whatsoever in such
Debentures.  The Debentures shall be
numbered, lettered, or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plans as the officers executing the same may determine with the
approval of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and authentication
thereof.

 

Section 2.4.                                Execution of
Debentures.   The
Debentures shall be signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the
manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief
Executive Officer, Vice Chairman, President, one of its Managing Directors or
one of its Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice
Presidents.  Only such Debentures as
shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
herein before recited, executed by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent by
the manual signature of an authorized signer, shall be entitled to the benefits
of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.  Such certificate by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent upon any Debenture executed by the Company shall be conclusive
evidence that the Debenture so authenticated has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture.

 

In case any
officer of the Company who shall have signed any of the Debentures shall cease
to be such officer before the Debentures so signed shall have been
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent, or
disposed of by the Company, such Debentures nevertheless may be authenticated
and delivered or disposed of as though the Person who signed such Debentures
had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Debenture may be
signed on behalf of the Company by such Persons as, at the actual date of the
execution of such Debenture, shall be the proper officers of the Company,
although at the date of the execution of this Indenture any such person was not
such an officer.

 

Every Debenture
shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

Section 2.5.                                Exchange and Registration of
Transfer of Debentures.  The Company shall
cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained for the purpose of
registration of transfer and for exchange as provided in Section 3.2, a
register (the “Debenture Register”) for the Debentures issued hereunder
in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the
Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of all Debentures as in
this Article II provided.  The
Debenture Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of
being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

Debentures to be
exchanged may be surrendered at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any
office or agency to be maintained by the Company for such purpose as provided
in Section 3.2, and the Company shall execute, the Company or the Trustee
shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate
and make available for delivery in exchange therefor the Debenture or
Debentures which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to
receive.  Upon due presentment for
registration of transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the
Trustee or at any office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose
as provided in Section 3.2, the Company shall execute, the Company or the
Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or
transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount.  Registration or registration of transfer of
any Debenture by the

 

9

 

Trustee or by any agent of the Company appointed pursuant to
Section 3.2, and delivery of such Debenture, shall be deemed to complete
the registration or registration of transfer of such Debenture.

 

All Debentures
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so
required by the Company or the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly
endorsed by, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

 

No service charge
shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Debentures, but
the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
therewith.

 

The Company or the
Trustee shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of any
Debenture for a period of 15 days next preceding the date of selection of
Debentures for redemption.

 

Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, Debentures may not be transferred except in
compliance with the restricted securities legend set forth below, unless
otherwise determined by the Company, upon the advice of counsel expert in
securities law, in accordance with applicable law:

 

THIS SECURITY IS
NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE UNITED STATES OR
ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT
INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS SECURITY HAS
NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
“SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES
LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY
INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A
SO LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE
TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE)
OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF
RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR,
FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN
CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY
SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

10

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT IT
IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER PLAN OR
ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY
ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE “CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE
UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN
THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR
HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS
ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR
ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS
NOT PROHIBITED BY SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE
WITH RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. 
ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL
BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER
(i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS
APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT
PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL
NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR
SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR
ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

THIS SECURITY WILL
BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF $1,000.00 IN EXCESS
THEREOF.  ANY ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS
SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF LESS THAN
$100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.

 

Section 2.6.                                Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
Stolen Debentures.  In case any Debenture shall
become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company shall execute,
and upon its written request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new
Debenture bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and
substitution for the mutilated Debenture, or in lieu of and in substitution for
the Debenture so destroyed, lost or stolen. 
In every case the applicant for a substituted Debenture shall furnish to
the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by
them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or
theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such Debenture and
of the ownership thereof.

 

The Trustee may
authenticate any such substituted Debenture and deliver the same upon the
written request or authorization of any officer of the Company.  Upon the issuance of any substituted
Debenture, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any
tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and
any other expenses connected therewith. 
In case any Debenture which has matured or is about to mature or has
been called for redemption in full shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost
or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Debenture, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case
of a mutilated Debenture) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to
the Company and the Trustee such

 

11

 

security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them
harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence satisfactory to
the Company and to the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such
Debenture and of the ownership thereof.

 

Every substituted
Debenture issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section 2.6 by virtue
of the fact that any such Debenture is destroyed, lost or stolen shall
constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not
the destroyed, lost or stolen Debenture shall be found at any time, and shall
be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately
with any and all other Debentures duly issued hereunder.  All Debentures shall be held and owned upon the
express condition that, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the
foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures and shall preclude any and
all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or statute existing or
hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of
negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.

 

Section 2.7.                                Temporary
Debentures.  Pending the preparation
of definitive Debentures, the Company may execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and make available for delivery temporary Debentures that are
typed, printed or lithographed. 
Temporary Debentures shall be issuable in any authorized denomination, and
substantially in the form of the definitive Debentures in lieu of which they
are issued but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be
appropriate for temporary Debentures, all as may be determined by the
Company.  Every such temporary Debenture
shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the
same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect,
as the definitive Debentures.  Without
unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent definitive Debentures and thereupon any or all temporary
Debentures may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the principal corporate
trust office of the Trustee or at any office or agency maintained by the
Company for such purpose as provided in Section 3.2, and the Trustee or
the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and make available for delivery in
exchange for such temporary Debentures a like aggregate principal amount of
such definitive Debentures.  Such
exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge
therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving a registration of
transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax,
fee or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto.  Until so exchanged, the temporary Debentures
shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as
definitive Debentures authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 2.8.                                Payment of Interest and
Additional Interest.  Interest
at the Interest Rate and any Additional Interest on any Debenture that is
payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment
Date for Debentures shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Debenture
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the regular record date for such interest installment except that interest
and any Additional Interest payable on the Maturity Date shall be paid to the
Person to whom principal is paid.

 

Each Debenture
shall bear interest for the period beginning on (and including) the date of
original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in
June 2004 at a rate per annum of 3.90%, and shall bear interest for each
successive Distribution Period beginning on or after the Interest Payment Date
in June 2004 at a rate per annum equal to the 3-Month LIBOR, determined as
described in Section 2.10, plus 2.79% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied
to the principal amount thereof, until the principal thereof becomes due and
payable, and on any overdue principal and to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law (without duplication) on any
overdue installment of interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest
Rate in effect for each applicable period compounded quarterly.  Interest shall be payable (subject to any
relevant Extension Period) quarterly in arrears on each

 

12

 

Interest Payment Date with the first installment of interest to be paid
on the Interest Payment Date in June 2004.

 

Any interest on
any Debenture, including Additional Interest, that is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the
registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been
such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company to the
Persons in whose names such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor
Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the
following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing at least 25
days prior to the date of the proposed payment of the amount of Defaulted
Interest proposed to be paid on each such Debenture and the date of the
proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in
respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to
the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such
money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons
entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special
record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more
than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not
less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the
proposed payment.  The Trustee shall
promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at
the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first
class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at its address as it appears in
the Debenture Register, not less than 10 days prior to such special record
date.  Notice of the proposed payment of
such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed
as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
such Debentures (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on
such special record date and shall be no longer payable.

 

The Company may
make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Debentures in any other lawful
manner after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment
method; provided, however, the Trustee in its sole discretion
deems such payment method to be practical.

 

Any interest
(including Additional Interest) scheduled to become payable on an Interest
Payment Date occurring during an Extension Period shall not be Defaulted
Interest and shall be payable on such other date as may be specified in the
terms of such Debentures.

 

The term “regular
record date” as used in this Section shall mean the close of business on
the 15th calendar day next preceding the applicable Interest Payment
Date.

 

Subject to the
foregoing provisions of this Section, each Debenture delivered under this
Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any
other Debenture shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to
accrue, that were carried by such other Debenture.

 

Section 2.9.           Cancellation of Debentures Paid, etc.   All Debentures surrendered for the purpose
of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer, shall, if surrendered
to the Company or any paying agent, be surrendered to the Trustee and promptly
canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent,
shall be promptly canceled by it, and no Debentures shall be issued in lieu
thereof except as expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this
Indenture.  All Debentures canceled by
any Authenticating Agent shall be delivered to the Trustee.  The Trustee shall destroy all canceled
Debentures unless the Company otherwise directs the Trustee in writing.  If the Company shall acquire any of the
Debentures, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or
satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Debentures unless and
until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

 

13

 

Section 2.10.        Computation of Interest.   The amount of interest payable for each Distribution Period will
be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the principal amount outstanding
at the commencement of the Distribution Period on the basis of the actual
number of days in the Distribution Period concerned divided by 360.  All percentages resulting from any
calculations on the Debentures will be rounded, if necessary, to the nearest
one hundred-thousandth of a percentage point, with five one-millionths of a
percentage point rounded upward (e.g., 9.876545% (or .09876545) being rounded
to 9.87655% (or .0987655), and all dollar amounts used in or resulting from
such calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent (with one-half cent being
rounded upward)).

 

(a)                                  “3-Month
LIBOR” means the London interbank offered interest rate for three-month,
U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following order of
priority:

 

(1)                                  the
rate (expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month maturity that appears on Telerate Page 3750 as of
11:00 a.m. (London time) on the related Determination Date (as defined
below).  “Telerate Page 3750” means
the display designated as “Page 3750” on the Dow Jones 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;

 

(2)                                  if
such rate cannot be identified on the related Determination Date, the Trustee
will request the principal London offices of four leading banks in the London
interbank market to provide such banks’ offered quotations (expressed as
percentages per annum) to prime banks in the London interbank market for U.S.
dollar deposits having a three-month maturity as of 11:00 a.m. (London
time) on such Determination Date.  If at
least two quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of
such quotations;

 

(3)                                  if
fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (2)
above, the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such
banks’ offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading
European banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on
such Determination Date.  If at least
two such quotations are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of
such quotations; and

 

(4)                                  if
fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (3)
above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to the
Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution Period.

 

If the rate for
U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on
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.

 

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

 

(c)                                  “Determination
Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day
in which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London
interbank market) preceding the particular Distribution Period for which a
Coupon Rate is being determined.

 

(d)                                 The
Trustee shall notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee and any securities
exchange or interdealer quotation system on which the Capital Securities are
listed, of the Coupon Rate

 

14

 

and the Determination
Date for each Distribution Period, in each case as soon as practicable after
the determination thereof but in no event later than the thirtieth (30th) day
of the relevant Distribution Period. 
Failure to notify the Company, the Institutional Trustee or any
securities exchange or interdealer quotation system, or any defect in said
notice, shall not affect the obligation of the Company to make payment on the
Debentures at the applicable Coupon Rate. 
Any error in the calculation of the Coupon Rate by the Trustee may be
corrected at any time by notice delivered as above provided.  Upon the request of a holder of a Debenture,
the Trustee shall provide the Coupon Rate then in effect and, if determined,
the Coupon Rate for the next Distribution Period.

 

(e)                                  Subject
to the corrective rights set forth above, all certificates, communications,
opinions, determinations, calculations, quotations and decisions given,
expressed, made or obtained for the purposes of the provisions relating to the
payment and calculation of interest on the Debentures and distributions on the
Capital Securities by the Trustee or the Institutional Trustee will (in the
absence of willful default, bad faith and manifest error) be final, conclusive
and binding on the Trust, the Company and all of the holders of the Debentures
and the Capital Securities, and no liability shall (in the absence of willful
default, bad faith or manifest error) attach to the Trustee or the
Institutional Trustee in connection with the exercise or non-exercise by either
of them or their respective powers, duties and discretion.

 

Section 2.11.        Extension of Interest Payment
Period.   So long as no Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, from time to time, and
without causing an Event of Default, to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures by extending the interest payment period on the Debentures at any
time and from time to time during the term of the Debentures, for up to 20
consecutive quarterly periods (each such extended interest payment period, an “Extension
Period”), during which Extension Period no interest (including Additional
Interest) shall be due and payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due
and payable).  No Extension Period may
end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date.  During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on
the Debentures, and interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual
rate equal to the Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded
quarterly from the date such interest would have been payable were it not for
the Extension Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to
herein as “Additional Interest”). 
At the end of any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional
Interest thereon); provided, however, that no Extension Period
may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided further, however,
that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not and shall not
permit any Affiliate to (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on,
or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any of the Company’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock (other than payments of
dividends or distributions to the Company) or make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing or (ii) make any payment of principal of or interest
or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of
the Company or any Affiliate that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures
(other than, with respect to clauses (i) or (ii) above, (a) repurchases,
redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in
connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar
arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into
prior to the applicable Extension Period, (b) as a result of any exchange or
conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock (or any
capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series of the
Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s indebtedness
for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (c) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the
conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security being
converted or exchanged, (d) any declaration of a dividend in connection with
any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other
property under any stockholders’ rights

 

15

 

plan, or the redemption or
repurchase of rights pursuant thereto, (e) any dividend in the form of stock,
warrants, options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock
issuable upon exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same
stock as that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari passu with or junior to such stock
and any cash payments in lieu of fractional shares issued in connection
therewith, or (f) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee).  Prior to the termination of any Extension
Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that such period
together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions thereof shall
not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend beyond the Maturity
Date.  Upon the termination of any
Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject
to the foregoing requirements.  No
interest or Additional Interest shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof, but each installment of interest that would
otherwise have been due and payable during such Extension Period shall bear
Additional Interest to the extent permitted by applicable law.  The Company must give the Trustee notice of
its election to begin or extend an Extension Period at least 5 Business Days
prior to the regular record date (as such term is used in Section 2.8)
immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest
on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or
extend such Extension Period.  The
Trustee shall give notice of the Company’s election to begin a new Extension
Period to the Securityholders.

 

Section 2.12.        CUSIP Numbers.  
The Company in issuing the Debentures may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then
generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices
of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided, however,
that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the
correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Debentures or as contained
in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other
identification numbers printed on the Debentures, and any such redemption shall
not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.  The Company will promptly notify the Trustee
in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

 

ARTICLE III.

PARTICULAR
COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

 

Section 3.1.                                Payment of Principal, Premium and
Interest; Agreed Treatment of the Debentures.

 

(a)                                  The
Company covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to
be paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest and any Additional
Interest and other payments on the Debentures at the place, at the respective
times and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Debentures. Each
installment of interest on the Debentures may be paid (i) by mailing checks
for such interest payable to the order of the holders of Debentures entitled
thereto as they appear on the registry books of the Company if a request for a
wire transfer has not been received by the Company or (ii) by wire
transfer to any account with a banking institution located in the United States
designated in writing by such Person to the paying agent no later than the
related record date.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, so long as the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional
Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be
made in immediately available funds at such place and to such account as may be
designated by the Institutional Trustee.

 

(b)                                 The
Company will treat the Debentures as indebtedness, and the amounts payable in
respect of the principal amount of such Debentures as interest, for all United
States federal income tax purposes.  All
payments in respect of such Debentures will be made free and clear of United
States withholding tax to any beneficial owner thereof that has provided an
Internal Revenue Service Form W8

 

16

 

BEN (or any substitute or
successor form) establishing its non-United States status for United States
federal income tax purposes.

 

(c)                                  As
of the date of this Indenture, the Company has no present intention to exercise
its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by
commencing an Extension Period.

 

(d)                                 As
of the date of this Indenture, the Company believes that the likelihood that it
would exercise its right under Section 2.11 to defer payments of interest on
the Debentures by commencing an Extension Period at any time during which the
Debentures are outstanding is remote because of the restrictions that would be
imposed on the Company’s ability to declare or pay dividends or distributions
on, or to redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of its outstanding equity and on the Company’s ability to make any payments of
principal of or interest on, or repurchase or redeem, any of its debt
securities that rank pari passu
in all respects with (or junior in interest to) the Debentures.

 

Section 3.2.           Offices for Notices and Payments,
etc.   So long as any of the Debentures remain
outstanding, the Company will maintain in Hartford, Connecticut, an office or
agency where the Debentures may be presented for payment, an office or agency
where the Debentures may be presented for registration of transfer and for
exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where notices
and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Debentures or of this
Indenture may be served.  The Company
will give to the Trustee written notice of the location of any such office or
agency and of any change of location thereof. 
Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company in a notice
to the Trustee, or specified as contemplated by Section 2.5, such office or
agency for all of the above purposes shall be the office or agency of the
Trustee.  In case the Company shall fail
to maintain any such office or agency in Hartford, Connecticut, or shall fail
to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location thereof,
presentations and demands may be made and notices may be served at the Principal
Office of the Trustee.

 

In addition to any
such office or agency, the Company may from time to time designate one or more
offices or agencies outside Hartford, Connecticut, where the Debentures may be
presented for registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided
in this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such
designation, as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however,
that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company
of its obligation to maintain any such office or agency in Hartford,
Connecticut, for the purposes above mentioned. 
The Company will give to the Trustee prompt written notice of any such
designation or rescission thereof.

 

Section 3.3.           Appointments to Fill Vacancies
in Trustee’s Office.   The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or
fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided
in Section 6.9, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee
hereunder.

 

Section 3.4.                                Provision as to Paying Agent.

 

(a)                                  If
the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause
such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which
such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of this
Section 3.4,

 

(1)                                  that
it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal
of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures (whether such
sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the
Debentures) in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures;

 

17

 

(2)                                  that
it will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any failure by the Company
(or by any other obligor on the Debentures) to make any payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debentures when
the same shall be due and payable; and

 

(3)                                  that
it will, at any time during the continuance of any Event of Default, upon the
written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held
in trust by such paying agent.

 

(b)                                 If
the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or before each due
date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if
any, on the Debentures, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit
of the holders of the Debentures a sum sufficient to pay such principal,
premium, interest or other payments so becoming due and will notify the Trustee
in writing of any failure to take such action and of any failure by the Company
(or by any other obligor under the Debentures) to make any payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, or interest or other payments, if any, on the
Debentures when the same shall become due and payable.

 

Whenever the
Company shall have one or more paying agents for the Debentures, it will, on or
prior to each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest, if
any, on the Debentures, deposit with a paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the
principal, premium, interest or other payments so becoming due, such sum to be
held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto and (unless such
paying agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing
of its action or failure to act.

 

(c)                                  Anything
in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may, at
any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with
respect to the Debentures, or for any other reason, pay, or direct any paying
agent to pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or any such
paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein
contained.

 

(d)                                 Anything
in this Section 3.4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the agreement to hold
sums in trust as provided in this Section 3.4 is subject to
Sections 12.3 and 12.4.

 

Section 3.5.           Certificate to Trustee.   The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year, so long as Debentures are outstanding
hereunder, a Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the
signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have
knowledge of any default during such fiscal year by the Company in the
performance of any covenants contained herein, stating whether or not they have
knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which
the signers have knowledge and the nature and status thereof.

 

Section 3.6.           Additional Sums.   If and for so long as the Trust is the holder of all Debentures
and the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes (including withholding
taxes), duties, assessments or other governmental charges as a result of a Tax
Event, the Company will pay such additional amounts (“Additional Sums”)
on the Debentures as shall be required so that the net amounts received and
retained by the Trust after paying taxes (including withholding taxes), duties,
assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts the Trust
would have received if no such taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental
charges had been imposed.  Whenever in
this Indenture or the Debentures there is a reference in any context to the
payment of principal of or interest on the Debentures, such mention shall be
deemed to include mention of payments of the Additional Sums provided for in
this paragraph to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were
or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this
paragraph and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable)
in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in
those provisions hereof

 

18

 

where such express mention is
not made; provided, however, that the deferral of the payment of
interest during an Extension Period pursuant to Section 2.11 shall not defer
the payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

 

Section 3.7.           Compliance with Consolidation
Provisions.  
The Company will not, while any of the Debentures remain outstanding,
consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or convey all or
substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of
Article XI hereof are complied with.

 

Section 3.8.           Limitation on Dividends.   If Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of
such Trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust
(regardless of whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i)
there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the
Company shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations
under the Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given
notice of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by
extending the interest payment period as provided herein and such period, or
any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and
shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its
Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to
the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or
(y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate
that rank pari passu in all
respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures (other than, with respect
to clauses (x) and (y) above,  (1)
repurchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of capital stock of
the Company in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other
similar arrangement with or for the benefit of one or more employees, officers,
directors or consultants, in connection with a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder stock purchase plan or in connection with the issuance of capital
stock of the Company (or securities convertible into or exercisable for such
capital stock) as consideration in an acquisition transaction entered into
prior to the applicable Extension Period, if any, (2) as a result of any
exchange or conversion of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock
(or any capital stock of a subsidiary of the Company) for any class or series
of the Company’s capital stock or of any class or series of the Company’s
indebtedness for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock, (3) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company’s capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged, (4) any declaration of a dividend in connection
with any stockholders’ rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other
property under any stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase
of rights pursuant thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants,
options or other rights where the dividend stock or the stock issuable upon
exercise of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as that on
which the dividend is being paid or ranks pari
passu with or junior to such stock and any cash payments in lieu of
fractional shares issued in connection therewith, or (6) payments under the
Capital Securities Guarantee).

 

Section 3.9.           Covenants as to the Trust.   For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, the
Company shall maintain 100% ownership of the Common Securities; provided,
however, that any permitted successor of the Company under this
Indenture may succeed to the Company’s ownership of such Common
Securities.  The Company, as owner of
the Common Securities, shall, except in connection with a distribution of
Debentures to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the
redemption of all of the Trust Securities or certain mergers, consolidations or
amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration, cause the Trust  (a) to remain a statutory trust, (b) to
otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes, and (c) to cause each holder of Trust Securities
to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Debentures.

 

19

 

Section 3.10.        Additional Junior Indebtedness.   The Company shall not, and it shall not
cause or permit any Subsidiary of the Company to, incur, issue or be obligated
on any Additional Junior Indebtedness, either directly or indirectly, by way of
guarantee, suretyship or otherwise, other than Additional Junior Indebtedness
(i) that, by its terms, is expressly stated to be either junior and subordinate
or pari passu in all respects to
the Debentures, and (ii) of which the Company has notified (and, if then
required under the applicable guidelines of the regulating entity, has received
approval from) the Federal Reserve, if the Company is a bank holding company,
or the OTS, if the Company is a savings and loan holding company.

 

ARTICLE IV.

SECURITYHOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS

BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 4.1.           Securityholders’ Lists.   The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or caused
to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a)                                  on
each regular record date for the Debentures, a list, in such form as the
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Securityholders of the Debentures as of such record date; and

 

(b)                                 at
such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days
after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form
and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list
is furnished;

 

except that no such lists need be furnished under this Section 4.1
so long as the Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as
Debenture registrar.

 

Section 4.2.                                Preservation and Disclosure of
Lists.

 

(a)                                  The
Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all
information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures
(1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in
Section 4.1 or (2) received by it in the capacity of Debentures
registrar (if so acting) hereunder.  The
Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1
upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b)                                 In
case three or more holders of Debentures (hereinafter referred to as
“applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee
reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Debenture for a period of
at least 6 months preceding the date of such application, and such application
states that the applicants desire to communicate with other holders of
Debentures with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such
Debentures and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other
communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall
within 5 Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election,
either:

 

(1)                                  afford
such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee
in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2, or

 

(2)                                  inform
such applicants as to the approximate number of holders of Debentures whose
names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2, and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such
Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in
such application.

 

20

 

If the Trustee
shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the
Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Securityholder
whose name and address appear in the information preserved at the time by the
Trustee in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this
Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is
specified in such request with reasonable promptness after a tender to the
Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the
payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after
such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, if permitted or required by applicable law,
together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the
effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the
best interests of the holders of all Debentures, as the case may be, or would
be in violation of applicable law.  Such
written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion.  If said Commission, as permitted or required
by applicable law, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections
specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to
sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining
one or more of such objections, said Commission shall find, after notice and
opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and
shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such
material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the entry
of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be
relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
application.

 

(c)                                  Each
and every holder of Debentures, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with
Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying
agent shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such
information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Debentures in
accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this Section 4.2,
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material
pursuant to a request made under said subsection (b).

 

ARTICLE V.

REMEDIES OF THE
TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS

UPON AN EVENT OF DEFAULT

 

Section 5.1.           Events of Default.   “Event of Default,” wherever used herein, means any one of the
following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it
shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or
pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

 

(a)                                  the
Company defaults in the payment of any interest upon any Debenture when it
becomes due and payable, and fails to cure such default for a period of
30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an
interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of this
Indenture shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this
purpose; or

 

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

 

(c)                                  the
Company defaults in the performance of, or breaches, any of its covenants or
agreements in this Indenture or in the terms of the Debentures established as
contemplated in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in
whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this
Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or
breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered
or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the
Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debentures, a written notice specifying such default or breach and
requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of
Default” hereunder; or

 

21

 

(d)                                 a
court of competent jurisdiction shall enter a decree or order for relief in
respect of the Company in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator
(or similar official) of the Company or for any substantial part of its
property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such
decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of
90 consecutive days; or

 

(e)                                  the
Company shall commence a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or other similar law now or hereafter in effect,
shall consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under
any such law, or shall consent to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian, sequestrator (or other
similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
shall make any general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail
generally to pay its debts as they become due; or

 

(f)                                    the
Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved, wound-up
its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in connection with
(i) the distribution of the Debentures to holders of such Trust Securities
in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the redemption of all
of the outstanding Trust Securities or (iii) certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration.

 

If an Event of
Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, then, and in
each and every such case, unless the principal of the Debentures shall have
already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less
than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding
hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the entire principal of the Debentures and the
interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon
any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.

 

The foregoing
provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after
the principal of the Debentures shall have been so declared due and payable,
and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have
been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, (i) the Company shall
pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest upon all the Debentures and the principal of and
premium, if any, on the Debentures which shall have become due otherwise than
by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and
Additional Interest) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable
compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, their respective
agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other amounts due to the Trustee
pursuant to Section 6.6, if any, and (ii) all Events of Default under
this Indenture, other than the non-payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, on Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration, shall have been
cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein -- then and in
every such case the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures then outstanding, by written notice to the Company and to the
Trustee, may waive all defaults and rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or
shall affect any subsequent default or shall impair any right consequent
thereon.

 

In case the
Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and such
proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such
rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined
adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee
and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored respectively to their
several positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of
the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall continue as
though no such proceeding had been taken.

 

22

 

Section 5.2.                                Payment of Debentures on Default;
Suit Therefor.  The
Company covenants that upon the occurrence of an Event of Default pursuant to
Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.1(b) then, upon demand of the Trustee,
the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the
Debentures the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all
Debentures for principal and premium, if any, or interest, or both, as the case
may be, with Additional Interest accrued on the Debentures (to the extent that
payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and, if the Debentures
are held by the Trust or a trustee of such Trust, without duplication of any
other amounts paid by the Trust or a trustee in respect thereof); and, in
addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee,
its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any other amounts due to the Trustee
under Section 6.6.  In case the
Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee,
in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and
empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the
collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or
proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or
final decree against the Company or any other obligor on such Debentures and
collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any
other obligor on such Debentures wherever situated the moneys adjudged or
decreed to be payable.

 

In case there
shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the reorganization of
the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures under Bankruptcy Law, or in
case a receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the
Company or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial
proceedings relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Debentures, or to
the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee,
irrespective of whether the principal of the Debentures shall then be due and
payable as therein expressed or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise and
irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered, by
intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i)                                     to
file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount of principal and interest
owing and unpaid in respect of the Debentures,

 

(ii)                                  in
case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other papers
or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of
the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and
each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel,
and for reimbursement of all other amounts due to the Trustee under
Section 6.6), and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial
proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures, or
to the creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, unless
prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf of the holders
of the Debentures in any election of a trustee or a standby trustee in
arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency
proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable proceedings,

 

(iii)                               to collect and receive
any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and

 

(iv)                              to
distribute the same after the deduction of its charges and expenses.

 

Any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is
hereby authorized by each of the Securityholders to make such payments to the
Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as
shall

 

23

 

be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each
predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all
other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6.

 

Nothing herein
contained shall be construed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent
to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Debentures
or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in
respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

 

All rights of
action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the
Debentures, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the
Debentures, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative
thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be
brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of
judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Debentures.

 

In any proceedings
brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings involving the interpretation
of any provision of this Indenture to which the Trustee shall be a party), the
Trustee shall be held to represent all the holders of the Debentures, and it
shall not be necessary to make any holders of the Debentures parties to any
such proceedings.

 

Section 5.3.           Application of Moneys Collected
by Trustee.   Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V
shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the
Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon presentation of the several
Debentures in respect of which moneys have been collected, and stamping thereon
the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

First:  To the payment of costs and expenses
incurred by, and reasonable fees of, the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and
counsel, and of all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.6;

 

Second:  To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of
the Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

 

Third:  To the payment of the amounts then due and
unpaid upon Debentures for principal (and premium, if any), and interest on the
Debentures, in respect of which or for the benefit of which money has been
collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to
the amounts due on such Debentures (including Additional Interest); and

 

Fourth:  The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

Section 5.4.           Proceedings by Securityholders.   No holder of any Debenture shall have any right
to institute any suit, action or proceeding for any remedy hereunder, unless
such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an
Event of Default with respect to the Debentures and unless the holders of not
less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding
shall have given the Trustee a written request to institute such action, suit
or proceeding and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity
as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred
thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or
proceeding.

 

Notwithstanding
any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the right of any holder of any
Debenture to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest, on such Debenture when due, or to institute suit for the enforcement
of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of
such holder and by accepting a Debenture hereunder it is expressly understood,
intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Debenture with every
other such taker and holder and the

 

24

 

Trustee, that no one or more holders of Debentures shall have any right
in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing itself of any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any
other Debentures, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to
any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in
the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all
holders of Debentures.  For the protection
and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every
Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given
either at law or in equity.

 

Section 5.5.           Proceedings by Trustee.   In case of an Event of Default hereunder the Trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either by suit in
equity or by action at law or by proceeding in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether
for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this
Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or
to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this
Indenture or by law.

 

Section 5.6.           Remedies Cumulative and
Continuing; Delay or Omission Not a Waiver.   Except as otherwise provided in Section
2.6, all powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and
not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
holders of the Debentures, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Debentures, and no delay
or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Debentures to
exercise any right, remedy or power accruing upon any Event of Default
occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right, remedy or
power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an
acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 5.4, every
power and remedy given by this Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be
deemed expedient, by the Trustee (in accordance with its duties under Section
6.1) or by the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.7.           Direction of Proceedings and
Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.   The holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures affected (voting as one class) at the time
outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such
Debentures; provided, however, that (subject to the provisions of
Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such
direction if the Trustee shall determine that the action so directed would be
unjustly prejudicial to the holders not taking part in such direction or if the
Trustee being advised by counsel determines that the action or proceeding so
directed may not lawfully be taken or if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee
shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed would involve the
Trustee in personal liability.

 

The holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time
outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the Debentures waive (or
modify any previously granted waiver of) any past default or Event of Default,
and its consequences, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, (b) in respect of
covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holder of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the
covenants contained in Section 3.9; provided, however, that
if the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver
or modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have
consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further,
that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required,
such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust

 

25

 

Securities of the Trust shall have consented to such waiver.  Upon any such waiver, the default covered
thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Debentures shall be restored to
their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair
any right consequent thereon.  Whenever
any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted
by this Section, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the
Debentures and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

Section 5.8.           Notice of Defaults.   The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the actual knowledge by
a Responsible Officer of the Trustee of the occurrence of a default with
respect to the Debentures, mail to all Securityholders, as the names and
addresses of such holders appear upon the Debenture Register, notice of all
defaults with respect to the Debentures known to the Trustee, unless such
defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term
“defaults” for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby defined to be the
events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) of Section 5.1, not
including periods of grace, if any, provided for therein); provided, however,
that, except in the case of default in the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debentures, the Trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Securityholders.

 

Section 5.9.           Undertaking to Pay Costs.   All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any
Debenture by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any
court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any
right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant
in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having
due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this
Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit
instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the
aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding, or
to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture against
the Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.

 

ARTICLE VI.

CONCERNING THE
TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1.           Duties and Responsibilities of
Trustee.   With respect to the holders of Debentures
issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default
with respect to the Debentures and after the curing or waiving of all Events of
Default which may have occurred, with respect to the Debentures, undertakes to
perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this
Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against
the Trustee.  In case an Event of
Default with respect to the Debentures has occurred (which has not been cured
or waived), the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in
it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs.

 

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

 

(a)                                  prior
to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to Debentures and after
the curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred

 

26

 

(1)                                  the
duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to Debentures shall be
determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee
shall not be liable except for the performance of such duties and obligations
with respect to the Debentures as are specifically set forth in this Indenture,
and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture
against the Trustee, and

 

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

 

(b)                                 the
Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a
Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that
the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(c)                                  the
Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be
taken by it in good faith, in accordance with the direction of the
Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.7, relating to the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture.

 

None of the
provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
powers, if there is ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or
liability is not assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.

 

Section 6.2.           Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.   Except as otherwise provided in Section
6.1:

 

(a)                                  the
Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining
from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion,
report, notice, request, consent, order, bond, note, debenture or other paper
or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented
by the proper party or parties;

 

(b)                                 any
request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed); and any Board Resolution may
be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company;

 

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

 

(d)                                 the
Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
Securityholders, pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred
therein or thereby;

 

27

 

(e)                                  the
Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith
and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or
powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; nothing contained herein shall,
however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to the Debentures (that has not been cured or waived)
to exercise with respect to Debentures such of the rights and powers vested in
it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs;

 

(f)                                    the
Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters
stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other
paper or document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of not
less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Debentures affected thereby; provided, however, that if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
proceeding;

 

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

 

(h)                                 with
the exceptions of defaults under Sections 5.1(a) or 5.1(b), the Trustee shall
not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect
to the Debentures unless a written notice of such Default or Event of Default
shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the
Debentures or by any holder of the Debentures.

 

Section 6.3.                                No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.  The
recitals contained herein and in the Debentures (except in the certificate of
authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall be taken as
the statements of the Company, and the Trustee and the Authenticating Agent
assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same.  The Trustee and the Authenticating Agent
make no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or
of the Debentures.  The Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of any Debentures or the proceeds of any Debentures authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the provisions
of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.4.                                Trustee, Authenticating Agent,
Paying Agents, Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Debentures.  The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or
any paying agent or any transfer agent or any Debenture registrar, in its individual
or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Debentures with the
same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying
agent, transfer agent or Debenture registrar.

 

Section 6.5.                                Moneys to be Held in Trust.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys
received by the Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as
herein provided, be held in trust for the purpose for which they were received,
but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by
law.  The Trustee and any paying agent
shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder
except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.  So long as no Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, all interest allowed on any such moneys shall be
paid from time to time upon the written order of the Company, signed by the
Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
a Managing Director, a Vice President, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer
of the Company.

 

28

Section
6.6.                                Compensation
and Expenses of Trustee. 
The Company covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee upon
its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or
made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture
(including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of
its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct.  For purposes of clarification, this
Section 6.6 does not contemplate the payment by the Company of acceptance
or annual administration fees owing to the Trustee pursuant to the services to
be provided by the Trustee under this Indenture or the fees and expenses of the
Trustee’s counsel in connection with the closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Indenture.  The
Company also covenants to indemnify each of the Trustee or any predecessor
Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it
harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability or expense
including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee) incurred
without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee and arising
out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of
liability.  The obligations of the
Company under this Section 6.6 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and
to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall
constitute additional indebtedness hereunder. 
Such additional indebtedness shall be secured by a lien prior to that of
the Debentures upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as
such, except funds held in trust for the benefit of the holders of particular
Debentures.

 

Without
prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law,
when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an
Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(d), Section 5.1(e) or
Section 5.1(f), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and
expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to
constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state
bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The
provisions of this Section shall survive the resignation or removal of the
Trustee and the defeasance or other termination of this Indenture.

 

Notwithstanding
anything in this Indenture or any Debenture to the contrary, the Trustee shall
have no obligation whatsoever to advance funds to pay any principal of or
interest on or other amounts with respect to the Debentures or otherwise
advance funds to or on behalf of the Company.

 

Section
6.7.                                Officers’
Certificate as Evidence. 
Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in
the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem
it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to
taking or omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in
respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of
negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be
conclusively proved and established by an Officers’ Certificate delivered to
the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful
misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon
the faith thereof.

 

Section
6.8.                                Eligibility
of Trustee.  The Trustee
hereunder shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory
thereof or of the District of Columbia or a corporation or other Person
authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or whose
obligations under this Indenture are guaranteed by an affiliate having) a combined
capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000.00)
and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or
District of Columbia authority.  If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law
or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority,
then for the purposes of this Section 6.8 the combined

 

29

 

capital and surplus of
such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set
forth in its most recent records of condition so published.

 

The
Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling,
controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee.

 

In
case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall resign immediately in
the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.9.

 

If the
Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of
§310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall either eliminate
such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner described by this
Indenture.

 

Section 6.9.                                Resignation
or Removal of Trustee

 

(a)                                  The
Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign
by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company and by mailing
notice thereof, at the Company’s expense, to the holders of the Debentures at
their addresses as they shall appear on the Debenture Register.  Upon receiving such notice of resignation,
the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by written
instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of its Board of Directors, one copy
of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to
the successor Trustee.  If no successor
Trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the mailing of such notice of resignation to the affected
Securityholders, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee, or any Securityholder
who has been a bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least six
months may, subject to the provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment
of a successor Trustee.  Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor Trustee.

 

(b)                                 In
case at any time any of the following shall occur —

 

(1)                                  the
Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 6.8 after
written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a
bona fide holder of a Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months, or

 

(2)                                  the
Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the
Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3)                                  the
Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged as bankrupt or
insolvent, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed,
or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property
or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such
case, the Company may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee by
written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors,
one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and
one copy to the successor Trustee, or, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a
Debenture or Debentures for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself
and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction
for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.  Such court may

 

30

 

thereupon, after
such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee
and appoint successor Trustee.

 

(c)                                  Upon
prior written notice to the Company and the Trustee, the holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding may at
any time remove the Trustee and nominate a successor Trustee, which shall be
deemed appointed as successor Trustee unless within 10 Business Days after such
nomination the Company objects thereto, in which case, or in the case of a
failure by such holders to nominate a successor Trustee, the Trustee so removed
or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and otherwise as in
subsection (a) of this Section 6.9 provided, may petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for an appointment of a successor.

 

(d)                                 Any
resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee as provided in
Section 6.10.

 

Section
6.10.                         Acceptance
by Successor Trustee. 
Any successor Trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.9 shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor Trustee
an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the
resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such
successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become
vested with all the rights, powers, duties and obligations with respect to the
Debentures of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally
named as Trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the written request of the
Company or of the successor Trustee, the Trustee ceasing to act shall, upon
payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.6, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights and powers of the Trustee so ceasing to act
and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all
property and money held by such retiring Trustee thereunder.  Upon request of any such successor Trustee,
the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing for more fully and
certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights
and powers.  Any Trustee ceasing to act
shall, nevertheless, retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected
by such Trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.6.

 

If a
successor Trustee is appointed, the Company, the retiring Trustee and the
successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable
to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee with respect to the Debentures as to which the predecessor Trustee is
not retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall
add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary
to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Trust hereunder by more
than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee.

 

No
successor Trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this Section unless
at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be eligible under
the provisions of Section 6.8.

 

In no
event shall a retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any
successor Trustee hereunder.

 

Upon
acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee as provided in this
Section 6.10, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such
Trustee hereunder to the holders of Debentures at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Debenture Register.  If
the Company fails to mail such notice within 10 Business Days after the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee, the successor Trustee shall
cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the Company.

 

31

 

Section 6.11.                         Succession
by Merger, etc.  Any corporation into which the Trustee
may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any
corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the
Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially
all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of
the Trustee hereunder without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided such
corporation shall be otherwise eligible and qualified under this Article.

 

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

 

Section 6.12.                         Authenticating
Agents.  There
may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the Trustee upon the
request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and subject to its
direction in the authentication and delivery of Debentures issued upon exchange
or registration of transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as
though any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to
authenticate and deliver Debentures; provided, however, that the
Trustee shall have no liability to the Company for any acts or omissions of the
Authenticating Agent with respect to the authentication and delivery of
Debentures.  Any such Authenticating
Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under
the laws of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the
District of Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent,
having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.00 and being
subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or
District of Columbia authority.  If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually pursuant to law or
the requirements of such authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.12
the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of
condition so published.  If at any time
an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with
the effect herein specified in this Section.

 

Any
corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any
merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent shall be
a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the
corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of
such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such successor corporation is otherwise
eligible under this Section 6.12 without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of the parties hereto or such
Authenticating Agent.

 

Any
Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of
resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. 
The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of any Authenticating
Agent with respect to the Debentures by giving written notice of termination to
such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. 
Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination,
or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible
under this Section 6.12, the Trustee may, and upon the request of the
Company shall, promptly appoint a successor Authenticating Agent eligible under
this Section 6.12, shall give written notice of such appointment to the
Company and shall mail notice of such appointment to all holders of Debentures
as the names and addresses of such holders

 

32

 

appear on the Debenture
Register.  Any successor Authenticating
Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all
rights, powers, duties and responsibilities with respect to the Debentures of
its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as
Authenticating Agent herein.

 

The
Company agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable
compensation for its services.  Any
Authenticating Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action
taken by it as such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.

 

ARTICLE VII.

CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

 

Section 7.1.                                Action
by Securityholders.  Whenever
in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a specified percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Debentures may take any action (including the
making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or
the taking of any other action) the fact that at the time of taking any such
action the holders of such specified percentage have joined therein may be
evidenced (a) by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar
tenor executed by such Securityholders in person or by agent or proxy appointed
in writing, or (b) by the record of such holders of Debentures voting in
favor thereof at any meeting of such Securityholders duly called and held in
accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, or (c) by a
combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a
meeting of such Securityholders or (d) by any other method the Trustee
deems satisfactory.

 

If the
Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same,
the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers’ Certificate, fix
in advance a record date for such Debentures for the determination of
Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same,
but the Company shall have no obligation to do so.  If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation
of the same may be given before or after the record date, but only the
Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be
deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether
Securityholders of the requisite proportion of outstanding Debentures have
authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation of the same,
and for that purpose the outstanding Debentures shall be computed as of the
record date; provided, however, that no such authorization,
agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed
effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture not later than 6 months after the record date.

 

Section 7.2.                                Proof
of Execution by Securityholders. 
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, 6.2 and 8.5,
proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or
proxy shall be sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and
regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee.  The
ownership of Debentures shall be proved by the Debenture Register or by a
certificate of the Debenture registrar. 
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to
in this Section as it shall deem necessary.

 

The
record of any Securityholders’ meeting shall be proved in the manner provided
in Section 8.6.

 

Section 7.3.                                Who
Are Deemed Absolute Owners.  Prior
to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company,
the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and
any Debenture registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall
be

 

33

 

registered upon the
Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such
Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company
nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any
transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.  All such payments so made
to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the
extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the
liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

Section 7.4.                                Debentures
Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding. 
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Debentures have concurred in any direction, consent or
waiver under this Indenture, Debentures which are owned by the Company or any
other obligor on the Debentures or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
the Company or any other obligor on the Debentures shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided,
however, that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall
be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only
Debentures which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so
owned shall be so disregarded. 
Debentures so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded
as outstanding for the purposes of this Section 7.4 if the pledgee shall
establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to vote such
Debentures and that the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor.  In the case of a dispute as to such right,
any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full
protection to the Trustee.

 

Section 7.5.                                Revocation
of Consents; Future Holders Bound.  At any time prior to (but not after) the
evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 7.1, of the taking of
any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of
the Debentures specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any
holder (in cases where no record date has been set pursuant to
Section 7.1) or any holder as of an applicable record date (in cases where
a record date has been set pursuant to Section 7.1) of a Debenture (or any
Debenture issued in whole or in part in exchange or substitution therefor) the
serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included in the
Debentures the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing
written notice with the Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee and upon
proof of holding as provided in Section 7.2, revoke such action so far as
concerns such Debenture (or so far as concerns the principal amount represented
by any exchanged or substituted Debenture). 
Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Debenture
shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders
and owners of such Debenture, and of any Debenture issued in exchange or
substitution therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of
whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Debenture or
any Debenture issued in exchange or substitution therefor.

 

ARTICLE
VIII.

SECURITYHOLDERS’ MEETINGS

 

Section
8.1.                                Purposes
of Meetings.  A
meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time to time
pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following
purposes:

 

(a)                                  to
give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to
the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any default hereunder and its
consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by
Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article V;

 

(b)                                 to
remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions
of Article VI;

 

34

 

(c)                                  to
consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto
pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2; or

 

(d)                                 to
take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the holders of
any specified aggregate principal amount of such Debentures under any other
provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.

 

Section 8.2.                                Call
of Meetings by Trustee.  The
Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take any action
specified in Section 8.1, to be held at such time and at such place as the
Trustee shall determine.  Notice of
every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the time and the place of
such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such
meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Debentures affected at their addresses
as they shall appear on the Debentures Register and, if the Company is not a
holder of Debentures, to the Company. 
Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days
prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Section 8.3.                                Call
of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. 
In case at any time the Company pursuant to a Board
Resolution, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures, as the case may be, then outstanding, shall have requested the
Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth
in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the
Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days
after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may
determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to
take any action authorized in Section 8.1, by mailing notice thereof as
provided in Section 8.2.

 

Section 8.4.                                Qualifications
for Voting.  To
be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a Person shall
(a) be a holder of one or more Debentures with respect to which the
meeting is being held or (b) a Person appointed by an instrument in
writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such Debentures.  The only Persons who shall be entitled to be
present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons
entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of
the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its
counsel.

 

Section
8.5.                                Regulations.  Notwithstanding any other
provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations
as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof
of the holding of Debentures and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard
to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and
examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote,
and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall think
fit.

 

The
Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the
meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by
Securityholders as provided in Section 8.3, in which case the Company or
the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like
manner appoint a temporary chairman.  A
permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by
majority vote of the meeting.

 

Subject
to the provisions of Section 7.4, at any meeting each holder of Debentures
with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy therefor shall be
entitled to one vote for each $1,000.00 principal amount of Debentures held or
represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast
or counted at any meeting in respect of any Debenture challenged as not outstanding
and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not outstanding.  The chairman of the meeting shall have no
right to vote other than by virtue of Debentures held by him or instruments in
writing as aforesaid duly designating him as the Person to vote on behalf of
other Securityholders.  Any meeting of
Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 8.2 or
8.3 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those

 

35

 

present, whether or not
constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without
further notice.

 

Section
8.6.                                Voting.  The vote upon any resolution
submitted to any meeting of holders of Debentures with respect to which such
meeting is being held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed
the signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the
serial number or numbers of the Debentures held or represented by them.  The permanent chairman of the meeting shall
appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting
for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of
the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at
the meeting.  A record in duplicate of
the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the
secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the
original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat
and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting
forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was
mailed as provided in Section 8.2. 
The record shall show the serial numbers of the Debentures voting in
favor of or against any resolution.  The
record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman
and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to
the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the
latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.

 

Any
record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters
therein stated.

 

Section
8.7.                                Quorum;
Actions.  The
Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Securityholders; provided,
however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect
to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other
action which may be given by the holders of not less than a specified
percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding, the Persons
holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of the
Debentures then outstanding will constitute a quorum.  In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes of the time
appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request
of Securityholders, be dissolved.  In
any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than
10 days as determined by the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to
the adjournment of such meeting.  In the
absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be
further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by
the permanent chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such
adjourned meeting.  Notice of the
reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 8.2,
except that such notice need be given only once not less than 5 days prior to
the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened.  Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned
meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal
amount of the Debentures then outstanding which shall constitute a quorum.

 

Except
as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph of Section 9.2, any
resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which
a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding; provided,
however, that, except as limited by the provisos in the first paragraph
of Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent, waiver, request,
demand, notice, authorization, direction or other action which this Indenture
expressly provides may be given by the holders of not less than a specified
percentage in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may be
adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a
quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of the Debentures
then outstanding.

 

36

 

Any
resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of Debentures
duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the
Securityholders, whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE
IX.

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1.                                Supplemental
Indentures without Consent of Securityholders.  The Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter
into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto, without the consent of the
Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:

 

(a)                                  to
evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or successive
successions, and the assumption by the successor Person of the covenants, agreements
and obligations of the Company, pursuant to Article XI hereof;

 

(b)                                 to
add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or
conditions for the protection of the holders of Debentures as the Board of
Directors shall consider to be for the protection of the holders of such
Debentures, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or conditions a
default or an Event of Default permitting the enforcement of all or any of the
several remedies provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided,
however, that in respect of any such additional covenant restriction or
condition such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of
grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in
the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon
such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such
default;

 

(c)                                  to
cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein
or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with
any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to
make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under this
Indenture; provided that any such action shall not materially adversely
affect the interests of the holders of the Debentures;

 

(d)                                 to
add to, delete from, or revise the terms of Debentures, including, without
limitation, any terms relating to the issuance, exchange, registration or
transfer of Debentures, including to provide for transfer procedures and
restrictions substantially similar to those applicable to the Capital
Securities as required by Section 2.5 (for purposes of assuring that no
registration of Debentures is required under the Securities Act); provided,
however, that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests
of the holders of the Debentures then outstanding (it being understood, for
purposes of this proviso, that transfer restrictions on Debentures
substantially similar to those that were applicable to Capital Securities shall
not be deemed to materially adversely affect the holders of the Debentures);

 

(e)                                  to
evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor
Trustee with respect to the Debentures and to add to or change any of the
provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate
the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;

 

(f)                                    to
make any change (other than as elsewhere provided in this paragraph) that does
not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
or

 

37

 

(g)                                 to
provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of
the Debentures, to establish the form of any certifications required to be
furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or the Debentures, or to add
to the rights of the holders of Debentures.

 

The
Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any
such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and
stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance,
transfer and assignment of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not
be obligated to, but may in its discretion, enter into any such supplemental
indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under
this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Any
supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 9.1
may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the
holders of any of the Debentures at the time outstanding, notwithstanding any
of the provisions of Section 9.2.

 

Section 9.2.                                Supplemental
Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. 
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.1)
of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time outstanding affected by such supplemental indenture
(voting as a class), the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and
the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture
or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the holders of the Debentures; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall without the consent of the holders of each
Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby (i) change the fixed
maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or any
premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon,
or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof or make the principal
thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any coin or currency
other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or affect the right of
any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or impair the right of
repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which are required to consent
to any such supplemental indenture; provided  further, however,
that if the Debentures are held by a trust or a trustee of such trust, such
supplemental indenture shall not be effective until the holders of a majority
in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided  further, however, that if
the consent of the Securityholder of each outstanding Debenture is required,
such supplemental indenture shall not be effective until each holder of the
Trust Securities shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.

 

Upon
the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the
execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee
shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture
unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in
its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental
indenture.

 

Promptly
after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental
indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall
transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the
Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the
Debenture Register.  Any failure of the
Trustee to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any
way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

It
shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this
Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.

 

38

 

Section 9.3.                                Effect
of Supplemental Indentures.  Upon
the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and
amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of
rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee,
the Company and the holders of Debentures shall thereafter be determined,
exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications
and amendments and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental
indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this
Indenture for any and all purposes.

 

Section 9.4.                                Notation
on Debentures.  Debentures
authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX may bear a notation as to
any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company or the Trustee shall so
determine, new Debentures so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors of the Company, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by
the Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and
delivered in exchange for the Debentures then outstanding.

 

Section 9.5.                                Evidence
of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be Furnished to Trustee.  The Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall, in addition to the documents
required by Section 14.6, receive an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion
of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed
pursuant hereto complies with the requirements of this Article IX.  The Trustee shall receive an Opinion of
Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed
pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms
to, the terms of this Article IX and that it is proper for the Trustee
under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.

 

ARTICLE
X.

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 10.1.                         Optional
Redemption.  The
Company shall have the right (subject to the receipt by the Company of prior
approval (i) if the Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal
Reserve, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of
the Federal Reserve or (ii) if the Company is a savings and loan holding
company, from the OTS, if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the OTS) to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all
cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any
Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2009 (the
“Redemption Date”), at the Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.2.                         Special
Event Redemption.  If
a Special Event shall occur and be continuing, the Company shall have the right
(subject to the receipt by the Company of prior approval (i) if the
Company is a bank holding company, from the Federal Reserve, if then required
under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or (ii) if
the Company is a savings and loan holding company, from the OTS, if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the OTS) to redeem
the Debentures in whole, but not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within
120 days following the occurrence of such Special Event (the “Special
Redemption Date”) at the Special Redemption Price.

 

Section 10.3.                         Notice
of Redemption; Selection of Debentures. 
In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to
redeem all, or, as the case may be, any part of the Debentures, it shall cause
to be mailed a notice of such redemption at least 30 and not more than
60 days prior to the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date to the
holders of Debentures so to be redeemed as a whole or in part at their last
addresses as the same appear on the Debenture Register.  Such mailing shall be by first class
mail.  The notice if mailed in the
manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not the holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice by

 

39

 

mail or any defect in the
notice to the holder of any Debenture designated for redemption as a whole or
in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of
any other Debenture.

 

Each
such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number, if any, of the
Debentures to be redeemed, the Redemption Date or the Special Redemption Date,
as applicable, the Redemption Price or the Special Redemption Price, as
applicable, at which Debentures are to be redeemed, the place or places of
payment, that payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of such
Debentures, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid
as specified in said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon
or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue.  If less than all the Debentures are to be
redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the Debentures
to be redeemed.  In case the Debentures
are to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption shall state the
portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on
and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Debenture, a
new Debenture or Debentures in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof will be issued.

 

Prior
to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption
Date, as applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or
more paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption
Date or the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so
called for redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption
Price.

 

If
all, or less than all, the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give
the Trustee notice not less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively,
prior to the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to
the aggregate principal amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee
shall select, in such manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem
appropriate and fair, the Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples
of $1,000.00) to be redeemed.

 

Section 10.4.                         Payment
of Debentures Called for Redemption. 
If notice of redemption has been given as provided in
Section 10.3, the Debentures or portions of Debentures with respect to
which such notice has been given shall become due and payable on the Redemption
Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, and at the place or places
stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price or Special Redemption
Price and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Debentures at the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price,
as applicable) interest on the Debentures or portions of Debentures so called
for redemption shall cease to accrue. 
On presentation and surrender of such Debentures at a place of payment
specified in said notice, such Debentures or the specified portions thereof
shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable Redemption Price or
Special Redemption Price.

 

Upon
presentation of any Debenture redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute
and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery to the
holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Debenture or Debentures of
authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
of the Debenture so presented.

 

ARTICLE
XI.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

 

Section 11.1.                         Company
May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms. 
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in the Debentures
shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other
Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive
consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors
shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or
other disposition of the property or capital stock of the Company or its
successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any
other Person (whether or not affiliated

 

40

 

with the Company, or its
successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided,
however, that the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any
such consolidation, merger (where the Company is not the surviving
corporation), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all
of the Debentures in accordance with their terms, according to their tenor, and
the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by the Company, shall be
expressly assumed by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee
executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such
consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the
entity which shall have acquired such property or capital stock.

 

Section 11.2.                         Successor
Entity to be Substituted.  In
case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other
disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity, by supplemental
indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to
the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the principal of and premium,
if any, and interest on all of the Debentures and the due and punctual
performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of this
Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such successor entity
shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the same effect as if
it had been named herein as the Company, and thereupon the predecessor entity
shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation hereunder or upon the
Debentures.  Such successor entity
thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue in its own name, any or all of
the Debentures issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed
by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent; and,
upon the order of such successor entity instead of the Company and subject to
all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver any
Debentures which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the
officers of the Company, to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for
authentication, and any Debentures which such successor entity thereafter shall
cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for
that purpose.  All the Debentures so
issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this
Indenture as the Debentures theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with
the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Debentures had been issued at
the date of the execution hereof.

 

Section 11.3.                         Opinion
of Counsel to be Given to Trustee. 
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1
and 6.2, shall receive, in addition to the Opinion of Counsel required by
Section 9.5, an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any assumption,
permitted or required by the terms of this Article XI complies with the
provisions of this Article XI.

 

ARTICLE
XII.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

Section
12.1.                         Discharge of Indenture. 
When

 

(a)                                  the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all Debentures
theretofore authenticated (other than any Debentures which shall have been
destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided
in Section 2.6) and not theretofore canceled, or

 

(b)                                 all
the Debentures not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become
due and payable within 1 year or are to be called for redemption within 1 year
under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds,
which shall be immediately due and payable, sufficient to pay at maturity or
upon redemption all of the Debentures (other than any

 

41

 

Debentures which
shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or
paid as provided in Section 2.6) not theretofore canceled or delivered to
the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and premium, if any, and
interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or redemption date, as
the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any moneys for the
payment of principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures
(1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the provisions of
Section 12.4, or (2) paid to any state or to the District of Columbia
pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws,

 

and if in the case of either clause (a) or
clause (b) the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums
payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of
further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.8, 3.1,
3.2, 3.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9 and 12.4 hereof shall survive until such Debentures
shall mature and be paid.  Thereafter,
Sections 6.6 and 12.4 shall survive, and the Trustee, on demand of the
Company accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the
satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with, and at
the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture.  The Company agrees to reimburse the Trustee
for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly incurred by the
Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Debentures.

 

Section 12.2.                         Deposited
Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. 
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.4, all moneys
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.1 shall be held in trust
in a non-interest bearing account and applied by it to the payment, either
directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its
own paying agent), to the holders of the particular Debentures for the payment
of which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and
to become due thereon for principal, and premium, if any, and interest.

 

Section 12.3.                         Paying
Agent to Repay Moneys Held.  Upon
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then held by any
paying agent of the Debentures (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of
the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such paying
agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 12.4.                         Return
of Unclaimed Moneys.  Any
moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent for payment of
the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on Debentures and not
applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Debentures for 2 years after
the date upon which the principal of, and premium, if any, or interest on such
Debentures, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall,
subject to applicable escheatment laws, be repaid to the Company by the Trustee
or such paying agent on written demand; and the holder of any of the Debentures
shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may
be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent
with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease.

 

ARTICLE
XIII.

IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 13.1.                         Indenture
and Debentures Solely Corporate Obligations. 
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium,
if any, or interest on any Debenture, or for any claim based thereon or
otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation,
covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental
indenture, or in any such Debenture, or because of the creation of any
indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,
stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such, past, present or future,
of the Company or of any successor Person of the Company, either directly or
through the Company or any successor Person of the

 

42

 

Company, whether by
virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of
any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly understood that all
such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and
as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the
Debentures.

 

ARTICLE
XIV.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

Section
14.1.                         Successors.  All the covenants, stipulations,
promises and agreements of the Company in this Indenture shall bind its
successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

 

Section 14.2.                         Official
Acts by Successor Entity.  Any
act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to
be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall
and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the like board,
committee, officer or other authorized Person of any entity that shall at the
time be the lawful successor of the Company.

 

Section 14.3.                         Surrender
of Company Powers.  The
Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of at least 2/3
(two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may
surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company and thereupon such power so
surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, and as to any permitted
successor.

 

Section 14.4.                         Addresses
for Notices, etc.  Any
notice, consent, direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand which by
any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made,
furnished or served by the Trustee or by the Securityholders on or to the
Company may be given or served in writing by being deposited postage prepaid by
registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed (until
another address is filed by the Company, with the Trustee for the purpose) to
the Company, 1801 Century Park East, Suite 800, Los Angeles, California
90067-2302, Attention:  Thomas
McCullough.  Any notice, consent,
direction, request, authorization, waiver or demand by any Securityholder or
the Company to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of
the Trustee, addressed to the Trustee, 225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square,
Hartford, Connecticut  06103 Attention:
Vice President, Corporate Trust Services Division, with a copy to the Trustee,
1 Federal Street – 3rd Floor, Boston, Massachusetts  02110, Attention: 
Paul D. Allen, Corporate Trust Services Division.  Any notice, consent, direction, request,
authorization, waiver or demand on or to any Securityholder shall be deemed to
have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in
writing at the address set forth in the Debenture Register.

 

Section
14.5.                         Governing
Law.  This
Indenture and each Debenture shall be deemed to be a contract made under the
law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of said State, without regard to conflict
of laws principles thereof.

 

Section 14.6.                         Evidence
of Compliance with Conditions Precedent. 
Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee
to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company
shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the
opinion of the signers all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this
Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an
Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such
conditions precedent have been complied with.

 

Each
certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the
Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in
this Indenture shall include (1) a statement that the person making such
certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief

 

43

 

statement as to the
nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements
or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a
statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to
whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(4) a statement as to whether or not in the opinion of such person, such
condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

Section 14.7.                         Table
of Contents, Headings, etc.  The
table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and sections of
this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to
be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the
terms or provisions hereof.

 

Section 14.8.                         Execution
in Counterparts.  This
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.

 

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

 

Section
14.10.                  Assignment.  The Company will have the right
at all times to assign any of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to
a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in
the event of any such assignment, the Company will remain liable for all such
obligations.  Subject to the foregoing,
this Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns. 
This Indenture may not otherwise be assigned by the parties hereto.

 

Section 14.11.                  Acknowledgment
of Rights.  The
Company agrees that, with respect to any Debentures held by the Trust or the
Institutional Trustee of the Trust, if the Institutional Trustee of the Trust
fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of Debentures
held as the assets of such Trust after the holders of a majority in Liquidation
Amount of the Capital Securities of such Trust have so directed such
Institutional Trustee, a holder of record of such Capital Securities may, to
the fullest extent permitted by law, institute legal proceedings directly
against the Company to enforce such Institutional Trustee’s rights under this
Indenture without first instituting any legal proceedings against such trustee
or any other Person.  Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest (or
premium, if any) or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest (or
premium, if any) or principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), the Company agrees that a holder of record
of Capital Securities of the Trust may directly institute a proceeding against
the Company for enforcement of payment to such holder directly of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest on the Debentures having an aggregate
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Capital
Securities of such holder on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures.

 

ARTICLE
XV.

SUBORDINATION OF DEBENTURES

 

Section 15.1.                         Agreement
to Subordinate.  The
Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of Debentures by such
Securityholder’s acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all
Debentures shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV;
and each holder of a Debenture,

 

44

 

whether upon original
issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by
such provisions.

 

The
payment by the Company of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest
on all Debentures shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth,
be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding at the date of this
Indenture or thereafter incurred; provided, however, that the
Debentures shall rank pari passu
in right of payment with:  (1) Floating
Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 18, 2031
issued pursuant to an Indenture dated December 18, 2001 by and between the
Company and State Street Bank and Trust of Connecticut N.A. (n/k/a U.S. Bank
National Association); and (2) Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due September 26, 2032 issued pursuant to an Indenture
dated September 26, 2002 by and between the Company and State Street Bank and
Trust of Connecticut N.A. (n/k/a U.S. Bank National Association).

 

No
provision of this Article XV shall prevent the occurrence of any default
or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 15.2.                         Default
on Senior Indebtedness.  In
the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in the
payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior
Indebtedness of the Company following any grace period, or in the event that
the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company has been accelerated
because of a default and such acceleration has not been rescinded or canceled
and such Senior Indebtedness has not been paid in full, then, in either case,
no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal
(including redemption) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures.

 

In the
event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be received by the
Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding paragraph of this
Section 15.2, such payment shall, subject to Section 15.7, be held in
trust for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders
of Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee
or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear,
but only to the extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their
representative or representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing
within 90 days of such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the
Senior Indebtedness and only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee
shall be paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 15.3.                         Liquidation,
Dissolution, Bankruptcy.  Upon
any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind
or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any
dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company,
whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or
other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness of the Company
shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in money in
accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company, on
account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the
Debentures.  Upon any such dissolution
or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization, any payment by the Company, or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in
cash, property or securities, to which the Securityholders or the Trustee would
be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this
Article XV, shall be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in
bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or
distribution, or by the Securityholders or by the Trustee under this Indenture
if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata
to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness
held by such holders, as calculated by the Company) or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued,

 

45

 

as their respective
interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness
in full, in money or money’s worth, after giving effect to any concurrent
payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness,
before any payment or distribution is made to the Securityholders or to the
Trustee.

 

In the
event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of
assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee
before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, or provision is made for such
payment in money in accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution
shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered
to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or
representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued,
as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for
application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, remaining unpaid to the
extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance
with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

For
purposes of this Article XV, the words “cash, property or securities”
shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or
readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for
by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is
subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article XV with
respect to the Debentures to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness, that may
at the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is
assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization
or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or
readjustment.  The consolidation of the
Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer
of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another
corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article XI of
this Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation
shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply
with the conditions stated in Article XI of this Indenture.  Nothing in Section 15.2 or in this
Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant
to Section 6.6 of this Indenture.

 

Section
15.4.                         Subrogation.  Subject to the payment in full of
all Senior Indebtedness, the Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights
of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions
of cash, property or securities of the Company, applicable to such Senior
Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the
Debentures shall be paid in full.  For
the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders
of such Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the
Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of
this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this
Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company,
its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the
holders of the Debentures be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the
Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness.  It is understood that the provisions of this Article XV are
and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the
holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

Nothing
contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the
Debentures is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its
creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the holders of the
Debentures, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional,
to pay to the holders of the Debentures the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest

 

46

 

on the Debentures as and
when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or
is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the holders of the
Debentures and creditors of the Company, other than the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the
holder of any Debenture from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by
applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if
any, under this Article XV of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in
respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, received upon the
exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon
any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this
Article XV, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of
this Indenture, and the Securityholders shall be entitled to conclusively rely
upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which
such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are
pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation
trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered
to the Trustee or to the Securityholders, for the purposes of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all
other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article XV.

 

Section 15.5.                         Trustee
to Effectuate Subordination.  Each
Securityholder by such Securityholder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and
directs the Trustee on such Securityholder’s behalf to take such action as may
be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article XV and appoints the Trustee such Securityholder’s attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 15.6.                         Notice
by the Company.  The
Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of the
Trustee at the Principal Office of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company
that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this
Article XV.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this Indenture,
the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts
that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in
respect of the Debentures pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV,
unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Principal Office
of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a
holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and
before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all
respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however,
that if the Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this
Section at least 2 Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms
hereof any money may become payable for any purpose (including, without
limitation, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on
any Debenture), then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive
such money and to apply the same to the purposes for which they were received,
and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary that may be received by
it within 2 Business Days prior to such date.

 

The
Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, shall
be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a
Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee
or representative on behalf of such holder), to establish that such notice has been
given by a holder of such Senior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on
behalf of any such holder or holders. 
In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further
evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of
such Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant
to this Article XV, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish
evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such
Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is
entitled to participate in such payment or distribution

 

47

 

and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article XV, and, if such
evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person
pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such
payment.

 

Section 15.7.                         Rights
of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.  The Trustee in its individual
capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article XV
in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it, to the same
extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness, and nothing in this
Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With
respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to
perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are
specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied covenants or
obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee. 
The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders
of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Article VI
of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of such Senior
Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Securityholders, the Company or
any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior
Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article XV or otherwise.

 

Nothing
in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee
under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

 

Section 15.8.                         Subordination
May Not Be Impaired.  No
right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce
subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or
impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company, or by any act
or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance
by the Company, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture,
regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or otherwise
be charged with.

 

Without
in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness may, at any time and from time to time, without the consent
of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders, without incurring
responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing or releasing the
subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations hereunder of
the holders of the Debentures to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do
any one or more of the following:  (i) change
the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of, or
renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in
any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or
any agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding;
(ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged,
mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release
any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness;
and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against the
Company, and any other Person.

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

48

 

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

 

	
   

  	
  FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By

  	
  /s/ Thomas McCullough

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:  Thomas McCullough

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:  Corporate Secretary

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL
  ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Paul D. Allen

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:  Paul D. Allen

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:  Vice
  President

  
						

 

49

 

 

EXHIBIT
A

 

FORM OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST
DEBENTURE

 

[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

 

THIS
SECURITY IS NOT A SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR DEPOSIT AND IT IS NOT INSURED BY THE
UNITED STATES OR ANY AGENCY OR FUND OF THE UNITED STATES, INCLUDING THE FEDERAL
DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION.

 

THIS
SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED
(THE “SECURITIES ACT”), ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE
SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY
NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED,
PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH
REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND ANY APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.  THE HOLDER OF THIS
SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER
THIS SECURITY ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT THAT HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(C) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL
BUYER IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A SO LONG AS
THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A IN ACCORDANCE
WITH RULE 144A, (D) TO A NON-U.S. PERSON IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION
IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 903 OR RULE 904 (AS APPLICABLE) OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL
“ACCREDITED INVESTOR” WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A) OF
RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR,
FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN
CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR
(F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE COMPANY’S RIGHT PRIOR TO ANY
SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATION AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE INDENTURE, A COPY OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE COMPANY.

 

THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF ALSO AGREES, REPRESENTS AND
WARRANTS THAT IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT, INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR
OTHER PLAN OR ARRANGEMENT SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF THE EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME
SECURITY ACT OF 1974, AS AMENDED (“ERISA”), 
OR SECTION 4975 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE
“CODE”) (EACH A “PLAN”), OR AN ENTITY WHOSE UNDERLYING ASSETS INCLUDE “PLAN
ASSETS” BY REASON OF ANY PLAN’S INVESTMENT IN THE ENTITY, AND NO PERSON
INVESTING “PLAN ASSETS” OF ANY PLAN MAY ACQUIRE OR HOLD THE SECURITIES OR ANY
INTEREST THEREIN, UNLESS SUCH PURCHASER OR HOLDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR EXEMPTIVE
RELIEF AVAILABLE UNDER U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR PROHIBITED TRANSACTION CLASS
EXEMPTION 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 OR 84-14 OR ANOTHER APPLICABLE EXEMPTION OR
ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING OF THIS SECURITY IS NOT PROHIBITED BY

 

A-1-1

 

SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE WITH
RESPECT TO SUCH PURCHASE OR HOLDING. 
ANY PURCHASER OR HOLDER OF THE SECURITIES OR ANY INTEREST THEREIN WILL
BE DEEMED TO HAVE REPRESENTED BY ITS PURCHASE AND HOLDING THEREOF THAT EITHER
(i) IT IS NOT AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(3) OF
ERISA, OR A PLAN TO WHICH SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE IS APPLICABLE, A TRUSTEE OR
OTHER PERSON ACTING ON BEHALF OF AN EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN, OR ANY OTHER
PERSON OR ENTITY USING THE ASSETS OF ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN OR PLAN TO
FINANCE SUCH PURCHASE, OR (ii) SUCH PURCHASE WILL NOT RESULT IN A PROHIBITED
TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 406 OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE CODE FOR WHICH
THERE IS NO APPLICABLE STATUTORY OR ADMINISTRATIVE EXEMPTION.

 

THIS
SECURITY WILL BE ISSUED AND MAY BE TRANSFERRED ONLY IN BLOCKS HAVING AN
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT LESS THAN $100,000.00 AND MULTIPLES OF
$1,000.00 IN EXCESS THEREOF.  ANY
ATTEMPTED TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN A BLOCK HAVING AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF LESS THAN $100,000.00 SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VOID AND OF NO LEGAL
EFFECT WHATSOEVER.

 

THE
HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

 

IN
CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE REGISTRAR AND
TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY
THE INDENTURE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING
RESTRICTIONS.

 

Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debenture

 

of

 

First Regional Bancorp

 

March 17, 2004

 

First
Regional Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Company” which term includes
any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received promises to pay to U.S. Bank National Association, not in its
individual capacity but solely as Institutional Trustee for First Regional
Statutory Trust III (the “Holder”) or registered assigns, the principal
sum of seven million seven hundred thirty-two thousand dollars ($7,732,000.00)
on March 17, 2034, and to pay interest on said principal sum from March
17, 2004, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly (subject to
deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 17, June 17,
September 17 and December 17 of each year or if such day is not a
Business Day, then the next succeeding Business Day (each such date, an
“Interest Payment Date”) (it being understood that interest accrues for any
such non-Business Day), commencing on the Interest Payment Date in June 2004,
at an annual rate equal to 3.90% beginning on (and including) the date of
original issuance and ending on (but excluding) the Interest Payment Date in
June 2004 and at an annual rate for each successive period beginning on (and
including) the Interest Payment Date in June 2004, and each succeeding Interest
Payment Date, and ending on (but excluding) the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date (each a “Distribution Period”), equal to 3-Month LIBOR, determined
as described below, plus 2.79% (the “Coupon Rate”), applied to the principal
amount hereof, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made
available for payment, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication
and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable
law) on any

 

A-1-2

 

overdue installment of
interest (including Additional Interest) at the Interest Rate in effect for
each applicable period, compounded quarterly, from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment.  The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on
the basis of the actual number of days in the Distribution Period concerned
divided by 360.  The interest
installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person
in whose name this Debenture (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is
registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such
interest installment, which shall be fifteen days prior to the day on which the
relevant Interest Payment Date occurs. 
Any such interest installment not so punctually paid or duly provided
for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such regular record
date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a special
record date.

 

“3-Month
LIBOR” as used herein, means the London interbank offered interest rate for
three-month U.S. dollar deposits determined by the Trustee in the following
order of priority:  (i) the rate
(expressed as a percentage per annum) for U.S. dollar deposits having a
three-month maturity that appears on 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 Dow Jones 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 Trustee will request the principal London offices of
four leading banks in the London interbank market to provide such banks’
offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to prime banks in the
London interbank market for U.S. dollar deposits having a three-month maturity
as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination Date.  If at least two quotations are provided,
3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; (iii) if
fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause (ii) above,
the Trustee will request four major New York City banks to provide such banks’
offered quotations (expressed as percentages per annum) to leading European
banks for loans in U.S. dollars as of 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such Determination
Date.  If at least two such quotations
are provided, 3-Month LIBOR will be the arithmetic mean of such quotations; and
(iv) if fewer than two such quotations are provided as requested in clause
(iii) above, 3-Month LIBOR will be a 3-Month LIBOR determined with respect to
the Distribution Period immediately preceding such current Distribution
Period.  If the rate for U.S. dollar
deposits having a three-month maturity that initially appears on 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.  As used herein, “Determination
Date” means the date that is two London Banking Days (i.e., a business day in
which dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars are transacted in the London
interbank market) preceding the commencement of the relevant Distribution
Period.

 

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

 

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

 

The
principal of and interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or
agency of the Trustee (or other paying agent appointed by the Company)
maintained for that purpose in any coin or

 

A-1-3

 

currency of the United
States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the registered holder at such address
as shall appear in the Debenture Register if a request for a wire transfer by
such holder has not been received by the Company or by wire transfer to an
account appropriately designated by the holder hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as
the holder of this Debenture is the Institutional Trustee, the payment of the
principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made in immediately available
funds at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Trustee.

 

So
long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall
have the right, from time to time, and without causing an Event of Default, to
defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the interest payment
period on the Debentures at any time and from time to time during the term of
the Debentures, for up to 20 consecutive quarterly periods (each such
extended interest payment period, an “Extension Period”), during which
Extension Period no interest (including Additional Interest) shall be due and
payable (except any Additional Sums that may be due and payable).  No Extension Period may end on a date other
than an Interest Payment Date.  During
an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue on the Debentures, and
interest on such accrued interest will accrue at an annual rate equal to the
Interest Rate in effect for such Extension Period, compounded quarterly from
the date such interest would have been payable were it not for the Extension
Period, to the extent permitted by law (such interest referred to herein as
“Additional Interest”).  At the end of
any such Extension Period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and
unpaid on the Debentures (together with Additional Interest thereon); provided,
however, that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Maturity Date; provided
further, however, that during any such Extension Period, the
Company shall not and shall not permit any Affiliate to engage in any of the
activities or transactions described on the reverse side hereof and in the
Indenture.  Prior to the termination of
any Extension Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided that
such period together with all such previous and further consecutive extensions
thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarterly periods, or extend
beyond the Maturity Date.  Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and upon the payment of all accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest, the Company may commence a new
Extension Period, subject to the foregoing requirements.  No interest or Additional Interest shall be
due and payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof, but each
installment of interest that would otherwise have been due and payable during
such Extension Period shall bear Additional Interest.  The Company must give the Trustee notice of its election to begin
or extend an Extension Period at least 5 Business Days prior to the regular
record date (as such term is used in Section 2.8 of the Indenture)
immediately preceding the Interest Payment Date with respect to which interest
on the Debentures would have been payable except for the election to begin or
extend such Extension Period.

 

The
indebtedness evidenced by this Debenture is, to the extent provided in the
Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Debenture is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each holder of this Debenture, by accepting the same,
(a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes
and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so
provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any
and all such purposes.  Each holder
hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the
acceptance of the subordination provisions contained herein and in the
Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or
hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such holder upon said
provisions.

 

This
Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.

 

A-1-4

 

The
provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such
provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set
forth at this place.

 

A-1-5

 

IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has duly executed this certificate.

 

	
   

  	
  FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:

  
				

 

 

CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

	
   

  	
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL
  ASSOCIATION, as Trustee

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Authorized Officer

  

 

A-1-6

 

[FORM OF REVERSE
OF DEBENTURE]

 

This Debenture is one of
the floating rate junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures of the
Company, all issued or to be issued under and pursuant to the Indenture dated
as of March 17, 2004 (the “Indenture”), duly executed and delivered between the
Company and the Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a
description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of the
Debentures.  The Debentures are limited
in aggregate principal amount as specified in the Indenture.

 

Upon the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event prior to the Interest Payment Date in March
2009, the Company shall have the right to redeem the Debentures in whole, but
not in part, at any Interest Payment Date, within 120 days following the
occurrence of such Special Event, at the Special Redemption Price.

 

In addition, the Company
shall have the right to redeem the Debentures, in whole or in part, but in all
cases in a principal amount with integral multiples of $1,000.00, on any
Interest Payment Date on or after the Interest Payment Date in March 2009, at
the Redemption Price.

 

Prior to 10:00 a.m. New
York City time on the Redemption Date or Special Redemption Date, as
applicable, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with one or more
paying agents an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the Redemption Date or
the Special Redemption Date, as applicable, all the Debentures so called for
redemption at the appropriate Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price.

 

If all, or less than all,
the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Company will give the Trustee notice not
less than 45 nor more than 60 days, respectively, prior to the Redemption
Date or Special Redemption Date, as applicable, as to the aggregate principal
amount of Debentures to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such
manner as in its sole discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the
Debentures or portions thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000.00) to be
redeemed.

 

Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any redemption of Debentures by the Company shall be subject to the
receipt of any and all required regulatory approvals.

 

In case an Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, upon demand of the Trustee, the
principal of all of the Debentures shall become due and payable in the manner,
with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

 

The Indenture contains
provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental indentures for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debentures; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall without the consent
of the holders of each Debenture then outstanding and affected thereby
(i) change the fixed maturity of any Debenture, or reduce the principal
amount thereof or any premium thereon, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof
or make the principal thereof or any interest or premium thereon payable in any
coin or currency other than that provided in the Debentures, or impair or
affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for payment thereof or
impair the right of repayment, if any, at the option of the holder, or
(ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures the holders of which
are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.

 

A-1-7

 

The Indenture also
contains provisions permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding on behalf of the holders of
all of the Debentures to waive (or modify any previously granted waiver of) any
past default or Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default
(a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of
the Debentures, (b) in respect of covenants or provisions hereof or of the
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each Debenture affected, or (c) in respect of the covenants contained
in Section 3.9 of the Indenture; provided, however, that if
the Debentures are held by the Trust or a trustee of such trust, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in Liquidation Amount of Trust Securities of the Trust shall have consented
to such waiver or modification to such waiver, provided, further,
that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Debenture is required,
such waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of
the Trust shall have consented to such waiver. 
Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be
cured for all purposes of the Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the
holders of the Debentures shall be restored to their former positions and
rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.  Whenever any default or Event
of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by the Indenture, said
default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Debentures and the
Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.

 

No reference herein to
the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall
alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and
unconditional, to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and interest,
including Additional Interest, on this Debenture at the time and place and at
the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

 

The Company has agreed
that if Debentures are initially issued to the Trust or a trustee of such Trust
in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by the Trust (regardless of
whether Debentures continue to be held by such Trust) and (i) there shall
have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default, (ii) the Company
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the
Capital Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the Company shall have given notice
of its election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending
the interest payment period as provided herein and such Extension Period, or
any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall not, and
shall not allow any Affiliate of the Company to, (x) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company’s capital stock or its
Affiliates’ capital stock (other than payments of dividends or distributions to
the Company) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing or
(y) make any payment of principal of or interest or premium, if any, on or
repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Company or any Affiliate
that rank pari
passu in all respects with or junior in interest to the Debentures
(other than, with respect to clauses (x) and (y) above,  (1) repurchases, redemptions or other
acquisitions of shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with any
employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the
benefit of one or more employees, officers, directors or consultants, in
connection with a dividend reinvestment or stockholder stock purchase plan or
in connection with the issuance of capital stock of the Company (or securities
convertible into or exercisable for such capital stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable Extension Period,
if any, (2) as a result of any exchange or conversion of any class or
series of the Company’s capital stock (or any capital stock of a subsidiary of
the Company) for any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or of any
class or series of the Company’s indebtedness for any class or series of the
Company’s capital stock, (3) the purchase of fractional interests in
shares of the Company’s capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
(4) any declaration of a dividend in connection with any stockholders’
rights plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under any
stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights pursuant
thereto, (5) any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the

 

A-1-8

 

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 (6) payments under the Capital
Securities Guarantee).

 

The Debentures are
issuable only in registered, certificated form without coupons and in minimum
denominations of $100,000.00 and any multiple of $1,000.00 in excess
thereof.  As provided in the Indenture
and subject to the transfer restrictions and limitations as may be contained
herein and therein from time to time, this Debenture is transferable by the
holder hereof on the Debenture Register of the Company.  Upon due presentment for registration of
transfer of any Debenture at the Principal Office of the Trustee or at any
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose as provided in
Section 3.2 of the Indenture, the Company shall execute, the Company or
the Trustee shall register and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall
authenticate and make available for delivery in the name of the transferee or
transferees a new Debenture for a like aggregate principal amount.  All Debentures presented for registration of
transfer or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company or the
Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied by
a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to, the
Company and the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent duly executed by the holder
or his attorney duly authorized in writing. 
No service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of
transfer of Debentures, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax, fee or other governmental charge that may be
imposed in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment
for registration of transfer of any Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any
Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any transfer agent and any Debenture
registrar may deem the Person in whose name such Debenture shall be registered
upon the Debenture Register to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of
such Debenture (whether or not such Debenture shall be overdue) for the purpose
of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on such Debenture and for all other purposes; and neither the Company
nor the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any
transfer agent nor any Debenture registrar shall be affected by any notice to
the contrary.  All such payments so made
to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be valid, and, to the
extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the
liability for moneys payable upon any such Debenture.

 

No recourse for the
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Debenture,
or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse
under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the
Indenture or in any supplemental indenture, or in any such Debenture, or
because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor Person of the
Company, either directly or through the Company or any successor Person of the
Company, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by
the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and
the issue of the Debentures.

 

Capitalized
terms used and not defined in this Debenture shall have the meanings assigned
in the Indenture dated as of the date of original issuance of this Debenture
between the Trustee and the Company.

 

THE INDENTURE AND THE
DEBENTURES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF
THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

 

A-1-9Exhibit 10.1

 

 

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

 

by and between

 

FIRST REGIONAL
BANCORP

 

and

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION

 

Dated as of March 17,
2004

 

 

 

GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

 

This GUARANTEE
AGREEMENT (this “Guarantee”), dated as of March 17, 2004, is executed and delivered
by First Regional Bancorp, a California corporation (the “Guarantor”), and U.S.
Bank National Association, a national banking association, organized under the
laws of the United States of America, as trustee (the “Guarantee Trustee”), for
the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Capital
Securities (as defined herein) of First Regional Statutory Trust III, a
Connecticut statutory trust (the “Issuer”).

 

WHEREAS,
pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the “Declaration”),
dated as of the date hereof among U.S. Bank National Association, not in its
individual capacity but solely as institutional trustee, the administrators of
the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as sponsor, and the holders from time to
time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer
is issuing on the date hereof those undivided beneficial interests, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of $7,500,000.00 (the “Capital Securities”); and

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

 

Section 1.1.           Definitions and Interpretation.
In this Guarantee, unless the context otherwise
requires:

 

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

 

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

 

(c)           all
references to “the Guarantee” or “this Guarantee” are to this Guarantee as
modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

 

(d)           all
references in this Guarantee to “Articles” or “Sections” are to Articles or
Sections of this Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;

 

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

 

(f)            a
reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Guarantee
Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Guarantee Trustee shall,
at any particular time, be principally administered, which office at the date
of execution of this Guarantee is located at 225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square,
Hartford, Connecticut  06103.

 

“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 2034 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 providedo 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 U.S. Bank National Association, until
a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee and thereafter means each
such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

 

“Guarantor” means First Regional Bancorp 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.

 

2

 

“Indenture” means the Indenture dated as of the date hereof
between the Guarantor and U.S. Bank National Association, not in its individual
capacity but solely as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant
to which the Debentures are to be issued to the institutional trustee of the
Issuer.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

“Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

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

 

“Special Event” has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

 

3

 

“Special Redemption Price” has the meaning set forth in the
Indenture.

 

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

 

“Trust Securities” means the Common Securities and the Capital
Securities.

 

ARTICLE II

 

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

Section 2.1.           Powers and Duties of the Guarantee
Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(B)           in the absence of
bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee may conclusively
rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions
expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished

 

4

 

to the Guarantee
Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee; but in the case
of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are
specifically required to be furnished to the Guarantee Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not
they conform to the requirements of this Guarantee;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.2.           Certain Rights of Guarantee
Trustee.

 

(a)           Subject
to the provisions of Section 2.1:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(v)           The
Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or
opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered
or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and

 

5

 

in accordance with
such advice or opinion. Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of
its Affiliates and may include any of its employees.  The Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
concerning the administration of this Guarantee from any court of competent
jurisdiction.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

6

 

Section 2.3.           Not Responsible for Recitals or
Issuance of Guarantee.  The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements
of the Guarantor, and the Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility
for their correctness.  The Guarantee
Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee.

 

Section 2.4.           Events of Default; Waiver.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 2.5.           Events of Default; Notice.

 

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

 

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

 

ARTICLE III

 

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

Section 3.1.           Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility.

 

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

 

(i)            not be an Affiliate of the
Guarantor, and

 

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

 

7

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.2.           Appointment, Removal and
Resignation of Guarantee Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

8

 

ARTICLE IV

GUARANTEE

Section 4.1.           Guarantee.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.2.            Waiver
of Notice and Demand. The
Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee and of any
liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment,
any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer or any other Person
before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice
of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

 

Section 4.3.           Obligations Not Affected. The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the
happening from time to time of any of the following:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

9

 

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

 

(f)            the
settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or hereby
incurred; or

 

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

 

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

 

Section 4.4.           Rights of Holders.

 

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

 

(b)           Any
Holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce the Guarantee Trustee’s rights under this Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other Person.  The
Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any such action be brought
first against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person before so
proceeding directly against the Guarantor.

 

Section 4.5.           Guarantee of Payment. This Guarantee creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection.

 

Section 4.6.           Subrogation. The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders
of Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such
Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee; provided, however, that the
Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of
law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of
subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as
a result of payment under this Guarantee, if, after giving effect to any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee.  If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor
in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such
amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

 

Section 4.7.           Independent Obligations. The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital
Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 4.3 hereof.

 

Section 4.8.           Enforcement by a Beneficiary.  A Beneficiary may enforce
the obligations of the Guarantor contained in Section 4.1(b) directly against
the Guarantor and the Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any
action be brought against the Issuer or any other person or entity

 

10

 

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

ARTICLE V

 

LIMITATION OF
TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

 

Section 5.1.           Limitation of Transactions. So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if (a) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or a Declaration
Event of Default or (b) the Guarantor shall have selected an Extension
Period as provided in the Declaration and such period, or any extension
thereof, shall have commenced and be continuing, then the Guarantor shall not
and shall not permit any Affiliate to (x) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Guarantor’s or such Affiliate’s capital stock
(other than payments of dividends or distributions to the Guarantor) or 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).

 

Section 5.2.           Ranking. This Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Guarantor
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all present and
future Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture) of the Guarantor.  By their acceptance thereof, each Holder of
Capital Securities agrees to the foregoing provisions of this Guarantee and the
other terms set forth herein.

 

The right of
the Guarantor to participate in any distribution of assets of any of its
subsidiaries upon any such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent the Guarantor may itself be recognized as a creditor of
that subsidiary.  Accordingly, the
Guarantor’s obligations under this Guarantee will be effectively

 

11

 

subordinated to all existing
and future liabilities of the Guarantor’s subsidiaries, and claimants should
look only to the assets of the Guarantor for payments hereunder.  This Guarantee does not limit the incurrence
or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Guarantor, including
Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor, under any indenture that the Guarantor
may enter into in the future or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

TERMINATION

 

Section 6.1.           Termination. This Guarantee shall terminate as to the Capital Securities
(i) upon full payment of the Redemption Price or Special Redemption Price
of all Capital Securities then outstanding, (ii) upon the distribution of
all of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Capital Securities or
(iii) upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the
Declaration upon dissolution of the Issuer. 
This Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as
the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities or under this Guarantee.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 7.1.           Exculpation.

 

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

 

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

 

Section 7.2.           Indemnification.

 

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

 

12

 

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

 

Section 7.3.           Compensation; Reimbursement of
Expenses. The Guarantor agrees:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

13

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.1.           Successors and Assigns. All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee shall bind the
successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor
and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities then
outstanding.  Except in connection with
any merger or consolidation of the Guarantor with or into another entity or any
sale, transfer or lease of the Guarantor’s assets to another entity, in each
case, to the extent permitted under the Indenture, the Guarantor may not assign
its rights or delegate its obligations under this Guarantee without the prior
approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities.

 

Section 8.2.           Amendments. Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely affect the
rights of Holders of the Capital Securities in any material respect (in which
case no consent of Holders will be required), this Guarantee may be amended
only with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities. 
The provisions of the Declaration with respect to amendments thereof
apply to the giving of such approval.

 

Section 8.3.           Notices. All notices provided for in this Guarantee shall be in writing, duly
signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or
mailed by first class mail, as follows:

 

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

 

U.S. Bank
National Association

225 Asylum Street, Goodwin Square

Hartford, Connecticut  06103

Attention:  Corporate Trust Services
Division

Telecopy:  860-241-6889

 

With a copy
to:

 

U.S. Bank
National Association

1 Federal Street - 3rd Floor

Boston, Massachusetts  02110

Attention:  Paul D. Allen, Corporate
Trust Services Division

Telecopy:  617-603-6665

 

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

 

First Regional
Bancorp

1801 Century Park East, Suite 800

Los Angeles, California 90067-2302

Attention:  Thomas McCullough

Telecopy:  310-552-1772

 

14

 

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

 

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

 

Section 8.4.           Benefit. This Guarantee is solely for the benefit of the Beneficiaries and,
subject to Section 2.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Capital
Securities.

 

Section 8.5.           Governing
Law. THIS GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND
INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT
REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF (OTHER THAN SECTION 5-1401 OF THE
NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW).

 

Section 8.6.           Counterparts.
This Guarantee may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but all of which taken
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

 

Section 8.7            Separability.
In case one or more of the provisions contained in this Guarantee shall for any
reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such
invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provisions of this Guarantee, but this Guarantee shall be construed as if such
invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein.

 

Signatures appear on the following page

 

15

 

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

 

 

	
   

  	
  FIRST REGIONAL BANCORP, as Guarantor

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:

  	
  /s/ Thomas McCullough

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:  Thomas
  McCullough

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title: 
  Corporate Secretary

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as

  Guarantee Trustee

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
  By:  

  	
  /s/ Paul D. Allen

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Name:  Paul
  D. Allen

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
  Title:  Vice
  President

  
						

 

16

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00064-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00064-of-00352.parquet"}]]