Document:

Exhibit 10.4

 

GENERAL LOAN AGREEMENT

 

Bank Loan Contract
No. 2-0402-2

 

Almaty, February 4, 2002

 

Open Joint-Stock Company Bank TuranAlem

represented by Managing
Director Nurlan Zhetesovich Talkenov

acting on the basis of the
Power of Attorney No. 01-62 dated October 10, 2001

 

Subsidiary Open Joint-Stock Company Caspi
Neft TME

represented by General Director
Nurzhan Sarsekenovich Kurmanov

acting on the basis of the
Charter

 

Transmeridian Exploration, Inc. BVI

represented by Lorrie T.
Olivier

acting on the basis of the
Charter and Resolution of all

officers of Transmeridian
Exploration, Inc. (BVI) and

Transmeridian Exploration, Inc.
dated January 25, 2002

 

Kazstroiproekt, Ltd

Represented by Director Irina
Vladimirovna Serlina

acting on the basis of the
Charter,

 

have entered into this
Agreement with regard to the following:

 

Agreement

 

Terms and Definitions

 

Unless otherwise directly
specified by this Agreement, capitalized terms and definitions used herein
shall have the following meanings:

 

1.                                       Lender – Bank Turanalem
OJSC

 

2.                                       Borrower – Caspi
Neft TME SOJSC

 

3.                                       Seller –
Transmeridian Exploration Inc., BVI

 

4.                                       Buyer –
Kazstroiproekt, Ltd;

 

5.                                       Parties – Bank
Turanalem OJSC, Caspi Neft Tme SOJSC, Transmeridian Exploration, Inc. BVI,
And  Kazstroiproekt, Ltd;

 

6.                                       Shares 1 – 9,550
(nine thousand and five hundred fifty) common registered shares of the
Borrower, par value 1,000 Tenge  (one
thousand) with National Identification Number (NIN) KZ1C41630418; issued in the
non-paper form, owned by the Seller;

 

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7.                                       Shares 2 – 9,550
(nine thousand and five hundred fifty) common registered shares of the
Borrower, par value 1,000 Tenge  (one
thousand) with National Identification Number (NIN) KZ1C41630418; issued in the
non-paper form, owned by the Buyer;

 

8.                                       Loan – dollar
and tenge loans, financial instruments (guarantees, letters of credit) in the
amount of US$20,000,000 (twenty million) dollars granted by the Lender to the
Borrower under the terms specified in this Agreement and other agreements, with
the total amount equal to US$20,000,000 (twenty million) dollars.  Loans are given in accordance with the
Financing Chart established by the Parties, the terms of the Chart are set out in
the additional agreements, or a loan debt generated as a result of the
Borrower’s failure to fulfill its obligation to the Lender to reimburse the sum
of the letter of credit, bank guarantee, interest, and other sums that are
charged by the Lender for opening and servicing the letter of credit, for
issuing bank guarantee under the conditions stipulated by this Agreement.

 

9.                                       Financing
Chart – loan arrangements in the form of money, U.S. Dollars, financial
instruments (letters of commitment, promissory notes, bank guarantees, bails,
letters of credit, underwriting service for placement of the Borrower’s
securities, and financial leasing).

 

10.                                 Interest – an interest
accrued for the use of the Loan by the Lender to the Borrower at a rate of 15%
per annum under provisions of this Agreement.

 

11.                                 Additional Interest –
the amount to be paid by the Borrower in accordance with Section 2.6. of this
Agreement.

 

12.                                 End Date of Use of
Funds – July 1, 2003, the date established by this Agreement upon which the
Loans, letters of credit, bank guarantees are no longer granted, according to
this Agreement.

 

13.                                 Subsoil Use Right –
the right to possess and utilize mineral resources within the Contractual
territory that is given to the Borrower in accordance with the President’s
Decree of the Republic of Kazakhstan having the force of Law On Subsoil and
Subsoil Use dated January 27, 1996, #2828 and the Contract.

 

14.                                 Contract – the
contract under License No. 1557, issued on April 29, 1999 by the Government of
the Republic of Kazakhstan (“RK”), for the exploration of hydrocarbons of South
Alibek oilfield, located in Mugolzhar District, Aktobe Region, Republic of
Kazakhstan, entered into between CASPI NEFT and Investment Agency of the
Republic of Kazakhstan on March 7, 2000, and also the Amendment to the Contract
dated July 31, 2001 (state registration # 729 as of July 31, 2001); and the
Amendment to the Contract dated April 25, 2000 (state registration # 457 dated
April 25, 2000).

 

15.                                 Contractual Territory
– the territory identified in the License No. 1557 of April 29, 1999 (Contract
State Registration Act as of March 7, 2000, No. 419 by geographical
coordinates, specified in the annexes #1-1 (geological allotment), #3-1
(geological allotment location map), given for prospecting activities (South
Alibek Oil Field is located in Mugolzhar District, Aktobe Region, Republic of
Kazakhstan).

 

16.                                 Security (Collateral)
– property, assets, Right of Subsurface Use, property and non-property rights
transferred by the Borrower to secure fulfillment of the Borrower’s

 

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obligations to the Lender under this Agreement and those specified in
Annex#3 to this Agreement.

 

17.                                 Agreement – this
Agreement and all annexes and addenda to it made within the scope of this
Agreement.

 

18.                                 Final Maturity Date –
final date for full repayment of the Loan and the Interest (Interest) which
occurs at the end of 36 (thirty sixth) months of the date of this Agreement.

 

19.                                 Default –
non-fulfillment by the Borrower of provisions of this Agreement and other
agreements and contracts entered into within the scope and in pursuance of this
Agreement.

 

20.                                 Additional
Requirements – justified requirement of the Lender to pledge the Borrower’s
equipment, other tangible assets for the amount exceeding Tg 7,600,000 (seven
million six hundred thousand tenge) or assign the claim rights for the accounts
receivable, etc.

 

21.                                 Loan Account – a
special account opened by the Lender to serve the Borrower and to deposit funds
for repayment of the Borrower’s debt under the Loan and Interest.

 

22.                                 Project – exploration,
development and construction activities at South Alibek oil Field located in
the territory of Mugolzhar District, Aktobe Region, RK, according to License,
Series AI No.1557 of April 29, 1999, and the Contract for Subsoil Operations on
this field (Act on State Registration of Contract, of March 7, 2000, No. 419),
funded by the Lender under this Agreement, as well as other territories to
which the Borrower has been provided the Subsoil Use Right at the moment of signing
of this Agreement.

 

23.                                 Bank balance –
constant daily irreducible amount of 1,200,000 (one million two hundred
thousand) tenge in the borrower’s bank accounts that shall be maintained by the
borrower during the entire valid period of this agreement.

 

24.                                 Potential Default on
Obligations - an event causing the Agreement to be invalid, or suspension of
the Contract for more than 20 (twenty) Work days, decision of the Competent or
Government bodies  to unilaterally cancel
the Agreement, as well as an effective court decision on recovery of the amount
from the Borrower exceeding Tg 456,000,000 (four hundred fifty six million
tenge).

 

25.                                 Auditor – a company
having a relevant license as well as any other permit documents stipulated by
the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan to engage in and implement
auditing activities in the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the
period of five (5) years or more based on the advanced national and
international accounting and auditing practice and approved by the Parties.

 

26.                                 Shares Sale and
Purchase Agreement – the Sale and Purchase Agreement of the Borrower’s Shares
of November 30, 2001, entered into between the Seller and the Buyer.

 

27.                                 Banking Service –
provision of a full range of banking operations specified by the effective
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and offered on contractual terms
between the Lender and the Borrower on a paid-term basis, according to service
rates approved in the established order.

 

3

 

28.                                 Business Day – a day
of banking operations, i.e. the time period during which the bank receives
instructions to transfer money and orders to suspend or revoke such
instructions from the Borrower, delivers money-transfer messages to the Borrower.

 

29.                                 Reimbursement Date –
the date of repayment of the Loan amount and the accrued Interest, which is any
Business Day falling on the day specified in the payment schedule, which is an
integral part of this Agreement.  If the
Reimbursement Date is not a Business Day it shall be transferred to the
following day, which is a Business Day.

 

30.                                 Production – the whole
package of works (operations) relating to extraction of oil and gas from the
Subsoil onto the earth’s surface.

 

31.                                 Subsoil – for the purposes
of this Agreement this term is defined as in the RK President’s Decree having
the force of Law On Subsoil and Subsoil Use, of January 27, 1996, No. 2828.

 

32.                                 Loan Currency – U.S.
Dollars.

 

33.                                 Government Agencies –
bodies of state power (representative, executive and judicial), National Bank
of Kazakhstan, vested with power authority, competence and necessary
instruments to gain the country’s objectives.

 

34.                                 Competent Body – RK
governmental executive body that is delegated the rights directly relating to
conclusion and execution of the Contract, as well as to registration of the
Collateral of Subsoil Use Right.

 

35.                                 Affiliate – means,
when used in relation to any Person, any other Person which shall be at that
time directly or indirectly in control of, or controlled by, or under common
control with, such Person, and for the purposes of this definition:

 

a.               a company is directly controlled by
another company or individual holding shares carrying, in the aggregate, the
majority of votes exercisable at general meetings; and

 

b.              a particular company is indirectly
controlled by a company or companies (“the parent company or companies”) if a
series of companies can be specified, beginning with the parent company or
companies and ending with the particular company, so related that each company
of the series, except the parent company or companies, is directly controlled
by one or more of the companies earlier in the series.

 

c.               Officers, shareholders owning 10 (ten)
or more per cent of voting shares or interest in the authorized capital.

 

36.                                 Investments – purchase
of securities, shares, bonds, promissory notes, equity interests, creation of
any legal entities, consortiums, purchase of other assets not related to
implementation of the Work Program or the Project, except placement of funds or
currency values to deposits in Bank TuranAlem OJSC.

 

37.                                 Appropriation of funds
– Appropriation of the Loan to implement the Work Program in accordance with
the Contract.

 

38.                                 Work Program – all
types of plans, prepared by the Borrower to implement works for Project
development as well as other types of plans to be approved in the Competent
Body according to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

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39.                                 Cross-default – non-execution
of contractual and other obligations by the Borrower to the third parties
totally exceeding Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge).

 

40.                                 Pledge of the Right of
Subsurface Use – Agreement on Pledge of Subsurface Use entered into between the
Lender and the Borrower dated February 4, 2002.

 

41.                                 License – License
#1557 dated April 29, 1999, held by the Borrower to use subsurface in the
Republic of Kazakhstan

 

1.                                      Representations
and Warranties

 

1.1.                              The Borrower represents
and warrants that:

 

1.1.1.                     being a legal entity pursuant to
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Borrower is entitled to enter
into this Agreement on its behalf;

 

1.1.2.                     this Agreement is an effective and
valid obligation of the Borrower subject to be fulfilled in accordance with the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

1.1.3.                     the contents of this Agreement and
proper execution of the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not
constitute a reason for the violation of the Charter and/or any provision of
any agreement or document to which the Borrower is a participant or under which
the Borrower has obligations, or any legislative act, normative legal acts,
rules, court decision related to the Borrower;

 

1.1.4.                     on the date of signing of this
Agreement, the Borrower has no liabilities on outstanding local and national
taxes for the amount not exceeding Tg 456,000,000 (four hundred fifty six
million tenge);

 

1.2.                              The Lender represents and
warrants that:

 

1.2.1.                     being a legal entity pursuant to
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Lender is entitled to enter into
this Agreement on its behalf;

 

1.2.2.                     this Agreement is an effective and
valid obligation of the Lender to be fulfilled in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

1.2.3.                     the contents of this Agreement and
proper execution of the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not
constitute a reason for the violation of requirements of the current
legislation and the Lender’s Charter;

 

1.3.                              The Seller represents and
warrants that:

 

1.3.1.                     being a legal entity pursuant to
legislation of the British Virgin Islands, the Operator is entitled to enter
into this Agreement on its behalf;

 

1.3.2.                     this Agreement is an effective and
valid obligation of the Seller to be fulfilled in accordance with the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

1.3.3.                     the contents of this Agreement and
proper execution of the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not
constitute a reason for the violation of the Charter and/or any provision of
any agreement or document.

 

1.4.                              The Buyer represents and
warrants that:

 

1.4.1.                     being a legal entity pursuant to
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Buyer is entitled to enter into
this Agreement on its behalf;

 

5

 

1.4.2.                     this Agreement is an effective and
valid obligation of the Buyer subject to be fulfilled in accordance with the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

 

1.4.3.                     the contents of this Agreement and
proper execution of the terms and conditions of this Agreement will not
constitute a reason for the violation of the Charter and/or any provision of
any agreement or document.

 

2.                                      Subject
of the Agreement

 

2.1.                              The Lender is obligated
to grant the Loan for the amount of US$20,000,000 (twenty million) Dollars for
the Borrower on the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as well as on the
terms of expedient utilization, promptness, redemption, repayment and security.

 

2.1.1.                     The Loan shall be made available
to the Borrower if the Borrower carries out the following conditions:

 

2.1.1.1.                      the Borrower fulfills all
requirements, provided by legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with
regard to execution of major transactions;

 

2.1.1.2.                      the Borrower pledges to the Lender
the Subsoil Use Right and duly registers the Subsoil Use Right Pledge Agreement
with the Competent Body, and provides the registration certificate of the
pledge of the Right of Subsurface Use. The registration of the Right of
Subsurface Use in the Competent Body shall be executed by the Borrower not
later than 60 (sixty) days of signing of this Agreement.

 

2.1.1.3.                      the Borrower transfers all bank
accounts to Bank TuranAlem OJSC;

 

2.1.1.4.                      before receiving the Loan, the
Borrower pledges the Security, and the proceeds from the sale of the produced
crude oil that will become the Borrower’s property in future; moreover, the
registration of these pledge agreements, excluding the registration of the
agreement on pledge of the Right of Subsurface Use, is not the reason for not
issuing the Loan;

 

2.1.2.                     The Lender shall undertake to
grant the Loan to the Borrower only after 
the Borrower fulfills all the terms of Section 2.1.1., as follows:

 

	
  Loan
  Reimbursement Date

  	
   

  	
  Loan Amount

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  a)

  	
  Within 3 days from the date
  of registration of the Subsoil Use Right Pledge Agreement in the Competent
  Body

  	
   

  	
  US$5,000,000 (five million
  dollars)

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  b)

  	
  Before April 30, 2002

  	
   

  	
  US$7,000,000 (seven
  million dollars)

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  c)

  	
  Before July 30, 2002

  	
   

  	
  US$5,400,000 (five million
  four hundred thousand dollars)

  
	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  	
   

  
	
  d)

  	
  Before October 30, 2002

  	
   

  	
  US$2,600,000 (two million
  six hundred thousand dollars)

  

 

2.2.                              The Lender shall grant
the Loan to the Borrower pursuant to the Financing Chart not later than the End
Date of Use of Funds and final maturity date of any amount granted pursuant to
this Agreement, or fulfillment of other obligations of the Borrower arisen out
of this Agreement, but not later than the Final Maturity Date, unless other
terms (deadlines) are determined due to occurrence of events specified in
Article 5 of this Agreement, or by a supplementary agreement of the Parties.

 

6

 

2.3.                              The Borrower shall pay to
the Lender a Commitment fee (hereinafter the “Fee”) equal to 0,5% (zero point five
percent) lump sum payment of an unused amount of the Loan registered on the
date of Fee payment.  The Borrower shall
pay the Commitment Fee quarterly within three (3) Work days upon receipt of a
written Lender’s request.

 

2.4.                              For the use of the Loan granted,
the Borrower undertakes to pay to the Lender the Interest in the amount of
fifteen percent (15%) per annum, following the procedures set out in this
Agreement.

 

2.5.                              For the purpose of this
Agreement one year will last 365 days.

 

2.6.                              When granting the Loan
the Borrower shall additionally pay to the Lender:

 

Up-front fee –
a commission fee for raising financial resources, equal to 1% (one) percent of
the amount of raised financial or currency resources. The fee is to be paid
within 3 (three) Work days after receipt of any part of the loan by the
Borrower.

 

2.7.                              The Loan shall be granted
for 36 (thirty six) months, the specified term can be changed in the events
provided for in this Agreement.

 

3.                                      Loan
Purpose

 

3.1.                              The purpose of the Loan
is to finance the Project to carry out further commercial oil and gas
Production on the Contractual Territory.

 

3.2.                              The Loan shall be granted
provided the Borrower observes all Lender’s requirements to execute documents
specified herein, to pledge Shares 1 and Shares 2 and the Right of Subsurface
Use.

 

3.3.                              The Loan may also be
granted in other ways determined in each specific case by the agreement of the
Parties in accordance with the Financing Chart.

 

3.4.                              All contracts concluded
in pursuance of this Agreement shall contain a reference to this Agreement.

 

3.5.                              The Borrower shall be
obligated to meet requirements of the Lender related to execution of documents,
submitting of contracts, agreements, feasibility studies, business-plans,
documents confirming the Appropriation the funds requested, provision of other
information necessary for the Lender to control the Loan use. The Lender
acknowledges that, on the date of signing of this Agreement, he has received
all financial studies and reports required and no further reports and
documentation are required for the disbursement of the specified amounts
specified in Section 2.1.2. of this Agreement.

 

3.6.                              In pursuance of this
Agreement, the Lender shall take all actions necessary to grant the Loan funds
to the Borrower and to its repayment, including:

 

3.6.1.                     the Lender shall receive all
information necessary to fulfill its obligations;

 

3.6.2.                     the Lender shall provide the
Banking Service to the Borrower, including accounting on the Loan granted (on
the principal and the Interest);

 

3.6.3.                     the Lender shall control the
Appropriate utilization of the Loan funds and repayment thereof;

 

7

 

3.7.                              Upon signing of this
Agreement according to the date specified in this Agreement, the Lender shall
make the Loan available on the terms of this Agreement.  A day of writing-off money from the
Borrower’s Loan account shall be the Date of Interest Accrual.

 

3.8.                              Repayment of the Loan
granted under this Agreement, Interest and any other payments shall be made to
the Lender’s account in the amounts and term specified in this Agreement.

 

3.9.                              The Borrower undertakes
to submit to Kazakhstan Legal Group LLP all necessary documents and decisions
of general meetings in the event the Borrower changes its legal corporate
structure.  All changes in the
Borrower’s legal corporate structure shall be made by Kazakhstan Legal Group
LLP, a legal counsel of the Lender or be approved by it.  After such approval with Kazakhstan Legal
Group LLP, changes in the legal corporate structure can be made by other
company at the Borrower or the Buyer’s choice.

 

3.10.                        In order to efficiently
implement this Agreement and carry out the control over the appropriate
utilization of the Loan funds, the Borrower shall undertake to maintain all its
accounts at the Lender, including branches and subsidiary companies.

 

4.                                      Loan
Granting Terms

 

4.1.                              The Loan will be
available if:

 

4.1.1.                     Prior to signing of this
Agreement, the Seller shall transfer the Shares 2 to the Buyer and also fulfill
other obligations specified in the Share Sale and Purchase Agreement.

 

4.1.2.                     The Borrower shall pledge the
Right of Subsurface Use to the Lender, register the Right of Subsurface Use in
the Competent Body and execute other obligations set out in Section 2.1.1. of
this Agreement.

 

4.2.                              The Borrower, after
receipt of US$2,000,000 (two million) dollars as specified in section 4.1.2. of
this Agreement, shall retire the loan received under the Loan Agreement
#30/11-01 dated November 30, 2001 in the amount of US$1,500,000 (one million
five hundred thousand) dollars as well as the interest accrued on the foregoing
amount.

 

4.3.                              Any amount of the Loan
will be released by OJSC Bank TuranAlem only if the documents bear two
signatures – the signature of the Chairman of the Finance Management of the
Borrower and the signature of the Deputy Chairman of the Finance Management of
the Borrower, one of whom must be the Buyer’s representative. In the event OJSC
Bank TuranAlem receives payment orders and documents to make transactions from
the Borrower’s account without two signatures – of the Chairman of the Finance
Management of the Borrower and the signature of the Deputy Chairman of the
Finance Management of the Borrower , one of whom must be the Buyer’s
representative, then OJSC Bank TuranAlem has the right not to execute such
instructions of the Borrower and must inform the Seller and the Buyer of
violation of the specified term.

 

5.                                      Peculiarities
of the Loan Repayment

 

5.1.                              Taking into consideration
the terms and conditions of the Sale and Purchase Agreement, the Parties have
arrived to the conclusion that:

 

8

 

5.1.1.                     In the event the Buyer decides to
retain the ownership right to the Shares 2, the Loan shall be repaid as
follows:

 

a)                                      The
Buyer shall repay, for the Borrower a part of the Loan in the amount of
US$15,000,000 (fifteen million) dollars, at the same time the Interest accrued
on US$15,000,000 (fifteen million) dollars shall be repaid by the Borrower on
its own, on the terms set out in this Agreement.

 

b)                                     The
Seller shall repay a part of the Loan in the amount up to US$2,233,000 (two
million two hundred thirty three thousand) dollars and the Interest accrued on
this amount, in the terms specified in this Agreement.

 

5.1.2.                     In the event the Buyer decides to
waive the ownership right to the Shares 2 and refuses to further participate in
the Project,  The Borrower shall return
the Loan according to repayment schedule of the principal and Interest.

 

5.1.3.                     The Interest shall be accrued and
paid in accordance with Article 6 of this Agreement

 

6.                                      Interest
Accrual and Payment

 

6.1.                              Interest shall be accrued
on the outstanding Loan amount based on the actual number of days of use of the
Loan, including the first day of use and excluding the day of repayment of the
Loan.

 

6.2.                              The term of the Interest
accrual shall commence as of the day of writing-off of the Loan funds from the
Loan Account and transferring them to Borrower’s account or any third party
named by the Borrower.

 

6.3.                              The Interest shall be
paid by the Borrower in the following order:

 

6.3.1.                     The interest accrued on
US$2,233,000 (two million, two hundred thirty three thousand) dollars shall be
paid on the last date of the 18th (eighteen) month period of the
date of receipt of the above mentioned amount.

 

6.3.2.                     The interest accrued on
US$17,767,000 (seventeen million, seven hundred sixty seven thousand) dollars,
(or on other amount of the loan that the Borrower has actually received in the
specified period), shall be paid by the Borrower the last date of the 24
(twenty four) month period of signing of this Agreement

 

6.3.3.                     The interest accrued on the actual
amount of the Loan received and unredeemed by the Borrower in the third valid
year of the Loan Agreement shall be redeemed during the specified third year by
monthly equal parts.  Such interest
repayment will be affected not later than the last date of each month.

 

6.4.                              In the event of early
(advance) repayment of the Loan at the Borrower’s initiative, the Interest
shall be accrued and paid as follows:

 

6.4.1.                     if the Borrower,  in accordance with the terms and conditions
of this Agreement, transfers the Loan amount prior to the date specified, in
its notification on advance Loan repayment, then the Borrower shall be
obligated to pay the Interest

 

9

 

for the period up to the date specified in its notification, as well as
any other payments set out in this Agreement;

 

6.4.2.                     if the event of early  Loan repayment the Lender shall guarantee
recalculation of the amount of accrued 
Interest for the actual period of use of the Loan including the date of
entry of the entire Loan amount to the Lender’s account,

 

7.                                      Repayment
of the Loan

 

7.1.                              The Lender shall be
entitled to take any measures provided for in the legislation and required to
ensure that the Borrower executes its obligations specified in this Agreement.

 

7.2.                              Upon Final Maturity Date,
the Lender may request the Borrower to repay all or any debts under this Agreement.

 

7.3.                              Extension of the term of
this Agreement must be set in a written agreement of the Parties.

 

7.4.                              Repayment of the Loan
under this Agreement, the Interest and any other payments shall be made to the
Loan Account in the following order:

 

7.4.1.                     The part of the Loan in the amount
of US$2,233,000 (two million, two hundred thirty three thousand) dollars shall
be redeemed the last date of the 18th (eighteen) period of the date
of receipt of any amount of loan by the Borrower.

 

7.4.2.                     The remaining part of the Loan
shall be redeemed monthly by equal parts within the third valid year of the
Loan Agreement, but not later than the Final Maturity Date, unless an earlier
term has been provided for by the Lender based on the provisions set out in
this Agreement.  Redemption of any such
part of the Loan shall be effected not later than the last date of each month.

 

7.5.                              The amounts paid by the
Borrower under the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be directed by
the Lender to pay the debts in the following order:

 

7.5.1.                     repayment of forfeit amount on the
Interest;

 

7.5.2.                     repayment of forfeit amount on the
principal (the amount of utilized Loan);

 

7.5.3.                     repayment of the past due Interest
amount;

 

7.5.4.                     repayment of the Interest amount;

 

7.5.5.                     repayment of the principal amount
of debt.

 

7.6.                              In the event the payment
term of the Loan and (or) accrued Interest occurs on holiday, then the Borrower
shall transfer the money to repay the debt the next Workday following after the
holiday.  In the event the Workday next
after the holiday falls on the next calendar month, then the payment shall be
made on a Workday preceding such payment. 
Such transfer of the payment terms shall be taken into account when
calculating the Interest for utilization of the Loan, i.e. the Interest shall
be calculated at the rate provided for in this Agreement until the date when
the monies will actually enter the Lender’s account.

 

7.7.                              All payments under this
Agreements in the Lender’s favor must be executed by the Borrower in a manner
that ensures the Lender receives the full amount due under this Agreement, net
of further taxes, charges, fees, commission and other deductions timely, except
when such taxes, charges, fees and other deductions are required by the

 

10

 

Government on
the payments made by the Borrower before such taxes, charges, fees and other
deductions entered into force.

 

7.8.                              The principal debt amount
shall be retired according to the terms of this Agreement.

 

8.                                      Early
Repayment of the Loan

 

8.1.                              The Lender may
unilaterally decline further execution of this Agreement, as well as call back
the full amount of the Borrower’s debt along with the accrued Interest upon 24
(twenty four) months of the time of signing of this Agreement in the event:

 

8.1.1.                     of Default or Cross-Default;

 

8.1.2.                     the Borrower has no funds to make
a regular repayment under the Loan and there are no prospects that they will be
received  five  (5) calendar days prior to 
the date of regular repayment;

 

8.1.3.                     of attachment or recovery against
the property and bank accounts of the Borrower;

 

8.1.4.                     of Borrower’s non-execution of any
obligations under this Agreement;

 

8.1.5.                     of re-organization or changes in
the legal status of  the Borrower
without Lender’s approval, full or partial transfer (sale) of the Borrower’s
shares to third parties, termination of the Borrower’s activity due to its
re-organization, liquidation, bankruptcy, including rehabilitation procedures,
etc.;

 

8.1.6.                     the Borrower has received loans in
the other banks without Lender’s consent.

 

8.1.7.                     the Borrower has violated the
provisions of the charter, agreement on the Pledge of the Right of Subsurface
Use;

 

8.1.8.                     the Borrower has not fulfilled the
obligations specified in Section 9.1. and Section 9.2. of this Agreement.

 

8.2.                              Despite the terms of
Section 8.1. of this Agreement, the Lender may at any time  unilaterally decline further execution of
this Agreement, as well as immediately and in advance recover against the full
amount of the Borrower’s debt along with the accrued Interest in the event:

 

8.2.1.                     of a Potential Default in
Obligations, as it is defined in Section 24 of Article on terms and definitions
of this Agreement;

 

8.2.2.                     of non-appropriate use of the Loan
for the amount more than Tg 456,000,000 (four hundred fifty six million tenge);

 

8.2.3.                     Default in payment of the Interest
and principal set out in Clause 6 and 7 of this Agreement within 3 (three)
months;

 

8.2.4.                     Re-organization of the Borrower
without Lender’s permission.

 

8.2.5.                     the Shares Sale and Purchase
Agreement has been admitted as non-valid at Seller’s guilt or initiative;

 

8.2.6.                     the Contract or License has been
admitted as non-valid, suspension of the Contract or License validity for more
than 20 (twenty) Work days, resolution of

 

11

 

the Competent Body or Government to cancel the Contract unilaterally or
call back the License.

 

8.3.                              The Lender has the right
to resume financing within 5 (five) Work days after the Borrower has eliminated
all circumstances that caused suspension of financing.

 

8.4.                              The Borrower may fulfill
its obligations to repay the Loan amounts, the letter of credit, the bank
guarantee, the Interest, and other early payments only upon a prior written
notice to the Lender.

 

8.5.                              The Borrower must notify
the Lender at least prior to 15 (fifteen) Work days prior to the proposed date
of early repayment of any Loan amount and the Interest partially or in full.

 

9.             Rights
and Obligations of the Parties

 

9.1.          The Borrower shall assume the following obligations:

 

a)                                      to use in full
all its financial, commercial, information, administrative and other resources
to ensure effective implementation and proper execution of obligations
hereunder in compliance with the prevailing legislation of the Republic of
Kazakhstan, as well as ecological regulations and standards, safety standards
and provide necessary resources, conditions, services and other resources
required for execution hereof in a timely manner;

 

b)                                     not to make any
amendments to foundation documents without the Lender’s written consent and
such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, reasonable refusal is a
possibility to the Borrower to avoid its obligations under this Agreement after
making such changes;

 

c)                                      during the term
hereof not to carry out its own restructuring (merger, accession, de-merger,
spin-off, reorganization) without the Lender’s consent.

 

d)                                     to comply with the
Lender’s substantiated requirements, made in accordance with the terms and conditions
hereof;

 

e)                                      to maintain
records and accountbooks in accordance with the advanced accounting practice,
execute financial operations and prepare financial reports (balance sheet and
profit and loss account) for each financial year;

 

f)                                        to have its own
financial report (balance sheet and profit and loss account) for each financial
year verified by independent Auditors;

 

g)                                     to submit
certified copies of its financial reports for the reporting year, as well as an
audit report prepared by independent Auditors to the Lender in the scope and
details as deemed necessary by the Lender and not later than 90 (ninety) Work
days after the end of the financial year;

 

h)                                     to submit
quarterly reporting with regards to financial performance and operational
reports, as well as monthly reports on operations during the term hereof within
30 (thirty) Workdays from the end of each reporting period (month, quarter,
year);

 

12

 

i)                                         to submit
necessary information to the Lender that the latter may request hereunder
within 30 (thirty) calendar days, if it is at all practical to comply with such
request;

 

j)                                         not to make
any Investment without the Lenders consent;

 

k)                                      not to re-pledge
the Security provided to secure execution of obligations hereunder and not to
transfer any proprietary interests in property owned by the Borrower without a
special permission by the Lender within the term hereof;

 

l)                                         not to reduce
the Borrower’s property without a special Lender’s written permission issued on
terms and conditions provided for herein;

 

m)                                   not to receive any
loans in other banks until full repayment of the Loan and Interest without the
Lender’s consent;

 

n)                                     to discharge
financial obligations hereunder prior to any other financial obligations that
exist on the date of signing hereof and may emerge in the future within the
term hereof, except the obligations under the loan agreement # 30/11-01 dated
November 30, 2001, and those liabilities of the Borrower existing prior to
granting the loans under this Loan Agreement;

 

o)                                     to make all
actions required to ensure safety of the Security and not to allow its loss;

 

p)                                     not to effect any
transaction and (or) any interrelated transactions with regard to direct or
indirect purchase or alienation of property with book value exceeding an amount
equivalent to Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge) without the Lender’s
written consent;

 

q)                                     not to effect any
transaction and / or any interrelated transactions with regard to redemption or
sale, including issue (emission) and placement of securities, debt instruments
of the Borrower without the Lender’s consent;

 

r)                                        to reassign all
its rights for accounts receivable to the Lender within 10 (ten) Work days upon
its first request;

 

s)                                      to inform the
Lender within 10 (ten) work days of any claims of proprietary nature raised by
a third party with respect to the Borrower and that may lead to a Potential
Default in Obligations;

 

t)                                        not to increase
its obligations for an aggregate amount exceeding Tg 400,000,000  (four hundred million tenge) without the
Lender’s consent, and such consent may be given by the member of the board of
the Lender or by an authorized person; all the Borrower’s notices of its
intention to effect such transactions shall be made in writing and submitted to
the Lender to the following address:

 

Bank TuranAlem
OJSC, 97 Samal-2, 480099 Almaty

Tel.: 504 021,
504 016, 505 115, 505 100

Fax: 500 224,
or to any other address or telephone / fax number that will be conveyed by the
Lender to the Borrower in writing.

 

u)                                     Any notice or any
other information shall be considered as given to the Lender upon its
transmission in the following manner:

 

13

 

1.               when delivered by hand or by courier, at
the date of delivery;

 

2.               when transmitted by telex;

 

3.               when transmitted by fax, provided that
the Lender consequentially receives an original notification signed by an
authorized person of the Borrower sent via DHL, Express mail and etc.

 

v)                                     Any notice served
by the Borrower about its intention to effect the transaction exceeding Tg
400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge) must be reviewed by the Lender within
2 (two) work days.  The Borrower may
effect the transaction provided for in this Section only if it has an original
copy of written permission of the Lender signed by the Lender.  Any violation of the said provision by the
Borrower shall serve as a basis for termination of Project financing and shall
give the Lender a right to demand that the Borrower reimburses all funds
received hereunder, as well as redeems all his debt instruments, bonds and
other securities within 60 (sixty) days upon receipt of such Lender’s demand,
with observance of regulations of the Section 8.1. of this Agreement.

 

9.2.          The Borrower shall assume an obligation not to make the
following actions without a prior consent of the Lender:

 

a)                                      to announce
payment of dividends, pay out dividends, in the event that and until:

 

1.               commencement of the Final Maturity Date;

 

2.               the Borrower makes untimely payments
under this Agreement;

 

b)                                     to enter into
agreements relating to financial leasing and leasing of its equipment;

 

c)                                      to assume any
other debt that is not provided for herein, except for obligatory payment to
the budget of the Republic of Kazakhstan;

 

d)                                     to guarantee
obligations of third parties;

 

e)                                      to issue any
bails for obligations of third parties;

 

f)                                        to allow any
rights of retention for debts to take place, except for the Loan Payment
Security or rights derived from the law or routine business;

 

g)                                     to enter into any
agreements causing the business or operations of the Lender to be managed by
third party;

 

h)                                     to amend its
Charter or amend the amount of share capital;

 

i)                                         to cancel,
amend or reject any provisions hereof;

 

j)                                         sell,
transfer, rent or dispose of any part of its property for the amount in exceeds
of Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge) a month, except the produced oil
and gas;

 

9.3.                              The Lender may:

 

9.3.1.                     demand Additional Requirements
from the Borrower related to implementation of this Agreement and upon
non-fulfillment of such requirements, the Lender may terminate financing of the
Project and take measures to the Borrower specified in this Agreement including
but not limited to request to early and prompt

 

14

 

repayment of the amounts received by the Borrower before, taking into
account the regulations of the Section 8.1.

 

9.3.2.                     request any information or
documentation of the Borrower;

 

9.3.3.                     to request that the Borrower reimburses
the Lender for all the costs (business trips’ expenses, consultancy and legal
services), incurred by the Lender due to financing the Project, but not
exceeding Tg 100,000 (one hundred thousand tenge) a month;

 

9.3.4.                     to restructure the Loan debt of the
Borrower in books, both debt in Tenge, and in U.S. Dollars (or in any other
currencies), and vice versa;

 

9.3.5.                     in the event of default or
material improper execution of obligations by the Borrower to repay  the charged Interest  and accrual of arrears, the Lender shall
unilaterally stop charging the Interest, if duration of arrears of payments of
the Interest  equals to 30 (thirty)
calendar days;

 

9.3.6.                     to resume charging the Interest
unilaterally from the date of termination of 
arrears accrual;

 

9.3.7.                     not to stop charging the Interest;

 

9.3.8.                     to suspend and resume unilaterally
charging of a penalty for delay in repayments of the principal amount of the
Loan, as well as for delay in payments of the Interest.

 

9.4.                              The Seller shall assume
an obligation:

 

9.4.1.                     to act as the Lender’s guarantor
for obligations of the Borrower deriving hereunder upon the first request of
the Lender;

 

9.4.2.                     to agree to provide the Security;

 

9.4.3.                     not to carry out its restructuring
and liquidation during the term hereof and until fulfillment of its obligations
under the Shares Sale and Purchase Agreement without the Lender’s consent;

 

9.4.4.                     within the term hereof and until
full discharge of its obligations under the Shares Sale and Purchase Agreement
not to allow reorganization or liquidation of the Borrower, except for the
cases when  the Lender has granted its
permission for such reorganization;

 

9.4.5.                     not to resign as a participant of
in the Borrower or alienate all or part of Shares 1 of the Borrower without the
Lender’s consent;

 

9.4.6.                     without the Lender’s consent not
to enter into any agreements that may cause the Borrower’s business or
operations  to be managed by the third
party, except for cases provided for herein,

 

9.4.7.                     without the Lender’s consent not
to introduce any changes or amendments or allow introduction of changes to the
charter  of the Borrower, as well as not
to make changes in the authorized capital of the Borrower;

 

9.4.8.                     during the term hereof not to
sell, resale, transfer, manage, assign, pledge or somehow encumber a full or a
part of the Shares 1 of the Borrower except to the

 

15

 

Lender or its representative, as well as not to make any action causing
change of Shares 1 or rights extending to all or any of the Shares 1, without
receipt of a prior written Lender’s consent.

 

9.5.                              The Buyer shall assume an
obligation:

 

9.5.1.                     to act as a  guarantor for obligations of the Borrower
deriving hereunder upon the first request of the Lender;

 

9.5.2.                     to agree to provide the Security;

 

9.5.3.                     without the Lender’s consent
within the term hereof and until full discharge of its obligations under the
Shares Sale and Purchase Agreement not to allow reorganization or liquidation
of the Borrower, except for the cases when 
the Lender has given its permission for such reorganization,

 

9.5.4.                     not to resign as a participant of
the Borrower or alienate all or a part of Shares 2 of the Borrower without the
Lender’s consent;

 

9.5.5.                     without the Lender’s consent not
to enter into any agreements that may cause the Borrower’s business or
operations  to be managed by the third
party, except for cases provided for herein,

 

9.5.6.                     without the Lender’s consent not
to introduce any changes or amendments or allow introduction of changes to the
charter  of the Borrower, as well as not
to make changes in the authorized capital of the Borrower;

 

9.5.7.                     during the term hereof not to
sell, transfer, manage, assign, pledge or somehow encumber a full or a part of
the Shares 2 of the Borrower except to the Lender or its representative, as
well as not to make any action causing change of Shares 2 or rights extending
to all or any of the Shares 2, without receipt of a prior written Lender’s
consent.

 

10.                               Security
of Obligations

 

10.1.                        The Lender and the Borrower
agree that the Collateral Agreements and other types of Security will contain a
reference to this Agreement as the principal obligation.

 

10.2.                        Borrower’s non-fulfillment or
material improper fulfillment of its obligations under this Agreement concluded
under this Agreement, exceeding Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge)
shall be considered as non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of this
Agreement.

 

10.3.                        If
the Borrower fails to materially fulfill its obligations under this Agreement
exceeding Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge), the Lender shall have
the right to claim the Security by way of its mandatory extra judicial sale in
accordance with the effective legislation and conditions of this Agreement.

 

10.4.                        Security of the Borrower’s
obligations under this Agreement shall be:

 

10.4.1.               Shares 1 – 9,550 (nine thousand and five
hundred fifty) common registered shares of the Borrower, par value 1,000
Tenge  (one thousand) with National
Identification Number (NIN) KZ1C41630418; issued in the non-paper form, owned
by the Seller;

 

16

 

10.4.2.               Shares 2 – 9,550 (nine thousand and five
hundred fifty) common registered shares of the Borrower, par value 1,000
Tenge  (one thousand) with National
Identification Number (NIN) KZ1C41630418; issued in the non-paper form, owned
by the Buyer;

 

10.4.3.               The Subsoil Use Right to the Alibek
Yuzhny oil field located in the territory of Mugalzhar District, Aktobe Region,
Republic of Kazakhstan, under Collateral Agreement No. 52/Z dated February 4,
2002;

 

10.4.4.               All assets of the Borrower, including
the assets which will be acquired in the future, property rights and any other
property which may be claimed in accordance with the prevailing legislation of
the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

10.4.5.               Should the Borrower violate conditions
of this Agreement, which will entail claiming the Security, the Pledger may not
oppose the Lender when the latter takes any measures to claim the Security in
accordance with this Agreement and the legislation of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.  Should the Borrower do so,
the Lender shall have the right to have its claim satisfied in the court.  Such being the case, the losing party shall
bear all legal costs.

 

10.4.6.               The Borrower shall grant the Lender with
the right to withdraw any debt amounts that has arisen as a result of
Borrower’s non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of its obligations under
this Agreement or other agreements entered into in pursuance of this Agreement.  The Lender may write off such debt from any
bank accounts following the procedure, determined by the acting legislation of
the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

10.4.7.               The amount received on the Loan Account
from the sale of the pledged property shall be used to settle the Borrower’s
debt to the Lender under the Loan.

 

11.                               Liability
of the Parties

 

11.1.                        Liability of the parties shall
be determined by this Agreement. In doing so, liability for the material
non-fulfillment (improper fulfillment) of the obligations under this Agreement,
concluded under or in security of this Agreement exceeding Tg 400,000,000 (four
hundred million tenge), shall be considered as liability under this Agreement
when considering the issue of claiming the Security.

 

11.2.                        The Borrower shall be liable
for non-fulfillment or material improper fulfillment of this Agreement that has
arisen as a result of actions by its employees, agents, representatives, or
other authorized persons.

 

11.3.                        Transactions which directly
and/or indirectly violate the requirements and terms of this Agreement shall be
considered invalid, and the persons concluding such transactions shall be held
liable in accordance with the current legislation of the Republic of
Kazakhstan.

 

11.4.                        The Lender shall be liable for
non-fulfillment or improper fulfillment of this Agreement that has arisen as a
result of the Lender’s actions, its employees, representatives or other
authorized persons.

 

17

 

11.5.                        In the event of untimely fulfillment
of the obligations to pay the Interest (Interest) accrued for the use of the
Loan and the principal amount under the Loan the Borrower shall pay to the
Lender a fine in the amount of 0,8% (zero point eight percent) of the amount of
the Interest (Interest) or the principal amount under the Loan not paid within
the established time limits for each day of untimely fulfillment.

 

11.6.                        Payment of the fine (penalties)
and compensation of the losses in the event of non-fulfillment or improper
fulfillment shall not release the Borrower from the obligation to properly
fulfill this Agreement.

 

11.7.                        Borrower’s obligations to the
Lender for a certain amount (principal amount, Interest (Interest), forfeit,
etc.) which is to be paid under this Agreement shall be canceled at the moment
the relevant amount has been settled.

 

11.8.                        In the event of a material
violation of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Lender may
unilaterally cancel this Agreement and recover from the Borrower the paid
amount of the Loan and Interest (Interest) accrued on the basis of the actual
period of utilization of the Loan taking into account the regulations of the
section 8.1. of this Agreement.

 

11.9.                        In the event of non-fulfillment
of the obligations specified in Section 9.1. and 9.2. herein the Borrower shall
pay to the Lender a fine in the amount of 0,8% (zero point eight percent) of
the principal amount of the Loan for each day of non-fulfillment of the terms
as set out in the aforementioned Para, until such terms are fully
satisfied.  Alternatively, the Lender
shall reserve the right to claim early repayment of the Loan in accordance with
Section 8.1.  of this Agreement.

 

11.10.                  The events of default or material
improper execution of terms specified in Section 8.1. of this Agreement by the
Borrower shall be treated by the Lender as Default.  In the event of Default, the Lender may take any measures
provided for in the prevailing legislation to protect its interests, including
compulsory extrajudicial enforcement of claim to the Collateral.

 

11.11.                  In the event of violation of the
terms of this Agreement the guilty party shall pay the other party all losses
caused by such violation, including judicial costs, unless otherwise is
provided for in this Agreement.

 

12.                               Special
Conditions

 

12.1.                        During the term of this
Agreement, the Borrower, when entering into subcontracts, other transactions
for an amount not less than Tg 400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge) related
to purchase or sale of any stocks of materials and equipment or components,
finished products, shall be signed on a tender basis, or upon the Lender’s
written consent  to such transaction, on
conditions which do not violate the provisions of this Agreement. Tenders will
not be required for equipment that has a sole provider or standardization or
equipment requires a sole provider, or long lead times and urgency of delivery
would limit the time to properly tender for such materials or services.  In this cases, the Lender will be consulted
and informed of the mitigating circumstances to effect the prompt purchase of
the material or service.

 

12.2.                        Any transaction made in
violation of the requirements of this article for the amount exceeding Tg
400,000,000 (four hundred million tenge) shall be the ground for

 

18

 

termination of funding of the Project on conditions of this Agreement,
taking into account the regulations of Section 8.1. of this Agreement.

 

13.                               Dispute
Settlement Procedure and Applicable Law

 

13.1.                        All disputes arising between
the Parties shall be settled through negotiations with a view to achieving a
mutually acceptable solution.

 

13.2.                        The Parties have agreed to
settle all disputes (disagreements) arising in connection with and out of this
Agreement in the standing court of arbitration at Law Firm Digesta LLP, in the
event Bank TuranAlem OJSC calls to initiate such proceedings, then it chooses
either the standing court of arbitration at Law Firm Digesta LLP or in a court
of general jurisdiction of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

13.3.                        The applicable law shall be the
legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

 

14.                               Valid
Period of this Agreement

 

14.1.                        This Agreement shall enter into
effect from the moment of its signing by authorized representatives of the
Parties.

 

14.2.                        This Agreement shall be in
effect until all obligations of the Parties stipulated in this Agreement have
been duly fulfilled, after which all provisions of this Agreement shall be
deemed no longer effective.

 

15.                               Compliance
with Requirements of Environment Protection, Health and Safety Legislation

 

15.1.                        The Borrower shall guarantee
that for the whole period of validity of this Agreement its activities,
operations, assets (wherever placed and however expressed) shall be in
compliance with the norms of all applicable laws and subordinate legislation of
the Republic of Kazakhstan on environment protection, health and safety.  The Borrower shall confirm that as of the
date of signing of this Agreement it has obtained all necessary licenses,
permits, certificates, and approvals regarding emissions into the atmosphere,
water and land pollution, liquid and solid water drains, usage, transportation,
storage, and destruction of toxic and harmful substances, waste, or other
ecological, health and safety issues, required to conduct operations under the
Project prior to the date of signing this Agreement, having paid all
appropriate taxes and other compulsory payments to the budget, and that it has
no notifications, decisions and other demands on behalf of authorized state
agencies regarding elimination violations of requirements of the environment
protection, health and safety legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan which
the Borrower had not eliminated.

 

The licenses,
permits, certificates, and approvals mentioned in the present article shall be
valid for the whole period of validity of this Agreement.

 

15.2.                        For the whole period of
validity of this Agreement, the Borrower shall undertake to conduct its
activities in compliance with the established requirements to public health,
labor protection and safety of its workers. 
The Borrower shall undertake to ensure working conditions for its
workers in compliance with the labor legislation, to observe legislation
requirements, including but not limited to those concerning working hours,
rest, minimum wages, work quota setting, insurance of liability for inflicting
damage to health and life of workers when the latter were fulfilling their
labor responsibilities.

 

19

 

16.                               Confidentiality

 

16.1.                        The Parties shall have no right
to disclose or use for whatever purposes any information which they receive
under this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as “Confidential Information”),
except in cases where:

 

16.1.1.               A prior written consent of the other
Party has been obtained for this; and

 

16.1.2.               Such can become necessary according to
legislation requirements or in connection with a relevant decision taken by the
authorized Government Agencies.

 

16.2.                        Confidential Information shall
not include information:

 

16.2.1.               Which had been available to general
public by the time of its use or disclosure;

 

16.2.2.               Which was handed over to the Parties by
a party who had legally obtained access to this information and who has legal
right to disseminate such information.

 

17.                               Additional
Conditions

 

17.1.                        Making changes and amendments
to this Agreement shall be allowed with consent of the Parties, according to
the procedure stipulated by this Agreement.

 

17.2.                        This Agreement may not be
changed, amended and/or terminated unilaterally, except for the cases
stipulated by this Agreement.

 

17.3.                        This Agreement is executed in 4
(four) copies, all of equal legal force, in the Russian and English languages.
In the event of discrepancies, the text of this Agreement in Russian shall
prevail.

 

17.4.                        All conditions and provisions
of this Agreement shall be binding upon or used in the interest of the Parties.

 

17.5.                        The Party may assign its rights
and obligations under this Agreement (in part or in whole) only after having
received a written consent of the other Party.

 

18.          LEGAL
ADDRESSES AND DETAILS OF THE PARTIES:

 

LENDER: 

Bank TuranAlem OJSC,

97 Zholdasbekov St,
Micro-district Samal-2,

480099 Almaty, Republic of
Kazakhstan,

IIK 300166019 with the Payment
Systems Office of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, BIK

190501319, RNN 600900114104.

 

BORROWER:

Caspiy Neft TME SOJSC,

105 Dostyk Ave. Alatau Hotel,
Almaty,

Republic of Kazakhstan,

RNN 600900159346,

Settlement Account 914467060

with the Almaty Branch

of Bank TuranAlem OJSC,

BIK 190501306

 

20

 

SELLER: 

Transmeridian Exploration Inc.
BVI

11811 North Freeway Suite 500,

Houston, Texas, 77060

 

BUYER: 

Kazstroiproekt, Ltd

68 Abai Ave. Office 74

Almaty, Kazakhstan

 

 

SIGNATURES OF THE PARTIES:

 

	
  FOR THE
  LENDER:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
    /s/ Nurlan Zhetesovich Talkenov

  	
   

  
	
  Nurlan
  Zhetesovich Talkenov

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FOR THE
  SELLER:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
    /s/ Lorrie T. Olivier

  	
   

  
	
  Lorrie
  T.Olivier

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FOR THE
  BORROWER:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
    /s/ Nurzhan Sarsekenovich Kurmanov

  	
   

  
	
  Nurzhan
  Sarsekenovich Kurmanov

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
  FOR THE
  BUYER:

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
   

  	
   

  
	
    /s/ Irina Vladimirovna Serlina

  	
   

  
	
  Irina
  Vladimirovna Serlina

  	
   

  

 

21<PAGE>

                                                                 EXHIBIT 10 (xx)
                                                                 ---------------

                           FPIC INSURANCE GROUP, INC.

                            15,000 CAPITAL SECURITIES

                        FLOATING RATE CAPITAL SECURITIES

               (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000.00 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)

                               PLACEMENT AGREEMENT

                              --------------------

                                                                  April 25, 2003

FTN Financial Capital Markets
845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150
Memphis, Tennessee  38117

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York  10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., incorporated and existing under the laws of
Florida (the "Company"), and its financing subsidiary, FPIC Capital Statutory
Trust II, a Connecticut statutory trust (the "Trust," and hereinafter together
with the Company, the "Offerors"), hereby confirm their agreement (this
"Agreement") with you as placement agents (the "Placement Agents"), as follows:

Section 1.  ISSUANCE AND SALE OF SECURITIES.

     1.1    INTRODUCTION. The Offerors propose to issue and sell at the Closing
(as defined in Section 2.3.1 hereof) 15,000 of the Trust's Floating Rate Capital
Securities, with a liquidation amount of $1,000.00 per capital security (the
"Capital Securities"), to I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd., a company with
limited liability established under the laws of the Cayman Islands (the
"Purchaser") pursuant to the terms of a Subscription Agreement entered into, or
to be entered into on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2.3.1
hereof), between the Offerors and the Purchaser (the "Subscription Agreement"),
the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by
this reference.

     1.2    OPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The Capital Securities shall be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed on a subordinated basis by the Company with respect
to distributions and amounts payable upon liquidation, redemption or repayment
(the "Guarantee") pursuant and subject to the Guarantee Agreement (the
"Guarantee Agreement"), to be dated as of the Closing Date and

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executed and delivered by the Company and U.S. Bank National Association ("U.S.
Bank"), as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit from time to time
of the holders of the Capital Securities. The entire proceeds from the sale by
the Trust to the holders of the Capital Securities shall be combined with the
entire proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common
securities (the "Common Securities"), and shall be used by the Trust to purchase
$15,464,000.00 in principal amount of the Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Debentures") of the Company. The Capital
Securities and the Common Securities for the Trust shall be issued pursuant to
an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust among U.S. Bank, as institutional
trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), the Administrators named therein, and the
Company, to be dated as of the Closing Date and in substantially the form
heretofore delivered to the Placement Agents (the "Trust Agreement"). The
Debentures shall be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Indenture"), to be
dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and U.S. Bank, as indenture
trustee (the "Indenture Trustee"). The documents identified in this Section 1.2
and in Section 1.1 are referred to herein as the "Operative Documents."

     1.3    RIGHTS OF PURCHASER. The Capital Securities shall be offered and
sold by the Trust directly to the Purchaser without registration of any of the
Capital Securities, the Debentures or the Guarantee under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other applicable securities laws
in reliance upon exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and other applicable securities laws. The Offerors agree that this Agreement
shall be incorporated by reference into the Subscription Agreement and the
Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and
the Purchaser under this Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce obligations
of the Offerors under this Agreement as fully as if the Purchaser were a party
to this Agreement. The Offerors and the Placement Agents have entered into this
Agreement to set forth their understanding as to their relationship and their
respective rights, duties and obligations.

     1.4    LEGENDS. Upon original issuance thereof, and until such time as the
same is no longer required under the applicable requirements of the Securities
Act, the Capital Securities and Debentures certificates shall each contain a
legend as required pursuant to any of the Operative Documents.

SECTION 2.  PURCHASE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES.

     2.1    EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE. From the date hereof until the
Closing Date (which date may be extended by mutual agreement of the Offerors and
the Placement Agents), the Offerors hereby grant to the Placement Agents the
exclusive right to arrange for the sale of the Capital Securities to the
Purchaser at a purchase price of $1,000.00 per Capital Security.

     2.2    SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. The Offerors hereby agree to evidence their
acceptance of the subscription by countersigning a copy of the Subscription
Agreement and returning the same to the Placement Agents.

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     2.3    CLOSING AND DELIVERY OF PAYMENT.

            2.3.1   CLOSING; CLOSING DATE. The sale and purchase of the Capital
Securities by the Offerors to the Purchaser shall take place at a closing (the
"Closing") at the offices of LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., at 10:00
a.m. (New York City time) on May 15, 2003, or such other business day as may be
agreed upon by the Offerors and the Placement Agents (the "Closing Date");
provided, however, that in no event shall the Closing Date occur later than May
22, 2003 unless consented to by the Purchaser. Payment by the Purchaser shall be
payable in the manner set forth in the Subscription Agreement and shall be made
prior to or on the Closing Date.

            2.3.2   DELIVERY. The certificate for the Capital Securities shall
be in definitive form, registered in the name of the Purchaser and in the
aggregate amount of the Capital Securities purchased by the Purchaser.

            2.3.3   TRANSFER AGENT. The Offerors shall deposit the certificate
representing the Capital Securities with the Institutional Trustee or other
appropriate party prior to the Closing Date.

     2.4    PLACEMENT AGENTS' FEES AND EXPENSES.

            2.4.1   PLACEMENT AGENTS' COMPENSATION. Because the proceeds from
the sale of the Capital Securities shall be used to purchase the Debentures from
the Company, the Company shall pay an aggregate of $30.00 for each $1,000.00 of
principal amount of Debentures sold to the Trust (excluding the Debentures
related to the Common Securities purchased by the Company). Of this amount,
$15.00 for each $1,000.00 of principal amount of Debentures shall be payable to
FTN Financial Capital Markets and $15.00 for each $1,000.00 of principal amount
of Debentures shall be payable to Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. Such amount
shall be delivered to the Trustee or such other person designated by the
Placement Agents on the Closing Date and shall be allocated between and paid to
the respective Placement Agents as directed by the Placement Agents.

            2.4.2   COSTS AND EXPENSES. Whether or not this Agreement is
terminated or the sale of the Capital Securities is consummated, the Company
hereby covenants and agrees that it shall pay or cause to be paid (directly or
by reimbursement) all reasonable costs and expenses incident to the performance
of the obligations of the Offerors under this Agreement, including all fees,
expenses and disbursements of counsel and accountants for the Offerors; the
reasonable costs and charges of any trustee, transfer agent or registrar and the
fees and disbursements of counsel to any trustee, transfer agent or registrar in
each case only to the extent attributable to the Debentures and the Capital
Securities; all reasonable expenses incurred by the Offerors incident to the
preparation, execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement, the Indenture, and
the Guarantee; and all other reasonable costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the Trust
Agreement.

     2.5    FAILURE TO CLOSE. If any of the conditions to the Closing specified
in this Agreement shall not have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the
Placement Agents or if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before 10:00
a.m. (New York City time) on May 22, 2003,

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then each party hereto, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, shall be relieved of all further obligations under this Agreement
without thereby waiving any rights it may have by reason of such nonfulfillment
or failure; provided, however, that the obligations of the parties under
Sections 2.4.2, 7.5 and 9 shall not be so relieved and shall continue in full
force and effect.

SECTION 3.  CLOSING CONDITIONS. The obligations of the Purchaser and the
Placement Agents on the Closing Date shall be subject to the accuracy, at and as
of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Offerors
contained in this Agreement, to the accuracy, at and as of the Closing Date, of
the statements of the Offerors made in any certificates pursuant to this
Agreement, to the performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations
under this Agreement, to compliance, at and as of the Closing Date, by the
Offerors with their respective agreements herein contained, and to the following
further conditions:

     3.1    OPINIONS OF COUNSEL. On the Closing Date, the Placement Agents shall
have received the following favorable opinions, each dated as of the Closing
Date: (a) from Kirschner & Legler, P.A., counsel for the Offerors and addressed
to the Purchaser and the Placement Agents in substantially the form set forth on
Exhibit B-1 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, (b) from
Bingham McCutchen LLP, special Connecticut counsel to the Offerors and addressed
to the Purchaser, the Placement Agents and the Offerors, in substantially the
form set forth on Exhibit B-2 attached hereto and incorporated herein by this
reference, and (c) from LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P., special tax
counsel to the Offerors, and addressed to the Placement Agents and the Offerors,
in substantially the form set forth on Exhibit B-3 attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference, subject to the receipt by LeBoeuf, Lamb,
Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. of a representation letter from the Company in the form
set forth in Exhibit B-3 completed in a manner reasonably satisfactory to
LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P. (collectively, the "Offerors' Counsel
Opinions"). In rendering the Offerors' Counsel Opinions, counsel to the Offerors
may rely as to factual matters upon certificates or other documents furnished by
officers, directors and trustees of the Offerors (copies of which shall be
delivered to the Placement Agents and the Purchaser) and by government
officials, and upon such other documents as counsel to the Offerors may, in
their reasonable opinion, deem appropriate as a basis for the Offerors' Counsel
Opinions. Counsel to the Offerors may specify the jurisdictions in which they
are admitted to practice and that they are not admitted to practice in any other
jurisdiction and are not experts in the law of any other jurisdiction. If the
Offerors' counsel is not admitted to practice in the State of New York, the
opinion of Offerors' counsel may assume, for purposes of the opinion, that the
laws of the State of New York are substantively identical, in all respects
material to the opinion, to the internal laws of the state in which such counsel
is admitted to practice. Such Offerors' Counsel Opinions shall not state that
they are to be governed or qualified by, or that they are otherwise subject to,
any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal opinions,
including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of
Business Law (1991).

     3.2    OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE. At the Closing Date, the Purchaser and the
Placement Agents shall have received certificates from the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that (a) the
representations and warranties of the Offerors set forth in Section 5 hereof are
true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Offerors have complied with
all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be performed or

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satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date, (b) since the date of this Agreement
the Offerors have not incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, or entered into any material transactions, other than in the
ordinary course of business, which is material to the Offerors, and (c) covering
such other matters as the Placement Agents may reasonably request.

     3.3    ADMINISTRATOR'S CERTIFICATE. At the Closing Date, the Purchaser and
the Placement Agents shall have received a certificate of one or more
Administrators of the Trust, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the
representations and warranties of the Trust set forth in Section 5 are true and
correct as of the Closing Date and that the Trust has complied with all
agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
at or prior to the Closing Date.

     3.4    PURCHASE PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAWS; LEGAL INVESTMENT. The
purchase of and payment for the Capital Securities as described in this
Agreement and pursuant to the Subscription Agreement shall (a) not be prohibited
by any applicable law or governmental regulation, (b) not subject the Purchaser
or the Placement Agents to any penalty or, in the reasonable judgment of the
Purchaser and the Placement Agents, other onerous conditions under or pursuant
to any applicable law or governmental regulation, and (c) be permitted by the
laws and regulations of the jurisdictions to which the Purchaser and the
Placement Agents are subject.

     3.5    CONSENTS AND PERMITS. The Company and the Trust shall have received
all consents, permits and other authorizations, and made all such filings and
declarations, as may be required from any person or entity pursuant to any law,
statute, regulation or rule (federal, state, local and foreign), or pursuant to
any agreement, order or decree to which the Company or the Trust is a party or
to which either is subject, in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.

     3.6    SALE OF PURCHASER SECURITIES. The Purchaser shall have sold
securities issued by the Purchaser in an amount such that the net proceeds of
such sale shall be (i) available on the Closing Date and (ii) in an amount
sufficient to purchase the Capital Securities and all other capital or similar
securities contemplated in agreements similar to this Agreement and the
Subscription Agreement.

     3.7    INFORMATION. Prior to or on the Closing Date, the Offerors shall
have furnished to the Placement Agents such further information, certificates,
opinions and documents addressed to the Purchaser and the Placement Agents,
which the Placement Agents may reasonably request, including, without
limitation, a complete set of the Operative Documents or any other documents or
certificates required by this Section 3; and all proceedings taken by the
Offerors in connection with the issuance, offer and sale of the Capital
Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and
substance to the Placement Agents.

     If any condition specified in this Section 3 shall not have been fulfilled
when and as required in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions or
certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Placement Agents, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Placement Agents by notice to the Offerors at
any time at or prior to the Closing Date. Notice of such termination shall be
given to the Offerors in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in
writing.

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SECTION 4.  CONDITIONS TO THE OFFERORS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Offerors to sell the Capital Securities to the Purchaser and consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the accuracy, at
and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the
Placement Agents contained in this Agreement and to the following further
conditions:

     4.1    EXECUTED AGREEMENT. The Offerors shall have received from the
Placement Agents an executed copy of this Agreement.

     4.2    FULFILLMENT OF OTHER OBLIGATIONS. The Placement Agents shall have
fulfilled all of their other obligations and duties required to be fulfilled
under this Agreement prior to or at the Closing.

SECTION 5.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE OFFERORS. Except as set forth
on the Disclosure Schedule (as defined in Section 11.1) attached hereto, if any,
the Offerors jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Placement Agents
and the Purchaser as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date as follows:

     5.1    SECURITIES LAW MATTERS; AUTHORIZATIONS.

            (a)     Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their
"Affiliates" (as defined in Rule 501(b) of Regulation D under the Securities Act
("Regulation D")), nor any person acting on any of their behalf has, directly or
indirectly, made offers or sales of any security, or solicited offers to buy any
security, under circumstances that would require the registration under the
Securities Act of any of the Capital Securities, the Guarantee or the Debentures
(collectively, the "Securities") or any other securities to be issued, or which
may be issued, by the Purchaser.

            (b)     Neither the Company nor the Trust, nor any of their
Affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has (i) other than the
Placement Agents, offered for sale or solicited offers to purchase the
Securities, (ii) engaged or will engage, in any "directed selling efforts"
within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S")
with respect to the Securities, or (iii) engaged in any form of offering,
general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of Regulation D)
in connection with any offer or sale of any of the Securities.

            (c)     The Securities satisfy the eligibility requirements of Rule
144A(d)(3) under the Securities Act.

            (d)     Neither the Company nor the Trust is or, after giving effect
to the offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the
transactions described in this Agreement, will be an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case within the meaning
of Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act"), without regard to Section 3(c) of the Investment
Company Act.

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            (e)     Neither the Company nor the Trust has paid or agreed to pay
to any person or entity (other than the Placement Agents) any compensation for
soliciting another to purchase any of the Securities.

            (f)     No authorization, approval, consent, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental authority or agency
(including, without limitation, any insurance regulatory agency or body) is
required in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities or the
Guarantee hereunder, or the consummation by the Company or the Trust of any
other transaction contemplated hereby, except such as have been obtained and
made under the federal securities laws or state insurance laws and such as may
be required under state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws.

     5.2    ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND QUALIFICATION OF THE TRUST. The Trust has
been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory trust
under the Connecticut Statutory Trust Act (the "Statutory Trust Act") with the
power and authority to own property and to conduct the business it transacts and
proposes to transact and to enter into and perform its obligations under the
Operative Documents. The Trust is duly qualified to transact business as a
foreign entity and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is necessary, except where the failure to so qualify or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Trust. The Trust is not
a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than the Operative
Documents. The Trust is and will, under current law, be classified for federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a
corporation.

     5.3    TRUST AGREEMENT. The Trust Agreement has been duly authorized by the
Company and, on the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered by
the Company and the Administrators of the Trust, and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Institutional Trustee, will be a
valid and binding obligation of the Company and such Administrators, enforceable
against them in accordance with its terms, subject to (a) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, moratorium, receivership, reorganization, liquidation and other laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, and (b) general principles
of equity (regardless of whether considered and applied in a proceeding in
equity or at law) ("Bankruptcy and Equity"). Each of the Administrators of the
Trust is an employee or a director of the Company or of a subsidiary of the
Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and deliver the
Trust Agreement.

     5.4    GUARANTEE AGREEMENT AND THE INDENTURE. Each of the Guarantee and the
Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, on the Closing Date will
have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of
the Guarantee, and by the Indenture Trustee, in the case of the Indenture, will
be a valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity.

     5.5    CAPITAL SECURITIES AND COMMON SECURITIES. The Capital Securities and
the Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust Agreement and, when
issued and delivered against payment therefor on the Closing Date to the
Purchaser, in the case of the Capital Securities, and to the Company, in the
case of the Common Securities, will be validly

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issued and represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.
None of the Capital Securities or the Common Securities is subject to preemptive
or other similar rights. On the Closing Date, all of the issued and outstanding
Common Securities will be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any
pledge, security interest, claim, lien or other encumbrance.

     5.6    DEBENTURES. The Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company
and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed and delivered to the
Indenture Trustee for authentication in accordance with the Indenture, and, when
authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against
payment therefor by the Trust, will constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their terms, subject to Bankruptcy and Equity.

     5.7    POWER AND AUTHORITY. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trust and constitutes the valid
and binding obligation of the Company and the Trust, enforceable against the
Company and the Trust in accordance with its terms, subject to Bankruptcy and
Equity.

     5.8    NO DEFAULTS. The Trust is not in violation of the Trust Agreement
or, to the knowledge of the Administrators, any provision of the Statutory Trust
Act. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company or the Trust of this
Agreement or the Operative Documents to which it is a party, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein and the use of
the proceeds therefrom, will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a
default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
other encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Trust, the Company or any
of the Company's Significant Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 5.10 hereof)
pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
other instrument to which the Trust, the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which
any of the property or assets of any of them is subject, except for a conflict,
breach, default, lien, charge or encumbrance which could not, singly or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect nor will
such action result in any violation of the Trust Agreement or the Statutory
Trust Act or require the consent, approval, authorization or order of any court
or governmental agency or body. As used herein, the term "Material Adverse
Effect" means any one or more effects that individually or in the aggregate are
material and adverse to the Offeror's ability to consummate the transactions
contemplated herein or in the Operative Documents or any one or more effects
that individually or in the aggregate are material and adverse to the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business prospects or results of
operations of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as whole,
whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business.

     5.9  ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND QUALIFICATION OF THE COMPANY. The Company
has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of Florida, with all requisite corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and
proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of the Company
to be so qualified would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.

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     5.10   SUBSIDIARIES OF THE COMPANY. Each of the Company's significant
subsidiaries (as defined in Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X to the Securities
Act (the "Significant Subsidiaries")) is listed in Exhibit C attached hereto and
incorporated herein by this reference. Each Significant Subsidiary has been duly
organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with all requisite power and
authority to own its properties and conduct the business it transacts and
proposes to transact, and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
activities requires such qualification, except where the failure of any such
Significant Subsidiaries to be so qualified would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiaries (a) have been duly
authorized and are validly issued, (b) are fully paid and nonassessable, and (c)
are wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, restriction upon voting
or transfer, preemptive rights, claim, equity or other defect.

     5.11   PERMITS. The Company and each of its Significant Subsidiaries have
all requisite power and authority, and all necessary authorizations, approvals,
orders, licenses (including, without limitation, insurance licenses from the
insurance departments of the various states where the Significant Subsidiaries
write insurance business (the "Insurance Licenses")), certificates and permits,
including those that are necessary to own or lease their respective properties
(collectively, "Permits"), of and from regulatory or governmental officials,
bodies and tribunals that are material to the Company and its Significant
Subsidiaries taken as a whole and are necessary to conduct the business now
operated by them; the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries are in compliance
with the terms and conditions of all such Insurance Licenses and Permits, except
where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in
a Material Adverse Effect; all of the Insurance Licenses and Permits are valid
and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Insurance
Licenses and Permits or the failure of such Insurance Licenses and Permits to be
in full force and effect would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Insurance Licenses and Permits which, singly or in the aggregate, may reasonably
be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.12   CONFLICTS, AUTHORIZATIONS AND APPROVALS. Neither the Company nor any
of its Significant Subsidiaries is in violation of its respective articles or
certificate of incorporation, charter or by-laws or similar organizational
documents or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage,
loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which either the
Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or any
of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or
any of its Significant Subsidiaries is subject, the effect of which violation or
default in performance or observance would have, singly or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect.

     5.13   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

            (a)     The consolidated balance sheets of the Company and all of
its Significant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002, and
related consolidated income

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statements and statements of changes in shareholders' equity for the 3 years
ended December 31, 2002 together with the notes thereto (the "Financial
Statements"), copies of each of which have been provided to the Placement
Agents, have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be disclosed therein)
and fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the
results of operations and changes in shareholders' equity of the Company and all
of its Significant Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods indicated
(subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal recurring
year-end adjustments, none of which shall be material). The books and records of
the Company and all of its Significant Subsidiaries have been, and are being,
maintained in all material respects in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and any other applicable legal and accounting requirements
and reflect only actual transactions.

            (b)     The statutory financial statements as of December 31, 2001
and December 31, 2002 (the "Statutory Financial Statements") of each of the
Company's insurance subsidiaries have for each relevant period been prepared in
accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners, and with respect to each insurance
subsidiary, the appropriate Insurance Department of the state of domicile of
such insurance subsidiary, and such accounting practices have been applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved.

            (c)     Since the respective dates of the most recent Financial
Statements and the Statutory Financial Statements, there has been no material
adverse change or development with respect to the financial condition or
earnings of the Company and all of its Significant Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.

            (d)     The accountants of the Company who certified the Financial
Statements are independent public accountants of the Company and its Significant
Subsidiaries within the meaning of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder.

     5.14   REGULATORY ENFORCEMENT MATTERS. Neither the Company nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any notice
or advice that any of them may become subject or party to, any investigation
with respect to, any cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent agreement,
memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding
or order with or by, or is a party to any commitment letter or similar
undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has been since January 1,
2001, a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or since January 1, 2001, has
adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any agency charged with the
supervision or regulation of insurance companies (a "Regulatory Agency") that
currently restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or
that in any material manner relates to their capital adequacy, their ability or
authority to pay dividends or make distributions to their shareholders or make
payments of principal or interest on their debt obligations, their management or
their business (each, a "Regulatory Agreement"), nor has the Company or any of
its Significant Subsidiaries been advised since January 1, 2001, by any
Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such
Regulatory Agreement. There is no material unresolved violation, criticism or
exception by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any report or statement
relating to any examinations of the Company or any of its Significant
Subsidiaries.

                                       10
<PAGE>

     5.15   NO MATERIAL CHANGE. Since December 31, 2002, there has been no
material adverse change or development with respect to the condition (financial
or otherwise), earnings, affairs, business prospects or results of operations of
the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business.

     5.16   NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Neither the Company nor any of its
Significant Subsidiaries has any material liability, whether known or unknown,
whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued
or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become
due, including any liability for taxes (and there is no past or present fact,
situation, circumstance, condition or other basis for any present or future
action, suit, proceeding, hearing, charge, complaint, claim or demand against
the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries giving rise to any such liability),
except (i) for liabilities set forth in the Financial Statements and Statutory
Financial Statements, respectively, (ii) normal fluctuation in the amount of the
liabilities referred to in clause (i) above occurring in the ordinary course of
business of the Company and all of its Significant Subsidiaries since the date
of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements and
Statutory Financial Statements, respectively, and (iii) as may be specifically
disclosed in writing to the Placement Agents.

     5.17   LITIGATION. No charge, investigation, action, suit or proceeding
(including, without limitation, any proceeding to revoke or deny renewal of any
Insurance Licenses) is pending or, to the knowledge of the Offerors, threatened,
against or affecting the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties before or by (i) any court wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding could reasonably be expected to have, singly or in
the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) any regulatory, administrative
or governmental official, commission, board, agency or other authority or body,
or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding could
have, singly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

     5.18   DEFERRAL OF INTEREST PAYMENTS ON DEBENTURES. The Company has no
present intention to exercise its option to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures as provided in the Indenture. The Company believes that the
likelihood that it would exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the
Debentures as provided in the Indenture 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, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Company's capital stock and on the Company's ability to make any payments of
principal, interest or premium on, or repay, repurchase or redeem, any of its
debt securities that rank pari passu in all respects with, or junior in interest
to, the Debentures.

SECTION 6.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PLACEMENT AGENTS. Each
Placement Agent represents and warrants to the Offerors as to itself (but not as
to the other Placement Agent) as follows:

     6.1    ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND QUALIFICATION.

            (a)     FTN Financial Capital Markets is a division of First
Tennessee Bank, N.A., a national banking association duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under

                                       11
<PAGE>

the laws of the United States, with full power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted.
FTN Financial Capital Markets is duly qualified to transact business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which
it owns or leases property or conducts its business so as to require such
qualification and in which the failure to so qualify would, individually or in
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, business, prospects or results of operations of FTN
Financial Capital Markets.

            (b)     Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
New York, with full power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and conduct its business as currently being conducted. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods,
Inc. is duly qualified to transact business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases property or
conducts its business so as to require such qualification and in which the
failure to so qualify would, individually or in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business,
prospects or results of operations of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

     6.2    POWER AND AUTHORITY. The Placement Agent has all requisite power and
authority to enter into this Agreement, and this Agreement has been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Placement Agent and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the Placement Agent,
enforceable against the Placement Agent in accordance with its terms, subject to
Bankruptcy and Equity and except as any indemnification or contribution
provisions thereof may be limited under applicable securities laws.

     6.3    GENERAL SOLICITATION. In the case of the offer and sale of the
Capital Securities, no form of general solicitation or general advertising was
used by the Placement Agent or its representatives including, but not limited
to, advertisements, articles, notices or other communications published in any
newspaper, magazine or similar medium or broadcast over television or radio or
any seminar or meeting whose attendees have been invited by any general
solicitation or general advertising. Neither the Placement Agent nor its
representatives have engaged or will engage in any "directed selling efforts"
within the meaning of Regulation S with respect to the Capital Securities.

     6.4    PURCHASER. The Placement Agent has made such reasonable inquiry as
is necessary to determine that the Purchaser is acquiring the Capital Securities
for its own account, that the Purchaser does not intend to distribute the
Capital Securities in contravention of the Securities Act or any other
applicable securities laws, and that the Purchaser is not a "U.S. person" as
that term is defined under Rule 902 of the Securities Act.

     6.5    QUALIFIED PURCHASERS. The Placement Agent has not offered or sold
and will not arrange for the offer or sale of the Capital Securities except (i)
in an offshore transaction complying with Rule 903 of Regulation S, or (ii) to
those the Placement Agent reasonably believes are "accredited investors" (as
defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D), or (iii) in any other manner that does not
require registration of the Capital Securities under the Securities Act. In
connection with each such sale, the Placement Agent has taken or will take
reasonable steps to ensure that the Purchaser is aware that (a) such sale is
being made in reliance on an exemption

                                       12
<PAGE>

under the Securities Act, and (b) future transfers of the Capital Securities
will not be made except in compliance with applicable securities laws.

     6.6.   OFFERING CIRCULARS. Neither the Placement Agent nor its
representatives will include any non-public information about the Company, the
Trust or any of their affiliates in any registration statement, prospectus,
offering circular or private placement memorandum used in connection with any
purchase of Capital Securities without the prior written consent of the Trust
and the Company.

SECTION 7.  COVENANTS OF THE OFFERORS. The Offerors covenant and agree with the
Placement Agents and the Purchaser as follows:

     7.1    COMPLIANCE WITH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. During the period
from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, the Offerors shall use
their best efforts and take all action necessary or appropriate to cause their
representations and warranties contained in Section 5 hereof to be true as of
the Closing Date, after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

     7.2    SALE AND REGISTRATION OF SECURITIES. The Offerors and their
Affiliates shall not nor shall any of them permit any person acting on their
behalf (other than the Placement Agents), to directly or indirectly (a) sell,
offer for sale or solicit offers to buy or otherwise negotiate in respect of any
security (as defined in the Securities Act) that would or could be integrated
with the sale of the Capital Securities in a manner that would require the
registration under the Securities Act of the Securities, or (b) make offers or
sales of any such Security, or solicit offers to buy any such Security, under
circumstances that would require the registration of any of such Securities
under the Securities Act.

     7.3    USE OF PROCEEDS. The Trust shall use the proceeds from the sale of
the Capital Securities to purchase the Debentures from the Company.

     7.4    INVESTMENT COMPANY. The Offerors shall not engage, or permit any
subsidiary to engage, in any activity which would cause it or any subsidiary to
be an "investment company" under the provisions of the Investment Company Act.

     7.5    REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. If the sale of the Capital Securities
provided for herein is not consummated (a) because any condition set forth in
Section 3 hereof is not satisfied, or (b) because of any refusal, inability or
failure on the part of the Company or the Trust to perform any agreement herein
or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a breach by the
Placement Agents, the Company shall reimburse the Placement Agents upon demand
for all of their pro rata share of out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel) in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00 that
shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and
sale of the Capital Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
have no obligation to reimburse the Placement Agents for their out-of-pocket
expenses if the sale of the Capital Securities fails to occur because the
condition set forth in Section 3.6 is not satisfied or because either of the
Placement Agents fails to fulfill a condition set forth in Section 4.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     7.6    DIRECTED SELLING EFFORTS, SOLICITATION AND ADVERTISING. In
connection with any offer or sale of any of the Securities, the Offerors shall
not, nor shall either of them permit any of their Affiliates or any person
acting on their behalf, other than the Placement Agents, to, (a) engage in any
"directed selling efforts" within the meaning of Regulation S, or (b) engage in
any form of general solicitation or general advertising (as defined in
Regulation D).

     7.7    COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A(d)(4) UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT. So long as
any of the Securities are outstanding and are "restricted securities" within the
meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act, the Offerors will, during
any period in which they are not subject to and in compliance with Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
or the Offerors are not exempt from such reporting requirements pursuant to and
in compliance with Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Exchange Act, provide to each holder
of such restricted securities and to each prospective purchaser (as designated
by such holder) of such restricted securities, upon the request of such holder
or prospective purchaser in connection with any proposed transfer, any
information required to be provided by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act,
if applicable. This covenant is intended to be for the benefit of the holders,
and the prospective purchasers designated by such holders, from time to time of
such restricted securities. The information provided by the Offerors pursuant to
this Section 7.7 will not, at the date thereof, contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.

     7.8    QUARTERLY REPORTS. Within 50 days of the end of each of the first
three calendar year quarters and within 75 days of the end of each calendar year
during which the Debentures are issued and outstanding, the Offerors shall
submit to The Bank of New York a completed quarterly report in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit D. The Offerors acknowledge and agree that The Bank of New
York and its successors and assigns is a third party beneficiary of this Section
7.8.

SECTION 8.  COVENANTS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENTS. The Placement Agents covenant and
agree with the Offerors that, during the period from the date of this Agreement
to the Closing Date, the Placement Agents shall use their best efforts and take
all action necessary or appropriate to cause their representations and
warranties contained in Section 6 to be true as of Closing Date, after giving
effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as if made on and as
of the Closing Date. The Placement Agents further covenant and agree not to
engage in hedging transactions with respect to the Capital Securities unless
such transactions are conducted in compliance with the Securities Act.

SECTION 9.  INDEMNIFICATION.

     9.1    INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATION. The Offerors shall jointly and severally
indemnify and hold harmless the Placement Agents and the Purchaser and each of
their respective agents, employees, officers and directors and each person that
controls either of the Placement Agents or the Purchaser within the meaning of
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and agents,
employees, officers and directors or any such controlling person of either of
the Placement Agents or the Purchaser (each such person or entity, an
"Indemnified Party") from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
judgments, liabilities or expenses,

                                       14
<PAGE>

joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Offerors), insofar as such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or
expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of, or are based upon, or
relate to, in whole or in part, (a) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any information (whether written or
oral) or documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the
Placement Agents or the Purchaser by the Offerors, or (b) any omission or
alleged omission to state in any information (whether written or oral) or
documents executed in favor of, furnished or made available to the Placement
Agents or the Purchaser by the Offerors a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall
reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal and other expenses as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim,
damage, judgment, liability, expense or action described in this Section 9.1. In
addition to their other obligations under this Section 9, the Offerors hereby
agree that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of, or based upon, or
related to the matters described above in this Section 9.1, they shall reimburse
each Indemnified Party on a quarterly basis for all reasonable legal or other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding the absence
of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the
possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a
court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim
reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, each Indemnified Party
shall promptly return such amounts to the Offerors together with interest,
determined on the basis of the prime rate (or other commercial lending rate for
borrowers of the highest credit standing) announced from time to time by First
Tennessee Bank, N.A. (the "Prime Rate"). Any such interim reimbursement payments
that are not made to an Indemnified Party within 30 days of a request for
reimbursement shall bear interest at the Prime Rate from the date of such
request.

     9.2    CONDUCT OF INDEMNIFICATION PROCEEDINGS. Promptly after receipt by an
Indemnified Party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any
action, such Indemnified Party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be
made against the Offerors under this Section 9, notify the Offerors in writing
of the commencement thereof; but, subject to Section 9.4, the omission to so
notify the Offerors shall not relieve them from any liability pursuant to
Section 9.1 which the Offerors may have to any Indemnified Party unless and to
the extent that the Offerors did not otherwise learn of such action and such
failure by the Indemnified Party results in the forfeiture by the Offerors of
substantial rights and defenses. In case any such action is brought against any
Indemnified Party and such Indemnified Party seeks or intends to seek indemnity
from the Offerors, the Offerors shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the
extent that they may wish, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such Indemnified Party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, if the defendants in
any such action include both the Indemnified Party and the Offerors and the
Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be a conflict
between the positions of the Offerors and the Indemnified Party in conducting
the defense of any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to
it and/or other Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to
those available to the Offerors, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to
select separate counsel to assume such

                                       15
<PAGE>

legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on
behalf of such Indemnified Party. Upon receipt of notice from the Offerors to
such Indemnified Party of their election to so assume the defense of such action
and approval by the Indemnified Party of counsel, the Offerors shall not be
liable to such Indemnified Party under this Section 9 for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with the
defense thereof unless (a) the Indemnified Party shall have employed such
counsel in connection with the assumption of legal defenses in accordance with
the proviso in the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
Offerors shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel
representing the Indemnified Parties who are parties to such action), or (b) the
Offerors shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and
expenses of counsel of such Indemnified Party shall be at the expense of the
Offerors.

     9.3    CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9
is required by its terms, but is for any reason held to be unavailable to or
otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an Indemnified Party under Section 9.1
in respect of any losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses
referred to herein or therein, then the Offerors shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of any losses, claims,
damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to herein (a) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Offerors, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Party, on the other hand, from
the offering of such Capital Securities, or (b) if the allocation provided by
clause (a) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (a)
above but also the relative fault of the Offerors, on the one hand, and the
Placement Agents, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions or inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein or other
breaches which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, judgments, liabilities
or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
respective relative benefits received by the Offerors, on the one hand, and the
Placement Agents, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion, in the case of the Offerors, as the total price paid to the Offerors
for the Capital Securities sold by the Offerors to the Purchaser (net of the
compensation paid to the Placement Agents hereunder, but before deducting
expenses), and in the case of the Placement Agents, as the compensation received
by them, bears to the total of such amounts paid to the Offerors and received by
the Placement Agents as compensation. The relative fault of the Offerors and the
Placement Agents shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
the omission or alleged omission of a material fact or the inaccurate or the
alleged inaccurate representation and/or warranty relates to information
supplied by the Offerors or the Placement Agents and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The provisions set forth in Section 9.2 with respect
to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution
is made under this Section 9.3; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no additional notice
shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given
under Section 9.2 for purposes of indemnification. The Offerors and the
Placement Agents agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 9.3 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in this Section 9.3. The amount paid or payable by an
Indemnified Party as a result of the losses,

                                       16
<PAGE>

claims, damages, judgments, liabilities or expenses referred to in this Section
9.3 shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. In no event
shall the liability of the Placement Agents hereunder be greater in amount than
the dollar amount of the compensation (net of payment of all expenses) received
by the Placement Agents upon the sale of the Capital Securities giving rise to
such obligation. No person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not found guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.

     9.4    ADDITIONAL REMEDIES. The indemnity and contribution agreements
contained in this Section 9 are in addition to any liability that the Offerors
may otherwise have to any Indemnified Party.

     9.5    ADDITIONAL INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall indemnify and hold
harmless the Trust against all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as due from the Trust under Sections 9.1 through 9.4 hereof.

SECTION 10. RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF PLACEMENT AGENTS.

     10.1   RELIANCE. In performing their duties under this Agreement, the
Placement Agents shall be entitled to rely upon any notice, signature or writing
which they shall in good faith believe to be genuine and to be signed or
presented by a proper party or parties. The Placement Agents may rely upon any
opinions or certificates or other documents delivered by the Offerors or their
counsel or designees to either the Placement Agents or the Purchaser.

     10.2   RIGHTS OF PLACEMENT AGENTS. In connection with the performance of
their duties under this Agreement, the Placement Agents shall not be liable for
any error of judgment or any action taken or omitted to be taken unless the
Placement Agents were grossly negligent or engaged in willful misconduct in
connection with such performance or non-performance. No provision of this
Agreement shall require the Placement Agents to expend or risk their own funds
or otherwise incur any financial liability on behalf of the Purchaser in
connection with the performance of any of their duties hereunder. The Placement
Agents shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers
vested in them by this Agreement.

SECTION 11. MISCELLANEOUS.

     11.1   DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. The term "Disclosure Schedule," as used herein,
means the schedule, if any, attached to this Agreement that sets forth items the
disclosure of which is necessary or appropriate as an exception to one or more
representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof. The Disclosure
Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the section numbers
contained in Section 5. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed
adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein
unless the Disclosure Schedule identifies the exception with reasonable
particularity and describes the relevant facts in reasonable detail. Without
limiting the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, the mere listing
(or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item in the Disclosure Schedule
shall not be deemed adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or
warranty

                                       17
<PAGE>

made herein unless the representation or warranty has to do with the existence
of the document or other item itself. Information provided by the Company in
response to any due diligence questionnaire shall not be deemed part of the
Disclosure Schedule and shall not be deemed to be an exception to one or more
representations or warranties contained in Section 5 hereof unless such
information is specifically included on the Disclosure Schedule in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 11.1.

     11.2   NOTICES. Prior to the Closing, and thereafter with respect to
matters pertaining to this Agreement only, all notices and other communications
provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
first-class mail, telex, telecopier or overnight air courier guaranteeing next
day delivery:

     if to the Placement Agents, to:

                        FTN Financial Capital Markets
                        845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150
                        Memphis, Tennessee  38117
                        Telecopier: 901-435-4706
                        Telephone: 800-456-5460
                        Attention: James D. Wingett

                                  and

                       Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
                       787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor
                       New York, New York  10019
                       Telecopier: 212-403-2000
                       Telephone: 212-403-1004
                       Attention: Mitchell Kleinman, General Counsel

     with a copy to:

                       LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.
                       125 West 55th Street
                       New York, New York  10019
                       Telecopier: 212-424-8500
                       Telephone: 212-424-8000
                       Attention: Alexander M. Dye, Esq.

                                  and

                       Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP
                       787 7th Avenue
                       New York, New York  10019
                       Telecopier: 212-839-5599
                       Telephone: 212-839-5300
                       Attention: Renwick Martin, Esq.

                                       18
<PAGE>

     if to the Offerors, to:

                       FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
                       225 Water Street, Suite 1400
                       Jacksonville, Florida 32202
                       Telecopier: 904-633-9579
                       Telephone: 904-354-2482, ext. 3265
                       Attention: Kim D. Thorpe

      with a copy to:

                       Kirschner & Legler, P.A.
                       300A Wharfside Way
                       Jacksonville, Florida 32207
                       Telecopier: 904-346-3299
                       Telephone: 904-346-3200
                       Attention: Kenneth M. Kirschner, Esq.

     All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given
(a) at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered, (b) five business
days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed, (c) when
answered back, if telexed, (d) the next business day after being telecopied, or
(e) the next business day after timely delivery to a courier, if sent by
overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery. From and after the
Closing, the foregoing notice provisions shall be superseded by any notice
provisions of the Operative Documents under which notice is given. The Placement
Agents, the Company, and their respective counsel, may change their respective
notice addresses from time to time by written notice to all of the foregoing
persons.

     11.3   PARTIES IN INTEREST, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. Except as expressly set
forth herein, this Agreement is made solely for the benefit of the Placement
Agents, the Purchaser and the Offerors and any person controlling the Placement
Agents, the Purchaser or the Offerors and their respective successors and
assigns; and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue
of this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties.

     11.4   COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed by the parties hereto
in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be
an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.

     11.5   HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

     11.6   GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS (AND NOT THE LAWS PERTAINING TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS) OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     11.7   ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, together with the other Operative
Documents and the other documents delivered in connection with the transactions
contemplated

                                       19
<PAGE>

by this Agreement, is intended by the parties as a final expression of their
agreement and intended to be a complete and exclusive statement of the agreement
and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter
contained herein and therein. There are no restrictions, promises, warranties or
undertakings, other than those set forth or referred to herein and therein. This
Agreement, together with the other Operative Documents and the other documents
delivered in connection with the transaction contemplated by this Agreement,
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties with
respect to such subject matter.

     11.8   SEVERABILITY. In the event that any one or more of the provisions
contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity,
legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of
the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it
being intended that all of the Placement Agents' and the Purchaser's rights and
privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

     11.9   SURVIVAL. The Placement Agents and the Offerors, respectively, agree
that the representations, warranties and agreements made by each of them in this
Agreement and in any certificate or other instrument delivered pursuant hereto
shall remain in full force and effect and shall survive the delivery of, and
payment for, the Capital Securities.

                     SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE

                                       20
<PAGE>

     If this Agreement is satisfactory to you, please so indicate by signing the
acceptance of this Agreement and deliver such counterpart to the Offerors
whereupon this Agreement will become binding between us in accordance with its
terms.

Very truly yours,

FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

By:      /s/ John R. Byers
   -----------------------------------
Name:      John R. Byers
     ---------------------------------
Title:  President and CEO
     ---------------------------------

FPIC Capital STATUTORY TRUST II

By:     /s/ Kim D. Thorpe
   -----------------------------------
Name:      Kim D. Thorpe
     ---------------------------------
Title:  Administrator

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first set forth above

FTN FINANCIAL CAPITAL MARKETS,
A DIVISION OF FIRST TENNESSEE BANK, N.A.,
AS A PLACEMENT AGENT

By:     /s/ James D. Wingett
   -----------------------------------
Name:  James D. Wingett
Title: Managing Director

KEEFE, BRUYETTE & WOODS, INC.
A NEW YORK CORPORATION, AS A PLACEMENT AGENT

By:     /s/ Peter J. Wirth
   -----------------------------------
Name:  Peter J. Wirth
Title: Managing Director

                                       21
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A

                         FORM OF SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

                         FPIC Capital STATUTORY TRUST II

                           FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

                             SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT

                                  May 15, 2003

     THIS SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") made among FPIC Capital
Statutory Trust II (the "Trust"), a statutory trust created under the
Connecticut Statutory Trust Act (Chapter 615 of Title 34 of the Connecticut
General Statutes, Section 500, et seq.), FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., a Florida
corporation, with its principal offices located at 225 Water Street, Suite 1400,
Jacksonville, Florida 32202 (the "Company" and, collectively with the Trust, the
"Offerors"), and I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd. (the "Purchaser").

                                    RECITALS:

     A.     The Trust desires to issue 15,000 of its Floating Rate Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities"), liquidation amount $1,000.00 per Capital
Security, representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the
Trust (the "Offering"), to be issued pursuant to an Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration") by and among the Company, U.S. Bank
National Association ("U.S. Bank"), the administrators named therein, and the
holders (as defined therein), which Capital Securities are to be guaranteed by
the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise pursuant to the terms of a Guarantee Agreement between
the Company and U.S. Bank, as trustee (the "Guarantee"); and

     B.     The proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities will be
combined with the proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Company of its
common securities, and will be used by the Trust to purchase an equivalent
amount of Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of
the Company (the "Debentures") to be issued by the Company pursuant to an
indenture to be executed by the Company and U.S. Bank, as trustee (the
"Indenture"); and

     C.     In consideration of the premises and the mutual representations and
covenants hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I
                     PURCHASE AND SALE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES

     1.1.   Upon the execution of this Agreement, the Purchaser hereby agrees to
purchase from the Trust 15,000 Capital Securities at a price equal to $1,000.00
per Capital Security (the "Purchase Price") and the Trust agrees to sell such
Capital Securities to the Purchaser for said
<PAGE>

Purchase Price. The rights and preferences of the Capital Securities are set
forth in the Declaration. The Purchase Price is payable in immediately available
funds on May 15, 2003, or such other business day as may be designated by the
Purchaser, but in no event later than May 22, 2003 (the "Closing Date"). The
Offerors shall provide the Purchaser wire transfer instructions no later than 1
day following the date hereof.

     1.2.   The certificate for the Capital Securities shall be delivered by the
Trust on the Closing Date to the Purchaser or its designee.

     1.3.   The Placement Agreement, dated April 25, 2003 (the "Placement
Agreement"), among the Offerors and the Placement Agents identified therein
includes certain representations and warranties, covenants and conditions to
closing and certain other matters governing the Offering. The Placement
Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Agreement and the
Purchaser shall be entitled to each of the benefits of the Placement Agents and
the Purchaser under the Placement Agreement and shall be entitled to enforce the
obligations of the Offerors under such Placement Agreement as fully as if the
Purchaser were a party to such Placement Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE II
                   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

     2.1.   The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that neither the Capital
Securities, the Debentures nor the Guarantee have been registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or any other
applicable securities law, are being offered for sale by the Trust in
transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act, and may not be
offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred by the Purchaser except in
compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any other
applicable securities laws, pursuant to an exemption therefrom or in a
transaction not subject thereto.

     2.2.   The Purchaser represents, warrants and certifies that (i) it is not
a "U.S. person" as such term is defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act,
(ii) it is not acquiring the Capital Securities for the account or benefit of
any such U.S. person, (iii) the offer and sale of Capital Securities to the
Purchaser constitutes an "offshore transaction" under Regulation S of the
Securities Act, and (iv) it will not engage in hedging transactions with regard
to the Capital Securities unless such transactions are conducted in compliance
with the Securities Act and the Purchaser agrees to the legends and transfer
restrictions set forth on the Capital Securities certificate.

     2.3.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that it is purchasing the
Capital Securities for its own account, for investment, and not with a view to,
or for offer or sale in connection with, any distribution thereof in violation
of the Securities Act or other applicable securities laws, subject to any
requirement of law that the disposition of its property be at all times within
its control and subject to its ability to resell such Capital Securities
pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or
under Rule 144A or any other exemption from registration available under the
Securities Act or any other applicable Securities law.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>

     2.4.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that it has full power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to make the representations and
warranties specified herein, and to consummate the transactions contemplated
herein and it has full right and power to subscribe for Capital Securities and
perform its obligations pursuant to this Agreement.

     2.5.   The Purchaser, a Cayman Islands Company whose business includes
issuance of certain notes and acquiring the Capital Securities and other similar
securities, represents and warrants that it has such knowledge and experience in
financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of purchasing the Capital Securities, has had the opportunity to ask
questions of, and receive answers and request additional information from, the
Offerors and is aware that it may be required to bear the economic risk of an
investment in the Capital Securities.

     2.6.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that no filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or
decree of, any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the
Purchaser, other than those that have been made or obtained, is necessary or
required for the performance by the Purchaser of its obligations under this
Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.

     2.7.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that this Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Purchaser.

     2.8.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that (i) the Purchaser is not
in violation or default of any term of its Memorandum of Association or Articles
of Association, of any provision of any mortgage, indenture, agreement,
instrument or contract to which it is a party or by which it is bound or of any
judgment, decree, order, writ or, to its knowledge, any statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Purchaser which would prevent the Purchaser from
performing any material obligation set forth in this Agreement; and (ii) the
execution, delivery and performance of and compliance with this Agreement, and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein, will not, with or
without the passage of time or giving of notice, result in any such material
violation, or be in conflict with or constitute a default under any such term,
or the suspension, revocation, impairment, forfeiture or non-renewal of any
permit, license, authorization or approval applicable to the Purchaser, its
business or operations or any of its assets or properties which would prevent
the Purchaser from performing any material obligations set forth in this
Agreement.

     2.9.   The Purchaser represents and warrants that the Purchaser is an
exempted company with limited liability duly incorporated, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction where it is organized, with
full power and authority to perform its obligations under this Agreement.

     2.10.  The Purchaser understands and acknowledges that the Company will
rely upon the truth and accuracy of the foregoing acknowledgments,
representations, warranties and agreements and agrees that, if any of the
acknowledgments, representations, warranties or agreements deemed to have been
made by it by its purchase of the Capital Securities are no longer accurate, it
shall promptly notify the Company.

                                      A-3
<PAGE>

     2.11.  The Purchaser understands that no public market exists for any of
the Capital Securities, and that it is unlikely that a public market will ever
exist for the Capital Securities.

                                  ARTICLE III
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

     3.1.   Any notice or other communication given hereunder shall be deemed
sufficient if in writing and sent by registered or certified mail, return
receipt requested, international courier or delivered by hand against written
receipt therefor, or by facsimile transmission and confirmed by telephone, to
the following addresses, or such other address as may be furnished to the other
parties as herein provided:

     To the Offerors:    FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
                         225 Water Street, Suite 1400
                         Jacksonville, Florida 32202
                         Attention:  Kim D. Thorpe
                         Fax: 904-633-9579

     To the Purchaser:   I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd.
                         c/o Maples Finance Limited
                         P.O. Box 1093 GT
                         Queensgate House
                         South Church Street
                         George Town, Grand Cayman
                         Cayman Islands
                         Attention:  The Directors
                         Fax: 345-945-7100

     Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, notices shall be deemed to have
been given on the date of mailing, except notice of change of address, which
shall be deemed to have been given when received.

     3.2.   This Agreement shall not be changed, modified or amended except by a
writing signed by the parties to be charged, and this Agreement may not be
discharged except by performance in accordance with its terms or by a writing
signed by the party to be charged.

     3.3.   Upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Purchaser,
this Agreement shall become a binding obligation of the Purchaser with respect
to the purchase of Capital Securities as herein provided.

     3.4.   NOTWITHSTANDING THE PLACE WHERE THIS AGREEMENT MAY BE EXECUTED BY
ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO, THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT ALL THE TERMS AND
PROVISIONS HEREOF SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

                                      A-4
<PAGE>

     3.5.   The parties agree to execute and deliver all such further documents,
agreements and instruments and take such other and further action as may be
necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes and intent of this Agreement.

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

     3.7.   In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained
herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid,
illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality
and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected, it
being intended that all of the Offerors' and the Purchaser's rights and
privileges shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

                     SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE

                                      A-5
<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand the day and year first written
above.

I-PREFERRED TERM SECURITIES II, LTD.

By:
   ---------------------------------
Name:
     -------------------------------
Title:
      ------------------------------

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement is agreed to and accepted as of the day
and year first written above.

                                         FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

                                         By:
                                            ---------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                              -------------------------------
                                         Title:
                                               ------------------------------

                                         FPIC Capital STATUTORY TRUST II

                                         By:
                                            ---------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                              -------------------------------
                                         Title: Administrator

                                      A-6
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B-1

                         FORM OF COMPANY COUNSEL OPINION

                                 [CLOSING], 2003

I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd.               FTN Financial Capital Markets
c/o Maples Finance Limited                         845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150
P. O. Box 1093 GT                                  Memphis, Tennessee  38117
Queensgate House
South Church Street                                Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
George Town, Grand Cayman                          787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor
Cayman Islands                                     New York, New York  10019

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. (the "Company"), a
Florida corporation in connection with a certain Placement Agreement, dated
[PRICING], 2003, (the "Placement Agreement"), between the Company and FPIC
Capital Statutory Trust II (the "Trust"), on one hand, and FTN Financial Capital
Markets and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (the "Placement Agents"), on the other
hand. Pursuant to the Placement Agreement, and subject to the terms and
conditions stated therein, the Trust will issue and sell to I-Preferred Term
Securities II, Ltd. (the "Purchaser"), $[____________] aggregate principal
amount of Floating Rate Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000.00 per
capital security) (the "Capital Securities").

     Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the same
meanings ascribed to them in the Placement Agreement, except that First
Professionals Insurance Company, Inc. shall be referred to herein as
"Significant Subsidiary" rather than as "Significant Subsidiaries" as it is in
the Placement Agreement.

     The law covered by the opinions expressed herein is limited to the law of
the United States of America and of the State of Florida.

     We have made such investigations of law as, in our judgment, were necessary
to render the following opinions. We have also reviewed (a) the Company's
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, and its By-Laws, as amended, and (b) such
corporate documents, records, information and certificates of the Company and
its Significant Subsidiary, certificates of public officials or government
authorities and other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a
basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. As to certain facts material to
our opinions, we have relied, with your permission, upon statements,
certificates or representations, including those delivered or made in connection
with the above-referenced transaction, of officers and other representatives of
the Company and its Significant Subsidiary and the Trust.

                                     B-1-1
<PAGE>

     In performing our examination, we have assumed, without inquiry, (a) the
completeness and authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (b)
the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us
as copies, (c) the genuineness of all signatures, and (d) the competence of all
natural persons who are or act on behalf of parties to the Placement Agreement
and the Operative Documents and each of the documents contemplated thereby. We
also have assumed (and relied entirely upon such assumption), without inquiry or
other investigation, (i) the legal existence of all parties to the transaction
(other than the Company); (ii) the power and authority of each person (other
than the Company) to execute, deliver and perform the Placement Agreement and
the Operative Documents and the other document(s) executed and delivered by such
person in connection therewith and to do each other act done or to be done by
such person, including (other than with respect to the Company) the taking of
all corporate, shareholder, partnership, limited liability company or other
action necessary to execute and deliver each such document and to perform all
other obligations and otherwise to effect the transactions contemplated thereby;
(iii) the due authorization by each person (other than the Company) to execute,
deliver, and perform the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents and
each other document contemplated thereby to which such person is party and each
other document executed and delivered or to be executed and delivered by such
person; (iv) the due execution and delivery by each person of the Placement
Agreement and the Operative Documents and each other document contemplated
thereby to which such person is a party and each other document executed and
delivered or to be executed and delivered by such person; (v) the legality,
validity, binding effect, and enforceability as to each person (other than the
Company) of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents and each other
document contemplated thereby to which the Company is a party and each other
document executed and delivered or to be executed and delivered by such person
and each other act done or to be done by such person in connection therewith;
(vi) the truth and accuracy of the representations and other statements as to
all matters of fact (including factual conclusions and characterizations and
descriptions of purpose, intention or other states of mind) set forth in the
Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents and in certificates of the
Company; (vii) that there have been no undisclosed modifications of any
provision of any document reviewed by us in connection with the rendering of
this opinion and no undisclosed prior waiver of any right or any remedy
contained in any of the documents; (viii) that fair and adequate consideration
has been given and received by all parties; (ix) that the parties to the
Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents (other than the Company) have
complied with all laws applicable to them that affect the transactions that are
the subject of this opinion; (x) that such transactions comply with all tests of
good faith, fairness, and conscionability required by law; (xi) that routine
procedural matters, such as service of process or qualification to do business
in the relevant jurisdictions, to the extent legally required, will be satisfied
by the parties seeking to enforce the Placement Agreement and the Operative
Documents; (xii) that all statutes, judicial and administrative decisions,
rules, and regulations constituting law for which we have assumed responsibility
are constitutional and are published in a generally accessible manner; (xiii)
that there are no other agreements or understandings among the parties that
would modify the terms of the transactions or the respective rights or
obligations of the parties to the Placement Agreement and the Operative
Documents; and (xiv) that there has been no mutual mistake of fact or fraud or
duress with respect to the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents.

                                     B-1-2
<PAGE>

     As used herein, the phrase "to our knowledge" or "to the best of our
knowledge" or other similar phrase means the actual present recollection of the
attorneys who have had active involvement in the transactions described above or
who have prepared or signed this opinion letter, or who otherwise have devoted
substantial attention to legal matters for the Company and does not include
constructive knowledge of matters or information, and no special or additional
investigation has been undertaken for the purpose thereof.

     The opinions set forth herein concerning the validity, binding effect and
enforceability of a particular agreement mean that (x) such agreement
constitutes an effective contract under applicable law, (y) such agreement is
neither invalid in its entirety because of a specific statutory prohibition or
public policy nor is it subject in its entirety to a contractual defense, and
(z) subject to the last two sentences of this paragraph, a remedy is available
upon a material default under such agreement. Such opinion does not mean that
any particular remedy is available upon a material default or that every
provision of such agreement will be upheld or enforced in any or each
circumstance by a court, provided, however, that the inclusion of such
provisions, if unenforceable, does not render the Placement Agreement or any
Operative Document invalid as a whole and the Placement Agreement and each such
Operative Document contain adequate remedial provisions for the practical
realization of the rights and benefits purported to be afforded by the Placement
Agreement or such Operative Document, subject to the economic consequences of
procedural delays in enforcing the Placement Agreement or such Operative
Document to obtain such rights and benefits. The opinions expressed below are
further qualified to the extent that the validity, binding effect and
enforceability of any provision of the Placement Agreement and the Operative
Documents, or any agreement or document contemplated thereby or executed in
connection therewith, or any rights granted pursuant to the Placement Agreement
or any Operative Document, any agreement or document contemplated thereby or
executed in connection therewith, or obligations incurred thereunder, are
subject to and affected by:

        (a) applicable bankruptcy, receivership, insolvency, reorganization,
     moratorium, or other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of
     creditors and secured parties generally (including, without limitation,
     such laws as may deny giving effect to waivers of rights of debtors or
     guarantors or the imposition of penalties), and such duties or standards as
     may be imposed on creditors, including, without limitation, materiality,
     good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing, under the Uniform Commercial
     Code or any other applicable law or judicial decision;

       (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether considered in a
     proceeding in equity or at law) and the exercise of equitable powers by a
     court of competent jurisdiction (and no opinion is expressed herein as to
     any specific or equitable relief of any kind or as to the availability of
     equitable remedies); and

       (c) applicable state and Federal laws relating to fraudulent conveyances,
     fraudulent transfers, and indemnification for violations of securities
     laws.

     In addition, our opinions should not be construed to provide any opinion
regarding the validity, binding effect or enforceability of (I) provisions to
the effect that failure to exercise, or

                                     B-1-3
<PAGE>

delay in exercising, rights or remedies will not operate as a waiver of any such
right or remedy or (II) disclaimers, liability limitations with respect to third
parties, releases, legal or equitable discharge of defenses, liquidated damages
provisions, provisions purporting to waive the benefit of statutory or common
law rights, or provisions releasing a party from, or indemnifying a party
against, liability for its own wrongful or grossly negligent acts.

     Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further qualifications set
forth below, we are of the opinion as of the date hereof that:

     1.     The Company and the Significant Subsidiary each has been
incorporated under the Florida Business Corporation Act and its status is
active. The Company and the Significant Subsidiary each has full corporate power
and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as such
business is currently conducted in all material respects. To the best of our
knowledge, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Significant Subsidiary
has been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and
nonassessable and owned of record and beneficially, directly by the Company.

     2.     The issuance, sale and delivery of the Debentures in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents
have been duly authorized by all necessary actions of the Company. The issuance,
sale and delivery of the Debentures by the Company and the issuance, sale and
delivery of the Trust Securities by the Trust do not give rise to any preemptive
or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase any shares of capital stock or
equity securities of the Company or the Significant Subsidiary pursuant to the
corporate Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing
documents of the Company or the Significant Subsidiary, or, to the best of our
knowledge, any agreement or other instrument to which either Company or the
Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or the Significant
Subsidiary may be bound.

     3.     The Company has all requisite corporate power to enter into and
perform its obligations under the Placement Agreement and the Subscription
Agreement, and the Placement Agreement and the Subscription Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable
in accordance with their terms.

     4.     Each of the Indenture, the Trust Agreement and the Guarantee
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and
is a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable in
accordance with its terms.

     5.     The Debentures have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company, are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and are legal, valid
and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms.

     6.     To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company, the Trust, nor
any other Significant Subsidiary of the Company is in breach or violation of, or
default under, with or without notice or lapse of time or both, its Articles of
Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other

                                     B-1-4
<PAGE>

governing documents (including without limitation, the Trust Agreement). The
execution, delivery and performance of the Placement Agreement and the Operative
Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement
Agreement and the Operative Documents do not and will not (i) to the best of our
knowledge, result in the creation or imposition of any material lien, claim,
charge, encumbrance or restriction upon any property or assets of the Company or
its Significant Subsidiary, or (ii) conflict with, constitute a material breach
or violation of, or constitute a material default under, with or without notice
or lapse of time or both, any of the terms, provisions or conditions of (A) the
Articles of Incorporation or Charter, By-Laws or other governing documents of
the Company or its Significant Subsidiary, or (B) to the best of our knowledge,
any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit
agreement, note, lease, franchise, license or any other agreement or instrument
to which the Company or its Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which any of
them or any of their respective properties may be bound or (C) to the best of
our knowledge, any order, decree, judgment, franchise, license, permit, rule or
regulation of any court, arbitrator, government, or governmental agency or
instrumentality, domestic or foreign, known to us having jurisdiction over the
Company or its Significant Subsidiary or any of their respective properties
that, in the case of each of (i) or (ii) above, is material to the Company and
its Significant Subsidiary on a consolidated basis.

     7.     Except for filings, registrations or qualifications that may be
required by applicable securities laws, no authorization, approval, consent or
order of, or filing, registration or qualification with, any person (including,
without limitation, any court, governmental body or authority) is required under
the laws of the State of Florida in connection with the transactions
contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents in
connection with the offer and sale of the Capital Securities as contemplated by
the Placement Agreement and the Operative Documents.

     8.     To the best of our knowledge (i) no action, suit or proceeding at
law or in equity is pending or threatened to which the Offerors or their
Significant Subsidiary are or may be a party, and (ii) no action, suit or
proceeding is pending or threatened against or affecting the Offerors or their
Significant Subsidiary or any of their properties, before or by any court or
governmental official, commission, board or other administrative agency,
authority or body, or any arbitrator, wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Placement Agreement and the
Operative Documents or the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities as
contemplated therein or the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
affairs, business, or results of operations of the Offerors and their
Significant Subsidiary on a consolidated basis.

     9.     Assuming the truth and accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Placement Agents in the Placement Agreement and the Purchaser
in the Subscription Agreement, it is not necessary in connection with the
offering, sale and delivery of the Capital Securities, the Debentures and the
Guarantee Agreement (or the Guarantee) to register the same under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, under the circumstances contemplated in the Placement
Agreement and the Subscription Agreement.

                                     B-1-5
<PAGE>

     10.    Neither the Company nor the Trust is or after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Capital Securities and the consummation of the
transactions described in the Placement Agreement will be, an "investment
company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," in each case
within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, without
regard to Section 3(c) of such Act .

     The opinion expressed in the first sentence of numbered paragraph 1 of this
Opinion Letter is based solely upon certain certificates and confirmations
issued by the applicable governmental officer or authority with respect to each
of the Company and the Significant Subsidiary.

     With respect to the foregoing opinions, since no member of this firm is
actively engaged in the practice of law in the States of Connecticut or New
York, we do not express any opinions as to the laws of such states and have (i)
relied, with your approval, upon the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP with
respect to matters of Connecticut law, and (ii) assumed, with your approval and
without rendering any opinion to such effect, that the laws of the State of New
York, in all respects material to this opinion, are substantively identical to
the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to conflict of law provisions.

     This opinion is rendered to you solely pursuant to Section 3.1(a) of the
Placement Agreement. As such, it may be relied upon by you only and may not be
used or relied upon by any other person for any purpose whatsoever without our
prior written consent.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                     B-1-6
<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B-2

                       FORM OF CONNECTICUT COUNSEL OPINION

TO THE PARTIES LISTED
ON SCHEDULE I HERETO

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special counsel in the State of Connecticut (the "State")
for FPIC Capital Statutory Trust II (the "Trust"), a Connecticut statutory trust
formed pursuant to the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Trust
Agreement") dated as of the date hereof, among FPIC Insurance Group, Inc., a
Florida corporation (the "Sponsor"), U.S. Bank National Association, a national
banking association ("U.S. Bank"), in its capacity as Institutional Trustee (the
"Institutional Trustee"), and Kim D. Thorpe, Roberta Goes Cown and Pamela D.
Deyn, each, an individual, (each, an "Administrator") in connection with the
issuance by the Trust to the Holders (as defined in the Trust Agreement) of its
capital securities (the "Capital Securities") pursuant to the Placement
Agreement dated as of [PRICING], 2003 (the "Placement Agreement"), the issuance
by the Trust to the Sponsor of its Common Securities, pursuant to the Trust
Agreement and the acquisition by the Trust from the Sponsor of Debentures,
issued pursuant to the Indenture dated as of the date hereof (the "Indenture").

     The Institutional Trustee has requested that we deliver this opinion to you
in accordance with Section 3.1(b) of the Placement Agreement. Capitalized terms
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in, or defined by
reference in or set forth in the Operative Documents (as defined below).

     Our representation of the Trust has been as special counsel for the limited
purposes stated above. As to all matters of fact (including factual conclusions
and characterizations and descriptions of purpose, intention or other state of
mind), we have relied, with your permission, entirely upon (i) the
representations and warranties of the parties set forth in the Operative
Documents, and (ii) certificates delivered to us by the management of U.S. Bank,
and have assumed, with your permission, without independent inquiry, the
accuracy of those representations, warranties and certificates.

     We have examined the following documents to which the Trust is a party,
each of which is dated the date hereof, unless otherwise noted:

                 (i)      the Trust Agreement;

                 (ii)     the Placement Agreement;

                 (iii)    the Subscription Agreement;

                 (iv)     the Certificate of Common Securities;

                                     B-2-1
<PAGE>

                 (v)      the Certificate of Capital Securities;

                 (vi)     the Guarantee Agreement;

                 (vii)    the Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of
                          State of the State of Connecticut  dated [FILE DATE],
                          2003; and

                 (viii)   a Certificate of Legal Existence for the Trust
                          obtained from the Secretary of State of the State
                          of Connecticut dated [CERTIFICATE DATE], 2003 (the
                          "Certificate of Legal Existence").

     The documents referenced in subparagraphs (i) through (vii) above are
hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Operative Documents."

     We have also examined originals, or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such other corporate and public records and
agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate for the purposes of rendering this opinion. For
purposes of our opinion rendered in paragraph 1 below, with respect to the legal
existence of the Trust, our opinion relies entirely upon and is limited by the
Certificate of Legal Existence, which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.

     We have assumed, with your permission, the genuineness of all signatures
(other than those on behalf of U.S. Bank, the Guarantee Trustee, Indenture
Trustee, Institutional Trustee and the Trust), the conformity of the originals
of all documents reviewed by us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of
all original documents reviewed by us in original or copy form and the legal
competence of each individual executing any document (other than those
individuals executing documents on behalf of U.S. Bank, the Guarantee Trustee,
Indenture Trustee, Institutional Trustee and the Trust).

     When an opinion set forth below is given to the best of our knowledge, or
to our knowledge, or with reference to matters of which we are aware or which
are known to us, or with another similar qualification, the relevant knowledge
or awareness is limited to the actual knowledge or awareness of the individual
lawyers in the firm who have participated directly and substantively in the
specific transactions to which this opinion relates and without any special or
additional investigation undertaken for the purposes of this opinion except as
indicated herein.

     For the purposes of this opinion we have made such examination of law as we
have deemed necessary. The opinions expressed below are limited solely to the
internal substantive laws of the State (as applied by courts located in the
State without regard to choice of law) and we express no opinion as to the laws
of any other jurisdiction. To the extent to which this opinion deals with
matters governed by or relating to the laws of any other state or jurisdiction,
we have assumed, with your permission, that the Operative Documents are governed
by the internal substantive laws of the State.

                                     B-2-2
<PAGE>

     We express no opinion as to (i) the effect of suretyship defenses, or
defenses in the nature thereof, with respect to the obligations of any
applicable guarantor, joint obligor, surety, accommodation party, or other
secondary obligor or any provisions of the Trust Agreement with respect to
indemnification or contribution, and (ii) the accuracy or completeness of any
exhibits or schedules to the Operative Documents. No opinion is given herein as
to the choice of law or internal substantive rules of law that any court or
other tribunal may apply to the transactions contemplated by the Operative
Documents. No opinion is expressed herein as to the application or effect of
federal securities laws or as to the securities or so-called "Blue Sky" laws of
Connecticut or of any other state or other jurisdiction.

     Our opinion, with your permission, is further subject to the following
exceptions, qualifications and assumptions:

          (a)  We have assumed without any independent investigation that (i)
     each party to the Operative Documents, other than U.S. Bank, the Guarantee
     Trustee, Indenture Trustee, Institutional Trustee and the Trust, as
     applicable, at all times relevant thereto, is validly existing and in good
     standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, and
     is qualified to do business and in good standing under the laws of each
     jurisdiction where such qualification is required generally or necessary in
     order for such party to enforce its rights under such Operative Documents,
     (ii) each party to the Operative Documents, at all times relevant thereto,
     had and has the full power, authority and legal right under its certificate
     of incorporation, partnership agreement, by-laws, and other governing
     organizational documents, and the applicable corporate, partnership, or
     other enterprise legislation and other applicable laws, as the case may be
     (other than U.S. Bank, the Guarantee Trustee, Indenture Trustee,
     Institutional Trustee or the Trust) to execute, deliver and to perform its
     obligations under, the Operative Documents, and (iii) each party to the
     Operative Documents other than U.S. Bank, the Guarantee Trustee, Indenture
     Trustee, Institutional Trustee or the Trust has duly executed and delivered
     each of such agreements and instruments to which it is a party and that the
     execution and delivery of such agreements and instruments and the
     transactions contemplated thereby have been duly authorized by proper
     corporate or other organizational proceedings as to each such party.

          (b)  We have assumed without any independent investigation (i) that
     the Institutional Trustee, the Sponsor and the Administrators have received
     the agreed to and stated consideration for the incurrence of the
     obligations applicable to it under the Trust Agreement and each of the
     other Operative Documents, (ii) that each of the Operative Documents (other
     than the Trust Agreement) is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
     each party thereto other than the Trust, U.S. Bank and the Institutional
     Trustee, as applicable, and (iii) for the purposes of this opinion letter,
     we herein also assume that each of the Operative Documents (other than the
     Trust Agreement) constitutes a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
     U.S. Bank, the Guarantee Trustee and the Indenture Trustee, as applicable
     under Connecticut and federal law (as to which such matters we are
     delivering to you a separate opinion letter on this date, which is subject
     to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth therein).

                                     B-2-3
<PAGE>

          (c)  The enforcement of any obligations of U.S. Bank, the Sponsor and
     the Administrators, as applicable, under the Trust Agreement and the
     obligations of the Trust under the other Operative Documents may be limited
     by the receivership, conservatorship and supervisory powers of depository
     institution regulatory agencies generally, as well as by bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, marshaling or other laws and rules
     of law affecting the enforcement generally of creditors' rights and
     remedies (including such as may deny giving effect to waivers of debtors'
     or guarantors' rights); and we express no opinion as to the status under
     any fraudulent conveyance laws or fraudulent transfer laws of any of the
     obligations of U.S. Bank, the Sponsor, the Administrators or the Trust
     under any of the Operative Documents.

          (d)  We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular
     provision of the Trust Agreement or the other Operative Documents relating
     to remedies after default.

          (e)  We express no opinion as the availability of any specific or
     equitable relief of any kind.

          (f)  The enforcement of any rights may in all cases be subject to an
     implied duty of good faith and fair dealing and to general principles of
     equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a
     proceeding at law or in equity).

          (g)  We express no opinion as to the enforceability of any particular
     provision of any of the Operative Documents relating to (i) waivers of
     rights to object to jurisdiction or venue, or consents to jurisdiction or
     venue, (ii) waivers of rights to (or methods of) service of process, or
     rights to trial by jury, or other rights or benefits bestowed by operation
     of law, (iii) waivers of any applicable defenses, setoffs, recoupments, or
     counterclaims, (iv) waivers or variations of provisions which are not
     capable of waiver or variation under Sections 1-102(3), 9-501(3) or other
     provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code ("UCC") of the State, (v) the
     grant of powers of attorney to any person or entity, or (vi) exculpation or
     exoneration clauses, indemnity clauses, and clauses relating to releases or
     waivers of unmatured claims or rights.

          (h)  We express no opinion as to the effect of events occurring,
     circumstances arising, or changes of law becoming effective or occurring,
     after the date hereof on the matters addressed in this opinion letter, and
     we assume no responsibility to inform you of additional or changed facts,
     or changes in law, of which we may become aware.

          (i)  We express no opinion as to any requirement that any party to the
     Operative Documents (or any other persons or entities purportedly entitled
     to the benefits thereof) qualify or register to do business in any
     jurisdiction in order to be able to enforce its rights thereunder or obtain
     the benefits thereof.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations and qualifications
set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

                                     B-2-4
<PAGE>

     1.     The Trust has been duly formed and is validly existing as a
statutory trust under the Connecticut Statutory Trust Act, Chapter 615 of Title
34 of the Connecticut General Statutes, Section 500, et seq. (the "Act").

     2.     The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
U.S. Bank and the Institutional Trustee enforceable against U.S. Bank and the
Institutional Trustee in accordance with the terms thereof.

     3.     The Trust Agreement constitutes a valid and binding obligation of
the Sponsor and the Administrators, enforceable against the Sponsor and the
Administrators in accordance with its terms.

     4.     The Trust has the requisite trust power and authority to (a) execute
and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, the Operative Documents, and
(b) perform its obligations under such Operative Documents.

     5.     Each of the Operative Documents to which the Trust is a party
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Trust, enforceable against the
Trust in accordance with the terms thereof.

     6.     The Capital Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust under
the Trust Agreement, and the Capital Securities, when duly executed and
delivered to the Holders in accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Placement
Agreement and the Subscription Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and will evidence undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust and will be entitled to the benefits of the Trust Agreement.

     7.     The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Trust
Agreement, and the Common Securities, when duly executed and delivered to the
Company in accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Placement Agreement and the
Subscription Agreement and delivered and paid for in accordance therewith, will
be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable (subject to Section 9.1(b) of
the Trust Agreement which provides that the Holders of Common Securities are
liable for debts and obligations of the Trust to the extent such debts and
obligations are not satisfied out of the Trust's assets) and will evidence
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and will be entitled
to the benefits of the Trust Agreement.

     8.     Neither the execution, delivery or performance by the Trust of the
Operative Documents, the consummation by the Trust of the transactions
contemplated thereby, nor compliance by the Trust with any of the terms and
provisions thereof, (a) violates the Trust Agreement, or, to the best of our
knowledge, contravenes or will contravene any provision of, or constitutes a
default under, or results in any breach of, or results in the creation of any
lien (other than as permitted under the Operative Documents) upon property of
the Trust under, any indenture, mortgage, chattel mortgage, deed of trust,
conditional sales contract, bank loan or credit agreement, license or other
agreement or instrument, in each case known to us, to which it is a party or by
which it is bound, or (b) violates any applicable Connecticut law governing the

                                     B-2-5
<PAGE>

Trust, or, to the best of our knowledge, any judgment or order of any court or
other tribunal, in each case known to us, applicable to or binding on it.

     9.     No consent, approval, order or authorization of, giving of notice
to, or registration with, or taking of any other action in respect of, any
Connecticut governmental authority regulating the Trust is required for the
execution, delivery, validity or performance of, or the carrying out by, the
Trust of any of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents, other
than any such consent, approval, order, authorization, registration, notice or
action as has been duly obtained, given or taken.

     10.    The Holders, as the beneficial holders of the Capital Securities,
will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to
shareholders of domestic corporations organized under the laws of the State.

     11.    Under the Trust Agreement, the issuance of the Capital Securities is
not subject to preemptive rights.

     12.    Assuming that the Trust will not be taxable as a corporation for
federal income tax purposes, but rather will be classified for such purposes as
a grantor trust, the Trust will not be subject to any tax, fee or other
government charge under the laws of the State of Connecticut or any political
subdivision thereof.

     This opinion is rendered solely for the benefit of those institutions
listed on Schedule I hereto and their successors and assigns in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents and may not be used or
relied upon by any other person or for any other purpose.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                     B-2-6
<PAGE>

                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------

     U.S. Bank National Association

     FTN Financial Capital Markets

     Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.

     I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd.

     I-Preferred Term Securities II, Inc.

     LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.

     FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

     Kirschner & Legler, P.A.

<PAGE>

                            EXHIBIT A TO EXHIBIT B-2

                         CERTIFICATE OF LEGAL EXISTENCE

                                  See attached

<PAGE>

                                   EXHIBIT B-3

                           FORM OF TAX COUNSEL OPINION

                                                                 [CLOSING], 2003

FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
225 Water Street, Suite 1400
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

FPIC Capital Statutory Trust II
c/o FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.
225 Water Street, Suite 1400
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

FTN Financial Capital Markets
845 Crossover Lane, Suite 150
Memphis, Tennessee 38117

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
787 7th Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, New York 10019

Dear Sirs:

     We are acting as special United States tax counsel to FPIC Insurance Group,
Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Florida (the
"Company"), and to FPIC Capital Statutory Trust II, a statutory trust created
under the laws of Connecticut (the "Trust"), in connection with the proposed
issuance of (i) Floating Rate Capital Securities, liquidation amount $1,000.00
per Capital Security (the "Capital Securities") of the Trust, pursuant to the
terms of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust dated as of the date
hereof by and among the Company, U.S. Bank National Association, as
institutional trustee, and Kim D. Thorpe, Roberta Goes Cown and Pamela D. Deyn,
as Administrators (the "Trust Agreement"), (ii) Floating Rate Common Securities,
liquidation amount $1,000 per common security (the "Common Securities") of the
Trust, pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement, (iii) Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Corresponding Debentures") of
the Company issued pursuant to the terms of an Indenture dated as of the date
hereof from the Company to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the
"Indenture"), which Corresponding Debentures are to be sold by the Company to
the Trust, and (iv) the Guarantee Agreement of the Company with respect to the
Capital Securities dated as of the date hereof (the "Guarantee") between the
Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as guarantee trustee. The Capital
Securities, the Common Securities and the Corresponding Debentures are to be
issued as contemplated by the Offering Circular (the "Offering Circular") dated
[_______], 2003 prepared by I-Preferred Term

                                     B-3-1
<PAGE>

Securities II, Ltd., an entity formed under the Companies Law of the Cayman
Islands, and I-Preferred Term Securities II, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

     In formulating our opinions, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of documents, corporate
records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for
purposes of this opinion including (i) the Offering Circular, (ii) the
Indenture, (iii) the form of the Corresponding Debentures attached as an exhibit
to the Indenture, (iv) the Trust Agreement, (v) the Guarantee, and (vi) the
forms of Capital Securities Certificate and Common Securities Certificate
attached as exhibits to the Trust Agreement (collectively the "Documents").
Furthermore, we have relied upon certain representations made by the Company and
upon the opinion of Bingham McCutchen LLP as to certain matters of Connecticut
law.

     In such examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified photostatic copies, the authenticity of
the originals of such latter documents, the genuineness of all signatures and
the correctness of all representations made therein. We have further assumed
that there are no agreements or understandings contemplated therein other than
those contained in the Documents.

     In rendering our opinions, we have assumed that the transactions described
in or contemplated by the Documents have been or will be carried out strictly in
accordance with the Documents, and that such Documents accurately reflect the
material facts of such transactions. Any variance in the facts may result in
United States federal income tax consequences that differ from those reflected
in the opinions set forth herein. Our opinion is also based on the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code"), Treasury regulations,
administrative rulings, judicial decisions, and other applicable authorities.
The statutory provisions, regulations and interpretations on which our opinion
is based are subject to change, possibly retroactively. In addition, there can
be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not take positions
contrary to those stated in our opinion.

     Subject to the foregoing, under current law and based upon the facts,
assumptions and qualifications contained herein, it is our opinion that:

     The Corresponding Debentures will be classified as indebtedness of the
     Company for United States federal income tax purposes.

     The Trust will be characterized as a grantor trust and not as an
     association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax
     purposes.

     The opinions we express herein are limited solely to matters governed by
the federal income tax laws of the United States. Our opinion is provided solely
to you as a legal opinion only, and not as a guaranty or warranty, and is
limited to the specific transactions, documents, and matters described above. No
opinion may be implied or inferred beyond that which is expressly stated in this
letter.

     We express no opinion with respect to any matter not specifically addressed
by the foregoing opinions, including state or local tax consequences, or any
federal, state, or local issue not specifically referred to and discussed above
including, without limitation,

                                     B-3-2
<PAGE>

the effect on the matters covered by this opinion of the laws of any other
jurisdiction.

     We are furnishing this opinion letter to you solely for your benefit in
connection with the issuance of the Capital Securities, the Common Securities
and the Corresponding Debentures. Copies of this opinion letter may be provided
for the benefit of [RATING AGENCY]. No other person may rely upon this opinion
letter or the opinions set forth herein. We disclaim any obligation to update
this opinion for events occurring or coming to our attention after the date
hereof.

                                                Very truly yours,

                                     B-3-3
<PAGE>

                           FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

                                                                 [CLOSING], 2003

LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, L.L.P.
125 West 55th Street
New York, New York 10019
Attention: Robert A.N. Cudd

     Re:    REPRESENTATIONS CONCERNING THE ISSUANCE OF FLOATING RATE JUNIOR
            SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES (THE "CORRESPONDING
            DEBENTURES") TO FPIC CAPITAL STATUTORY TRUST II (THE "TRUST") AND
            SALE OF TRUST SECURITIES (THE "TRUST SECURITIES") OF THE TRUST

Dear Sirs:

     In accordance with your request, FPIC Insurance Group, Inc. (the "Company")
hereby makes the following representations in connection with the preparation of
your opinion letter as to the United States federal income tax consequences of
the issuance by the Company of the Corresponding Debentures to the Trust and the
sale of the Trust Securities.

     The Company hereby represents that:

     (1)    The sole assets of the Trust will be the Corresponding Debentures,
     any interest paid on the Corresponding Debentures to the extent not
     distributed, proceeds of the Corresponding Debentures, or any of the
     foregoing.

     (2)    The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the
     Corresponding Debentures for general corporate purposes.

     (3)    The Trust was not formed to conduct any trade or business and is not
     authorized to conduct any trade or business. The Trust exists for the
     exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii)
     using the proceeds from the sale of Trust Securities to acquire the
     Corresponding Debentures, and (iii) engaging only in activities necessary
     or incidental thereto.

     (4)    The Trust was formed to facilitate direct investment in the assets
     of the Trust, and the existence of multiple classes of ownership is
     incidental to that purpose. There is no intent to provide holders of such
     interests in the Trust with diverse interests in the assets of the Trust.

     (5)    The Company intends to create a debtor-creditor relationship between
     the Company, as debtor, and the Trust, as a creditor, upon the issuance and
     sale of the

                                     B-3-4
<PAGE>

     Corresponding Debentures to the Trust by the Company. The Company will (i)
     record and at all times continue to reflect the Corresponding Debentures as
     indebtedness on its separate books and records for financial accounting
     purposes, and (ii) treat the Corresponding Debentures as indebtedness for
     all United States federal, state and local income tax purposes.

     (6)    During each year, the Trust's income will consist solely of payments
     made by the Company with respect to the Corresponding Debentures. Such
     payments will not be derived from the active conduct of a financial
     business by the Trust. Both the Company's obligation to make such payments
     and the measurement of the amounts payable by the Company are defined by
     the terms of the Corresponding Debentures. Neither the Company's obligation
     to make such payments nor the measurement of the amounts payable by the
     Company is dependent on income or profits of the Company or any affiliate
     of the Company.

     (7)    The Company has reviewed projections of earnings, cash flow, capital
     and surplus and other relevant financial and economic data relating to the
     Company and its affiliates. Based on the current and estimated net cash
     flow and the projections of earnings, cash flow, capital and surplus of the
     Company and its affiliates, the Company believes its net cash flow will be
     in excess of the amount of principal and interest required to be paid in
     accordance with the terms of the Corresponding Debentures and the Company
     expects that it will be able to make, and will make, timely payment of
     principal and interest in accordance with the terms of the Corresponding
     Debentures with available capital or accumulated net cash flow.

     (8)    The principal insurance operating subsidiary of the Company has
     received either a financial strength rating of at least B+ with a neutral
     or positive outlook from A.M. Best Company, Inc., or an investment grade
     financial strength rating from either Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a
     division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. or Fitch Ratings.

     (9)    The terms and conditions of the Corresponding Debentures, including
     the interest rate, were determined on an arm's length basis.

     (10)   The Company presently has no intention to defer interest payments on
     the Corresponding Debentures, and it considers the likelihood of such a
     deferral to be remote because, if it were to exercise its right to defer
     payments of interest with respect to the Corresponding Debentures, it would
     not be permitted to declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
     redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
     any capital stock of the Company or any affiliate of the Company (other
     than payments of dividends or distributions to the Company) or 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
     of the Company that rank pari passu in all respects with or junior in
     interest to the Corresponding Debentures, in each case subject to limited
     exceptions stated in Section 2.11 of the Indenture to be entered into in
     connection with the issuance of the Corresponding Debentures.

                                     B-3-5
<PAGE>

     (11)   Immediately after the issuance of the Corresponding Debentures, the
     debt-to-equity ratio of the Company (as determined for financial accounting
     purposes) will be no higher than three to one (3 : 1). The Company has no
     plan or intention to issue debt that would cause such ratio to exceed three
     to one (3 : 1). For purposes of this paragraph 11, (i) the Corresponding
     Debentures will be treated as debt and payments thereon will be treated as
     interest, (ii) other debt (as determined for financial accounting purposes)
     shall include both short-term and long-term indebtedness of the Company,
     and (iii) equity (as determined for financial accounting purposes) shall
     include capital stock, preferred stock, if any, paid in surplus and
     retained earnings of the Company.

     (12)   To the best of our knowledge, the Company's subsidiaries are
     currently in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local
     capital requirements, except to the extent that failure to comply with any
     such requirements would not have a material adverse effect on the Company
     and its subsidiaries.

     (13)   For purposes hereof, you may rely on the representations made by the
     Company in Sections 5.16 and 5.17 of the Placement Agreement dated as of
     [PRICING], 2003, by and among FTN Financial Capital Markets, Keefe,
     Bruyette & Woods, Inc., the Trust and the Company.

     (14)   The Company will not issue any class of common stock or preferred
     stock senior in rights (such as payment rights and liquidation preference)
     to the Corresponding Debentures during their term.

     (15)   The Internal Revenue Service has not challenged the interest
     deduction on any class of the Company's subordinated debt in the last ten
     (10) years on the basis that such debt constitutes equity for federal
     income tax purposes.

     The above representations are accurate as of the date hereof and will
continue to be accurate through the issuance of the Trust Securities, unless you
are otherwise notified by us in writing. The undersigned understands that you
will rely on the foregoing in connection with rendering certain legal opinions,
and possesses the authority to make the representations set forth in this letter
on behalf of the Company.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              FPIC Insurance Group, Inc.

                                              By:
                                                 -----------------------------
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:

                                     B-3-6
<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT C

                            SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES

First Professional Insurance Company (Florida)

<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT D

                            FORM OF QUARTERLY REPORT

I-Preferred Term Securities II, Ltd.
c/o The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street, Floor 8-East
CDO Unit
New York, New York  10286
Attention:  Franco Talavera
CDO Relationship Manager

PLEASE COMPLETE FOR THE PRINCIPAL INSURANCE OPERATING SUBSIDIARY

AS OF YEAR END _______, 20__

NAIC Risk Based Capital Ratio (authorized control level)                       %
                                                                       --------
AS OF [MARCH 31, JUNE 30, SEPTEMBER 30, OR DECEMBER 31,] 20___

Total Policyholders' Surplus                                           $
                                                                        -------

Consolidated Debt to Total Policyholders' Surplus                              %
                                                                       --------

Total Assets                                                           $
                                                                        -------

NAIC Class 1 & 2 Rated Investments to Total Fixed Income Investments           %
                                                                       --------

NAIC Class 1 & 2 Rated Investments to Total Investments                        %
                                                                       --------

Return on Policyholders' Surplus                                               %
                                                                       --------
FOR PROPERTY & Casualty Companies

Expense Ratio                                                                  %
                                                                       --------

Loss and LAE Ratio                                                             %
                                                                       --------

Combined Ratio                                                                 %
                                                                       --------

Net Premiums Written (annualized) to Policyholders' Surplus                    %
                                                                       --------

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                               <C>

----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
NAIC RISK BASED CAPITAL RATIO-P&C                           (Total Adjusted Capital/Authorized Control Level Risk-Based
                                                            Capita/)/2
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
NAIC RISK BASED CAPITAL RATIO-LIFE                          ((Total Adjusted Capital-Asset Valuation Reserve)/Authorized
                                                            Control Level Risk-Based Capita/)/2
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CAPITAL AND SURPLUS-LIFE                              Common Capital Stock + Preferred Capital Stock + Aggregate
                                                            Write-Ins for other than special surplus funds + Surplus Notes
                                                            +Gross Paid-In and Contributed Surplus + Aggregate Write-Ins
                                                            for Special Surplus Funds + Unassigned Funds (Surplus) -
                                                            Treasury Stock
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CAPITAL AND SURPLUS-P&C                               Aggregate Write-Ins for Special Surplus Funds + Common Capital
                                                            Stock + Preferred Capital Stock + Aggregate Write-Ins for other
                                                            than special surplus funds + Surplus Notes +Gross Paid-In and
                                                            Contributed Surplus + Unassigned Funds (Surplus) - Treasury
                                                            Stock
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CLASS 1 & 2 RATED INVESTMENTS TO TOTAL FIXED INCOME   (Total Class 1 + Total Class 2 Rated Investments)/Total Fixed
INVESTMENTS                                                 Income Investments
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL CLASS 1 & 2 RATED INVESTMENTS TO TOTAL                (Total Class 1 + Total Class 2 Rated Investments)/Total
INVESTMENTS                                                 Investments
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL ASSETS                                                Total Assets
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
RETURN ON POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS                            Net Income/Policyholders' Surplus
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
EXPENSE RATIO                                               Other Underwriting Expenses Incurred/Net premiums Earned
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
LOSS AND LAE RATIO                                          (Losses Incurred + Loss Expenses Incurred)/Net Premiums Earned
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
COMBINED RATIO                                              Expense Ratio + Loss and LAE Ratio
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
NET PREMIUMS WRITTEN (ANNUALIZED) TO                        Net Premiums Written/Policyholders' Surplus
POLICYHOLDERS' SURPLUS
----------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                               DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE

SECTION 5.10

     The Company is a party to a Revolving Credit and Term Loan Agreement, dated
as of August 31, 2001, as amended, with the several banks and other financial
institutions from time to time party thereto (the "Lenders") and SunTrust Bank,
as Agent for the Lenders, under which the Company has pledged all of the shares
of stock of its wholly-owned subsidiaries First Professionals Insurance Company,
Inc., Anesthesiologists Professional Assurance Company, Employers Mutual, Inc.,
Administrators for the Professions, Inc. and FPIC Insurance Agency, Inc..

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