Bancorp, Inc S-1, filed Aug 8, 2025
Bancorp, Inc. (TBBK)
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
| |
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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6021
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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23-3016517
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
|
Wilmington, DE 19809
(302) 385-5000
Chief Executive Officer
The Bancorp, Inc.
409 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19809
(302) 385-5000
| |
Erin E. Martin
Rahul K. Patel Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP 101 Park Avenue New York, NY 10178 (212) 309-6000 |
| |
Mark C. Kanaly
Kyle G. Healy Matthew S. Strumph Alston & Bird LLP 1201 West Peachtree Street, Suite 4900 Atlanta, Georgia 30309 (404) 881-7000 |
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| | Large accelerated filer | | | ☒ | | | Accelerated filer | | | ☐ | |
| | Non-accelerated filer | | | ☐ | | | Smaller reporting company | | | ☐ | |
| | | | | | | | Emerging growth company | | | ☐ | |
| | | | | | 1 | | | |
| | | | | | 3 | | | |
| | | | | | 5 | | | |
| | | | | | 6 | | | |
| | | | | | 9 | | | |
| | | | | | 10 | | | |
| | | | | | 11 | | | |
| | | | | | 21 | | | |
| | | | | | 25 | | | |
| | | | | | 27 | | | |
| | | | | | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | 30 | | | |
| | | | | | 30 | | |
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As of June 30, 2025
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Actual
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As adjusted
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(dollars in thousands)
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Total Cash and cash equivalents
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| | | $ | 340,265 | | | | | $ | 439,874 | | |
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Senior debt(1)
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| | | $ | 96,391 | | | | | $ | — | | |
|
Subordinated debentures
|
| | | | 13,401 | | | | | | 13,401 | | |
|
Long-term borrowings(2)
|
| | | | 13,898 | | | | | | 13,898 | | |
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Notes offered hereby, net of debt issuance costs
|
| | | | — | | | | | | 196,000 | | |
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Total borrowed funds
|
| | | | 123,690 | | | | | | 223,299 | | |
| Shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
|
Common stock – authorized, 75,000,000 shares of $1.00 par value; 48,104,006 and 46,262,932 shares issued and outstanding, respectively, at June 30, 2025
|
| | | | 48,104 | | | | | | 48,104 | | |
|
Treasury stock at cost, 1,841,074 shares at June 30, 2025
|
| | | | (98,204) | | | | | | (98,204) | | |
|
Additional paid-in capital
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| | | | 12,608 | | | | | | 12,608 | | |
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Retained earnings
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| | | | 896,149 | | | | | | 896,149 | | |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income
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| | | | 1,609 | | | | | | 1,609 | | |
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Total shareholders’ equity
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| | | $ | 860,266 | | | | | $ | 860,266 | | |
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Total capitalization
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| | | $ | 983,956 | | | | | $ | 1,083,565 | | |
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Underwriter
|
| |
Principal
Amount |
| |||
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Piper Sandler & Co.
|
| | | $ | | | |
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
|
| | | $ | | | |
| | | | | $ | | | |
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Total
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| | | $ | | | |
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Per Senior Note
|
| |
%
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Total
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| | | $ | | | |
409 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19809
(302) 385-5000
Attn: Secretary
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Piper Sandler
|
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Raymond James
|
|
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SEC registration fee
|
| | | $ | 30,620 | | |
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FINRA filing fee
|
| | | | — | | |
| |
Accounting fees and expenses
|
| | | $ | 250,000 | | |
| |
Legal fees and expenses
|
| | | $ | 600,000 | | |
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Miscellaneous Expenses
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| | | $ | 150,000 | | |
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TOTAL
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| | | $ | 1,030,620 | | |
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Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description of Documents
|
|
| | 1.1* | | | | |
| | 3.1.1 | | | Certificate of Incorporation filed July 20, 1999, amended July 27, 1999, amended June 7, 2001, and amended October 8, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed July 15, 2004) | |
| | 3.1.2 | | | | |
| | 3.1.3 | | | | |
| | 3.2 | | | | |
| | 4.1 | | | Indenture, dated as of August 13, 2020, by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 13, 2020) | |
| | 4.2 | | | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 13, 2020, by and between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 13, 2020) | |
| | 4.3* | | | | |
| | 5.1* | | | | |
| | 10.1.1† | | | | |
| | 10.1.2† | | | | |
| | 10.2† | | | |
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Exhibit
Number |
| |
Description of Documents
|
|
| | 10.3† | | | | |
| | 10.4 | | | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form S-8 filed on May 30, 2024 | |
| | 10.5† | | | | |
| | 10.6† | | | | |
| | 10.7† | | | | |
| | 10.8† | | | Form of Restricted Stock Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 14, 2020) | |
| | 10.9† | | | | |
| | 16.1 | | | Letter from Grant Thornton LLP to the Securities and Exchange Commission dated March 8, 2024 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 16.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 8, 2024) | |
| | 21.1 | | | | |
| | 23.1* | | | | |
| | 23.2* | | | | |
| | 23.3* | | | | |
| | 24.1* | | | | |
| | 25.1* | | | | |
| | 107* | | | |
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Name
|
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Title
|
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Date
|
|
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/s/ Damian M. Kozlowski
Damian M. Kozlowski
|
| |
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
(principal executive officer) |
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Martin Egan
Martin Egan
|
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Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer
(principal financial officer and principal accounting officer) |
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Dwayne L. Allen
Dwayne L. Allen
|
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Director
|
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Todd J. Brockman
Todd J. Brockman
|
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Director
|
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Matthew Cohn
Matthew Cohn
|
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Director
|
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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Name
|
| |
Title
|
| |
Date
|
|
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/s/ Cheryl D. Creuzot
Cheryl D. Creuzot
|
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Director
|
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Hersh Kozlov
Hersh Kozlov
|
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Director
|
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August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ William H. Lamb
William H. Lamb
|
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Director
|
| |
August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ James J. McEntee, III
James J. McEntee, III
|
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Director
|
| |
August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Stephanie B. Mudick
Stephanie B. Mudick
|
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Director
|
| |
August 8, 2025
|
|
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/s/ Mark Tryniski
Mark Tryniski
|
| |
Director
|
| |
August 8, 2025
|
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Exhibit 1.1
$[●] Aggregate Principal Amount
of
[●]% Senior Notes due 2030
The Bancorp, Inc.
FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
[●] , 2025
PIPER SANDLER & CO.,
as Representative
of the Underwriters
named in Schedule A hereto
1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (each, an “Underwriter” and, collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom PIPER SANDLER & CO. is acting as representative (the “Representative”) $[●] aggregate principal amount of its [●]% Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Securities”). The Securities are to be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of August 13, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company, as issuer, and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as the trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture between the Company and the Trustee, to be dated as of [●], 2025 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture” and the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Securities will be issued as fully registered securities to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)), as nominee of DTC.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-[●]) relating to the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), including all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act (“Rule 424”) with respect to the offer, issuance and/or sale of the Securities and deemed to be part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act (“Rule 430A”), and also including any registration statement relating to the Securities filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (including all documents (if any) incorporated therein by reference) is referred to herein as a “preliminary prospectus.” As used herein, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act). As used herein, “Applicable Time” is [●] [a.m./p.m.] (New York City time) on [●], 2025. As used herein, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to the Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B hereto. As used herein, “Road Show” means a “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) relating to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby that is a “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act). This Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents,” and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby are collectively referred to herein as the “Transactions.”
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus shall include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which are “contained,” “included” or “stated” in, or “part of” the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, and all other references of like import, shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document, if any, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All references in this Agreement to (i) the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, or any free writing prospectus, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”) and (ii) the Prospectus shall be deemed to include any “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection with the offering of the Securities as contemplated by Section 4(l) of this Agreement.
The Company and The Bancorp Bank National Association (the “Principal Banking Subsidiary”) hereby confirm their agreements with each of the several Underwriters as follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each of the several Underwriters, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities Act by the Commission. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. The Registration Statement became effective on [●], 2025. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time they were filed with the Commission, or became effective under the Exchange Act, as the case may be, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
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(b) Disclosure. Each preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic transmission pursuant to EDGAR, was identical (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Securities Act) to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”) and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of the Applicable Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The Prospectus, as of its date, did not, and at the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the three immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in, or omissions from, the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriters through the Representative, expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that such information consists only of the information described in Section 10(b) below. There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(c) Free Writing Prospectuses; Road Show. As of the determination date referenced in Rule 164(h) under the Securities Act, the Company was not, is not or will not be (as applicable) an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Securities did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus and not superseded or modified. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule B, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to the Underwriters before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior written consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus. Each Road Show, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, did not, as of the Applicable Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
3
(d) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. Prior to the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Securities, the Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or any free writing prospectus reviewed, consented to by the Representative and identified in Schedule B hereto.
(e) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and when duly executed by the Representative, will constitute the valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution, including but not limited to, indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement, may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy underlying such laws.
(f) Authorization, Execution, and Delivery of the Securities and the Indenture. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly completed executed, authenticated, issued and delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and this Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles, or other similar rights, and entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the summary descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and such summary descriptions conform to the rights set forth in and applicable to the instruments defining the same and the Indenture is qualified under, and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of, the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles or other similar rights, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy underlying such laws. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
4
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, shareholders’ equity, consolidated results of operations, or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change being referred to herein as a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent including without limitation any losses or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, earthquakes, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, or has entered into any material transactions not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital stock or any material increase in any long-term indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries and there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company (other than regular quarterly cash dividends consistent with past practice) or, except for dividends paid to the Company or its subsidiaries by any of the Company’s subsidiaries on any class of capital stock, or any repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants of the Company. (1) Crowe LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to certain of the financial statements (which terms used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is (i) an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”), and (ii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration has not been suspended or revoked and who has not requested such registration to be withdrawn. To the knowledge of the Company and with respect to the Company, Crowe LLP is not and has not been in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related rules and regulations of the Commission. (2) Grant Thornton LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to certain of the financial statements (which terms used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, was, during the term of its engagement, (i) an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, and the rules of the PCAOB, and (ii) a registered public accounting firm as defined by the PCAOB whose registration had not been suspended or revoked and who had not requested such registration to be withdrawn. To the knowledge of the Company, with respect to the Company and during the term of its engagement, Grant Thornton LLP was not and had not been in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the related rules and regulations of the Commission.
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(j) Financial Statements of the Company. The financial statements, together with the supporting schedules, if any, of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) as applied in the United States on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents in all material respects the information called for and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus. The financial data set forth in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” fairly presents the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and any free writing prospectus that constitute non-GAAP financial measures (as defined by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) comply, in all material respects, with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable. To the Company’s knowledge, no person who has been suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited, the financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(k) No Undisclosed Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There are no material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations) or any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, which have a material current, or may have a material future, effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital position or resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses.
(l) Company’s Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep accurate books and records and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP as applied in the United States and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act), that has been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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(m) Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act), which (i) are reasonably designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) have been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective. Except as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries of which the Company or the Company’s Board of Directors is aware, (B) fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal control over financial reporting of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (C) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, or (D) any material violation of or failure to comply in all material respects with United States federal securities laws.
(n) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, is duly registered as a bank holding company that has elected to be a financial holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended, and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Transaction Documents. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business.
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(o) Subsidiaries. Each of the Company’s “significant subsidiaries” (for purposes of this Agreement, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, statutory trust or other entity, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company, statutory trust or other entity, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), earnings, business, properties, operations, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a “Material Adverse Effect”). All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2024 (the “Annual Report”) (other than any corporations, associations or other entities that, in the aggregate, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X).
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans, or upon the exercise of outstanding options or warrants, in each case described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus). All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws.
(q) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its significant subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, loan, credit agreement, note, lease, license agreement, contract, franchise or other instrument (including, without limitation, any pledge agreement, security agreement, mortgage or other instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness) to which 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 their respective properties or assets are subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the Transactions and the issuance and sale of the Securities (including the use of proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, of the Company or any significant subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) such as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of each of the Transaction Documents and consummation of the Transactions and by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company, or received from any Regulatory Agency (as defined below), and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act and such as may be required under applicable state securities or blue sky laws or FINRA. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries.
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(r) No Acquisitions, Dispositions, or Transfers. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to an agreement (whether or not fully binding) obligating the Company or such subsidiary to an acquisition, disposition, or other business combination, or a transfer or sale of the assets (as a going concern) or capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, which transaction would be material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(s) Compliance with Laws. The Company and its subsidiaries have been and are in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation brought by or before any governmental entity now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the consummation of the Transactions, or the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents; and the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets is the subject, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, if determined adversely to the Company, would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or with the employees of any principal supplier, manufacturer, customer or contractor of the Company, exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent.
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(u) Absence of Enforcement Actions. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any written notice that any of them may become subject or party to any suspension or cease-and-desist order, agreement, consent agreement, memorandum of understanding or other regulatory enforcement action 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 a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Regulatory Agency (as defined below) that currently relates to or restricts in any material respect the conduct of their business or management, or that in any manner relates to their capital adequacy or credit policies (each, a “Regulatory Agreement”), nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries been advised by any Regulatory Agency that it is considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement or that any such Regulatory Agreement is pending or threatened. As used herein, the term “Regulatory Agency” means any governmental entity having supervisory or regulatory authority with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including, but not limited to, any federal or state securities or banking authorities or agency charged with the supervision or regulation of depositary institutions or holding companies of depositary institutions, or engaged in the insurance of depositary institution deposits.
(v) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess or have obtained valid and enforceable licenses for all inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), trade names, service names, copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus as being owned or licensed by any of them or which is necessary for the conduct of, or material to, any of their respective businesses as currently being conducted (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”). The Company is unaware of any material claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Intellectual Property; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has infringed or is infringing the intellectual property of a third party, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received notice of a claim by a third party to the contrary, in each case that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) Necessary Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits required by state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (“Permits”), except for such certificates, authorizations or permits whose failure to obtain would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any of the Permits (except for such violations or defaults that would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect) or has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has failed to file with applicable regulatory authorities any statement, report, information or form required by any applicable law, regulation or order, except where the failure to be so in compliance would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all such filings were in material compliance with applicable laws when filed; and no material deficiencies have been asserted by any Regulatory Agency with respect to any such filings or submissions.
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(x) Title to Properties. The Company and its significant subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all of the real property and good title to all personal property and other assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(j) above (or elsewhere in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, adverse claims and other defects except (i) for any properties or assets the absence of good and marketable title to which would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (ii) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any of its significant subsidiaries are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such significant subsidiary.
(y) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, information returns, and similar reports that are required to be filed or have properly requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to cause a Material Adverse Effect), and all such returns and reports are true, correct, and complete in all material respects. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid in full all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any assessment, fine or penalty with respect to taxes levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or would not be reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to cause a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1(j) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
(z) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is insured by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses, including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
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(aa) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements; (iii) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and (iv) there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(bb) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates for which the Company would have any liability that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code, in each case except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates for which the Company could have any liability that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
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(cc) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company is not, and will not be, either after receipt of payment for the Securities or after the application of the proceeds therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(dd) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
(ee) Related-Person Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-person transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
(ff) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters by the Company, its counsel, its officers and directors and the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the Company in connection with the offering of the Securities is true, complete, correct and compliant in all material respects with FINRA’s rules and any letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA pursuant to FINRA Rules or NASD Conduct Rules is true, complete and correct.
(gg) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company, its subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors and officers are in compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder in all material respects, in each case to the extent applicable.
(hh) Statistical and Market-Related Data. All statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes, after reasonable inquiry, to be reliable and accurate. To the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.
(ii) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
(jj) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director or officer, employee, agent, affiliate (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act) or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (i) used any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, and maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
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(kk) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ll) OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, after due inquiry, any directors or officers, employees, agents, or affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) of the Securities Act) or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, His Majesty’s Treasury, or other applicable sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of, or business with, any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of, or business in, any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, and unless otherwise disclosed to OFAC, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
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(mm) Brokers. Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(nn) Forward-Looking Statements. Each financial or operational projection or other “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (i) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances and (ii) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading.
(oo) Bank Regulatory Matters. The Company and each subsidiary has been and is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of (including, without limitation, all applicable regulations and orders of, or agreements with), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“Federal Reserve”), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (“OCC”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”), except where failure to be so in compliance would not be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(pp) Community Reinvestment Act. The Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary have no knowledge of any facts and circumstances, and have no reason to believe that, any facts or circumstances exist, that would cause the Principal Banking Subsidiary to be deemed not to be in satisfactory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (“CRA”) and the regulations promulgated thereunder or to be assigned a CRA rating by federal or state banking regulators of lower than “satisfactory.”
(qq) FDIC. The deposit accounts of the Principal Banking Subsidiary are insured by the FDIC up to the legal maximum, the Principal Banking Subsidiary has paid all premiums and assessments required by the FDIC and the regulations thereunder, and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(rr) IT Systems. (i) The Company is not aware of any security breach or other compromise relating to the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data and databases (including the data and information of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability; (ii) neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data; and (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented appropriate controls, policies, procedures and technological safeguards to maintain and protect the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of their IT Systems and Data reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and internal policies relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the reasonable protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
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(ss) FinCEN. All of the beneficial ownership information provided to the Representative or to counsel for the Representative by the Company or its counsel in connection with the control and beneficial ownership certification requirements of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) within the U.S. Department of the Treasury is true, complete, and correct.
(tt) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any Regulatory Agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, except as have been already obtained or as may be required under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, the securities laws of any state or non-U.S. jurisdiction or the rules of FINRA.
(uu) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering, or the purchase and sale, of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
The Company has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 1. The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Representative, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section 2. Representations and Warranties of the Principal Banking Subsidiary. The Principal Banking Subsidiary hereby represents and warrants to each of the several Underwriters as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, as follows:
(a) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Principal Banking Subsidiary. The Principal Banking Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing as a national bank regulated by the OCC and its charter is in full force and effect; the Principal Banking Subsidiary has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Principal Banking Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and non-assessable; and 100% of the capital stock of the Principal Banking Subsidiary is owned directly by the Company, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity. There are no outstanding rights, warrants or options to acquire or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or equity securities of the Principal Banking Subsidiary. The Principal Banking Subsidiary is the only depository institution subsidiary of the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Principal Banking Subsidiary is “well capitalized” (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 6.4(b)(1)) and neither the Company nor the Principal Banking Subsidiary has been informed by any Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as “well-capitalized” will change within one year.
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(b) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Principal Banking Subsidiary and, when duly executed by the Representative, will constitute the valid and legally binding agreement of the Principal Banking Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to, or affecting, the rights of creditors of corporations or commercial banks, including laws relating to conservatorship and receivership of insured depository institutions, and to general equity principles, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution, including but not limited to, indemnification provisions set forth in this Agreement, may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy underlying such laws.
(c) Non-Contravention of Constituent Documents. Neither the Principal Banking Subsidiary nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, or is in Default under any indenture, loan, credit agreement, note, lease, license agreement, contract, franchise or other instrument (including, without limitation, any pledge agreement, security agreement, mortgage or other instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness) to which the Principal Banking Subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of their respective properties or assets are subject, except for such Defaults as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Principal Banking Subsidiary not an “Investment Company”. The Principal Banking Subsidiary is not, and will not be after consummation of the Transactions, required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act.
(e) Compliance with Banking Laws. The Principal Banking Subsidiary and each subsidiary of the Principal Banking Subsidiary has been and is in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of (including, without limitation, all applicable regulations and orders of, or agreements with), the OCC, the FDIC, and any other Bank Regulatory Authorities, except where failure to be so in compliance would not be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(f) FDIC. The deposit accounts of the Principal Banking Subsidiary are insured by the FDIC up to the legal maximum, the Principal Banking Subsidiary has paid all premiums and assessments required by the FDIC and the regulations thereunder, and no proceeding for the termination or revocation of such insurance is pending or, to the knowledge of the Principal Banking Subsidiary, threatened.
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(g) Compliance with Privacy Laws. The Principal Banking Subsidiary (i) complies in all material respects with the Privacy Statements (as defined below) that apply to any given set of personal information collected by the Principal Banking Subsidiary from Individuals (as defined below), (ii) complies in all material respects with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations regarding the collection, retention, use, transfer or disclosure of personal information, and (iii) takes reasonable measures as are customary in the business in which the Principal Banking Subsidiary and its subsidiaries are engaged to protect and maintain the confidential nature of the personal information provided to the Principal Banking Subsidiary by Individuals in accordance with the terms of the applicable Privacy Statements. To the Company’s knowledge, no material claim or controversy has arisen or been threatened regarding the Privacy Statements or the implementation thereof. As used herein, “Privacy Statements” means, collectively, any and all of the Principal Banking Subsidiary’s privacy statements and policies published on websites or products or otherwise made available by the Principal Banking Subsidiary regarding the collection, retention, use and distribution of the personal information of an individual, including, without limitation, from visitors or users of any websites or products of the Principal Banking Subsidiary (“Individuals”).
(h) Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Principal Banking Subsidiary or any of its subsidiaries and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering, or the purchase and sale, of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Principal Banking Subsidiary to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
The Principal Banking Subsidiary has a reasonable basis for making each of the representations set forth in this Section 2. The Principal Banking Subsidiary acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Representative, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
Section 3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.
(a) The Securities. Upon the terms herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Underwriters $[●] aggregate principal amount of the Securities. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree to purchase from the Company, $[●] aggregate principal amount of the Securities at a purchase price equal to [●]% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from [●], 2025 to the Closing Date.
(b) Closing Date. Delivery of the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters by electronic book entry through the facilities of DTC the accounts specified by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Alston & Bird LLP (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representative) at [9:00 a.m.] New York City time, on [●], 2025, or such other time and date not later than [1:30 p.m.] New York City time, on [●], 2025, as the Representative shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representative may provide notice to postpone the Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are not limited to, any determination by the Company or the Underwriters to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus.
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(c) Public Offering of the Securities. The Representative, on behalf of the Underwriters, hereby advises the Company that they intend to offer for sale to the public, initially on the terms set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities as soon after this Agreement has been executed as the Representative, in its sole judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.
(d) Payment for the Securities. Payment for the Securities shall be made at the Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.
(e) Delivery of the Securities. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, by electronic book entry through the facilities of DTC, to the accounts specified by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, the Securities at the Closing Date, against release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The global certificate for the Securities shall be registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC prior to the Closing Date at a location in New York City as the Representative may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
Section 4. Additional Covenants. The Company further covenants and agrees with each of the several Underwriters as follows:
(a) Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Securities, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(b) Representative’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), the Company (i) will furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable period of time prior to the proposed time of filing of any proposed amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, a copy of each such amendment or supplement and (ii) will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under the Exchange Act) without the Representative’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, prior to amending or supplementing any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement through incorporation of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the time of filing or use of the proposed amendment or supplement, a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or supplement without the Representative’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
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(c) Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without the Representative’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by or referred to by the Company as the Underwriters may reasonably request. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Securities (but in any event if at any time through and including the Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, the Company shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at such time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided, however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or supplemented free writing prospectus, and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representative’s prior written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
(d) Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not take any action that would result in any of the Underwriters or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriters that such Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) Amendments and Supplements to Time of Sale Prospectus. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the Time of Sale Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Representative, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company shall (subject to Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) hereof) promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
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(f) Certain Notifications and Required Actions. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing of: (i) the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission; (ii) the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus; (iii) the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use reasonable best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order as promptly as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 424(b), Rule 433 and Rule 430B under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(g) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representative or counsel for the Representative it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, the Company agrees (subject to Section 4(b) and Section 4(c)) hereof to promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule) to a purchaser, not misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law. Neither the Representative’s consent to, nor delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the Company’s obligations under Section 4(b) or Section 4(c).
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(h) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representative and counsel for the Representative to qualify or register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the applicable state securities or blue sky laws or the securities laws of such other jurisdictions designated by the Representative, and shall comply with such laws and continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representative promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof as promptly as practicable.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(j) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Underwriters as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company commencing after the date of this Agreement that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 4(j) shall be satisfied to the extent that such reports, statements, communications, financial statements or other documents are available on EDGAR.
(k) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company will, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by the Securities Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Securities Act or any similar rule), file on a timely basis with the Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market (“NASDAQ”) all reports and documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
(l) Company to Provide Copy of the Prospectus in Form That May be Downloaded from the Internet. If requested by the Representative, the Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to the Underwriters, an “electronic Prospectus” to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities. As used herein, the term “electronic Prospectus” means a form of Time of Sale Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that may be transmitted electronically by the Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the Securities; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper Time of Sale Prospectus, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representative, that will allow investors to store and have continuously ready access to the Time of Sale Prospectus at any future time, without charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the Prospectus filed pursuant to EDGAR or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request by an investor or his or her representative, the Company shall transmit or cause to be transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Time of Sale Prospectus.
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(m) Stand Off Agreement. Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the Company and its subsidiaries will not, without the prior consent of the Representative, offer or sell, or enter into any agreement to sell, any debt securities (excluding deposit obligations) of the Company or its subsidiaries.
(n) Future Reports to the Underwriters. During the period of two years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Underwriters: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company furnished or made available generally to holders of its capital stock; provided, however, that the requirements of this Section 4(n) shall be satisfied to the extent that such reports, statements, communications, financial statements or other documents are available on EDGAR.
(o) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from its sale of the Securities in such a manner as would require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act.
(p) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company will not take, and will ensure that no affiliate of the Company will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities or any reference security with respect to the Securities, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
(q) Final Term Sheet. The Company shall prepare a final term sheet (the “Final Term Sheet”) reflecting the final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form of Schedule C hereto (and containing such other information as the Company and the Representative may agree), and file such Final Term Sheet as an “issuer free writing prospectus” pursuant to Rule 433 prior to the close of business two business days after the date hereof; provided that the Company shall furnish the Underwriters with copies of such Final Term Sheet a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not use or file any such document to which the Representative or counsel to the Representative shall reasonably object.
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(r) NRSRO Rating. The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a rating by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (“NRSRO”) while any Securities remain outstanding.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities (including any fees and expenses related to the use of book-entry notes and all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the Trustee of the Securities, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, each free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and each preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and each of the Transaction Documents, (vi) all reasonable and documented filing fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or reasonably incurred by the Representative in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by the Representative, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum and a “Canadian wrapper,” and any supplements thereto, advising the Representative of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Representative incurred in connection with the Transactions, upon request made from time to time, including without limitation, legal fees and expenses, marketing, syndication and travel expenses, in an amount not to exceed $350,000 (exclusive of filing fees), (viii) costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Representative in connection with determining its compliance with the rules and regulations of FINRA related to the Representative’s participation in the offering and distribution of the Securities, (ix) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show,” including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives, employees and officers of the Company and any such consultants, (x) the cost of preparing and providing any CUSIP or other identification numbers for the Securities, (xi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities, and (xii) all other fees, costs and expenses of the nature referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as set forth in this Section 5 and in Section 8, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses.
Section 6. Covenant of the Representative. The Representative covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Representative that otherwise would not, but for such actions, be required to be filed by the Company under Rule 433(d).
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Section 7. Conditions of the Underwriters. The obligations of each of the several Underwriters hereunder to purchase and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though then made, the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Principal Banking Subsidiary set forth in Section 2 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
(a) Comfort Letters. On the date hereof, the Underwriters shall have received from each of Crowe LLP, the current independent registered public accountants for the Company, and Grant Thornton LLP, the former independent registered public accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Representative, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to the PCAOB (United States) Auditing Standards 6101 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, and each free writing prospectus, if any.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from FINRA.
(i) The Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information previously omitted from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act:
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission; and
(iii) if a filing has been made with FINRA, FINRA shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and through and including the Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Representative, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any NRSRO; and
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(iii) the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus shall not be subject to any proceeding by any federal bank or securities regulatory authority.
(d) Opinion and Negative Assurance Letters of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have also received the negative assurance letter of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(e) Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel for the Representative in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, dated as of such date.
(f) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) and further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including such date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such date; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such date.
(g) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. If requested by the Representative, on the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate executed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, respectively, with respect to certain financial data contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, providing “management comfort” with respect to such information, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, respectively.
(h) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received from each of Crowe LLP, current independent registered public accountants for the Company, and Grant Thornton LLP, former independent registered public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, which letter shall: (i) reaffirm the statements made in the respective letters furnished pursuant to Section 7(a), except that the specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date; and (ii) cover certain financial information contained in the Prospectus.
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(i) Ratings. The Securities shall have been rated investment grade by Kroll Bond Rating Agency.
(j) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Representative and counsel for the Representative shall have received such information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably request for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Representative.
(k) Indenture. The Indenture shall have been executed and delivered by each party thereto and an executed copy thereof shall have been provided to the Representative.
(l) DTC. The Securities shall be eligible for clearance and settlement through DTC.
If any condition specified in this Section 7 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice from the Representative to the Company at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 5, Section 8, Section 10 and Section 11 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 8. Reimbursement of Representative’s Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 7 or Section 12, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representative, upon demand for documented out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representative in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Securities, including, but not limited to, fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
Section 9. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
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Section 10. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, partners and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (a “controlling person”) against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer, employee, partner, agent or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or any federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions where Securities have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433 of the Securities Act, any materials provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any roadshow or written investor presentations provided to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) (“marketing material”), or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such affiliate, director, officer, employee, agent, partner and controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such affiliate, director, officer, employee, agent, partner or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of, or based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by the Underwriters in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any such free writing prospectus, any marketing material or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that such information only consists of the information described in Section 10(b) below; and provided further, that the Principal Banking Subsidiary shall not be liable in any such case to the extent such indemnification, or contribution pursuant to Section 11 of this Agreement, is found to constitute a covered transaction pursuant to Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act, as amended. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 10(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
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(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each controlling person of the Company, if any, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person 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 Underwriters), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433 of the Securities Act, or the Prospectus (or any such amendment or supplement) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, such free writing prospectus or the Prospectus (or any such amendment or supplement), in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by the Underwriters in writing expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company and each such director, officer and controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company or such director, officer or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433 of the Securities Act, or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the foregoing) are the statements set forth in the second paragraph under the caption “Discounts” in the section titled “Underwriting,” and the first and second paragraphs and the third sentence of the third paragraph under the caption “Price Stabilization; Short Positions” in the section titled “Underwriting” in the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 10(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Underwriters may otherwise have.
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 10 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 10, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party to the extent the indemnifying party is not materially prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure and shall not in any event relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party 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 indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 10 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), which counsel (together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall be selected by the Representative (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 10(a) above) or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 10(b) above) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are reasonably incurred.
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(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 10 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 10(c) hereof, the indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and does not include an admission of fault or culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of such indemnified party.
Section 11. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 10 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by each of the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, on the one hand, and each of the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary, on the one hand, or each of the Underwriters, on the other hand (it being understood and agreed that such information supplied by the Underwriters only consists of the information described in Section 10(b) above), and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
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The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 10(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 10(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company, the Principal Banking Subsidiary and the Representative agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 11 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 11.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 11, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person 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 guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11, each affiliate, director, officer, employee, partner and agent of each of the Underwriters and each controlling person, if any, who controls each of the Underwriters, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriters, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each controlling person, if any, of the Company, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
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Section 12. Termination of the Agreement. Prior to the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters on the Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice given to the Company if at any time: (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or by NASDAQ, or trading in securities generally on any NASDAQ market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited, or the minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any federal or New York authorities or a material restriction on banking activities or operations by such regulatory authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis, calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in the United States’ or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the sole judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of the securities; (iv) there has occurred a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to the Securities or any other securities of the Company by any NRSRO, or such organization has publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or any other securities of the Company; (v) in the reasonable judgment of the Representative there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; (vi) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the Representative may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured or (vii) the rating assigned by any NRSRO to any debt securities of the Company as of the date hereof shall have been lowered since the date hereof or if any such rating agency shall have publicly announced that it has placed any debt securities of the Company on what is commonly termed a “watch list” for possible downgrading. Any termination pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to the Underwriters, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representative pursuant to Section 5 or Section 8 hereof or (b) the Underwriters to the Company; provided, however, that the provisions of Section 10, Section 11 and Section 19 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the interest rate, terms and public offering price of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction, the Underwriters are and have been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its shareholders, or its creditors, employees or any other party, (c) the Underwriters have not assumed and will not assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Underwriters have no obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
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Section 14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Representative on behalf of itself and the Underwriters, or the Company, or any of its or their respective partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 15. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(c) As used in this section: “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 16. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
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| If to the Representative or the | Piper Sandler & Co. | |
| Underwriters: | 1251 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Floor | |
| New York, New York 10020 | ||
| Facsimile: (212) 466-7796 | ||
| Attention: General Counsel | ||
with a copy to: |
Alston & Bird LLP 1201 West Peachtree Street | |
| Atlanta, Georgia 30309 | ||
| Attention: | Mark Kanaly | |
| Kyle Healy | ||
| Email: | mark.kanaly@alston.com | |
| kyle.healy@alston.com | ||
| If to the Company: | The Bancorp, Inc. | |
| 409 Silverside Road | ||
| Wilmington, Delaware 19809 | ||
| Facsimile: (302) 791-5699 | ||
| Attention: General Counsel | ||
| with a copy to: | Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP | |
| 101 Park Avenue | ||
| New York, New York 10178 | ||
| Attention: | Erin E. Martin | |
| Rahul K. Patel | ||
| Email: | erin.martin@morganlewis.com | |
| rahul.patel@morganlewis.com | ||
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others.
Section 17. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and to the benefit of the affiliates, directors, officers, employees, agents, partners and controlling persons referred to in Section 10 and Section 11, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Securities as such from the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 18. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
Section 19. Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court, as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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Section 20. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 10 and the contribution provisions of Section 11, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 10 and Section 11 hereof fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each free writing prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements to the foregoing), as contemplated by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company and the Principal Banking Subsidiary the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| THE BANCORP, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| THE BANCORP BANK | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representative in New York, New York as of the date first above written.
| PIPER SANDLER & CO. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule A
Underwriters
| Underwriter | Principal
Amount of the Securities | |
| Piper Sandler & Co. | $ | $[●] |
| Raymond James & Associates, Inc. | $ | $[●] |
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Schedule B
Free Writing Prospectuses
1. Pricing term sheet dated [●], 2025.
2. Investor presentation, filed with the Commission on [●], 2025.
37
Schedule C
Term Sheet
$[●]
[●]% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2030
Pricing Term Sheet
| Issuer: | The Bancorp, Inc. (“Issuer”) |
| Security: | [●]% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Senior Notes”) |
| Aggregate Principal Amount: | $[●] |
| Rating: | BBB by Kroll Bond Rating Agency
A rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. Ratings may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization. Each rating agency has its own methodology for assigning ratings and, accordingly, each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating. |
| Trade Date: | [●], 2025 |
| Settlement Date: | [●], 2025 (T+[●]) |
Maturity Date (if not previously redeemed): |
[●], 2030 |
| Coupon: | From and including the Settlement Date to, but excluding [●], 20[●], we will pay interest on the Senior Notes semi- annually in arrears on each [●] and [●] at a fixed annual interest rate equal to [●]% |
| Interest Payment Dates: | [●] and [●] of each year, commencing on [●], 2026 and ending on the earlier of the optional redemption date or the maturity date |
| Record Dates: | Each [●] and [●] immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date |
| Day Count Convention: | 30/360 |
| Optional Redemption: | The Senior Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part by us on or after the 30th day prior to the maturity date at 100% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes (par), plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to but excluding the date of redemption. We will provide 10 to 60 calendar days’ notice of redemption to the registered holders of the Senior Notes |
| Denominations: | Minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof |
| Use of Proceeds: | We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes offered hereby, after deducting the underwriting discounts and certain offering expenses, will be approximately $[●] million. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes to (i) redeem or repay at maturity all $100.0 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 4.75% Senior Notes due August 15, 2025, including to pay any applicable redemption premium, (ii) fund our share repurchase program, and (iii) for general corporate purposes. |
| Price to Public: | [●]% |
| Underwriters’ Discount: | [●]% of the principal amount of the Senior Notes |
| Proceeds to Issuer (after underwriters’ discount, but before expenses): | $[●] |
| CUSIP/lSIN: | [●] / [●] |
| Joint Book-Running Managers: | Piper Sandler & Co., Raymond James Financial, Inc. |
| Co-Manager: | [●] |
*Note: We expect that delivery of the Senior Notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the [●] business day following the date of pricing of the Senior Notes (this settlement cycle being referred to as “T+[●]”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Senior Notes prior to one business day before the settlement date will be required, by virtue of the fact that the Senior Notes initially will settle in T+[●], to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the Senior Notes who wish to trade their Senior Notes prior to one business day before the settlement date should consult their own advisor.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, the underwriters or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by emailing Piper Sandler & Co. at fsg-dcm@psc.com.
Exhibit 4.3
THE BANCORP, INC.
and
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
as Trustee, Paying Agent and Security Registrar
SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of August [●], 2025
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS | 1 | |
| 1.01 | Relation to Base Indenture | 1 |
| 1.02 | Definition of Terms | 1 |
| ARTICLE 2. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES; FORM OF NOTES | 2 | |
| 2.01 | Designation and Principal Amount | 2 |
| 2.02 | Maturity | 3 |
| 2.03 | Form, Payment and Appointment of Agents | 3 |
| 2.04 | Global Note | 4 |
| 2.05 | Interest | 4 |
| 2.06 | No Sinking Fund | 4 |
| 2.07 | Payment of the Notes | 4 |
| ARTICLE 3. REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES | 4 | |
| 3.01 | Optional Redemption | 5 |
| ARTICLE 4. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER, OR LEASE | 5 | |
| 4.01 | Merger | 5 |
| 4.02 | Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Principal Subsidiary Bank | 5 |
| ARTICLE 5. EVENTS OF DEFAULT | 6 | |
| 5.01 | Events of Default | 6 |
| 5.02 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 8 |
| ARTICLE 6. CERTAIN COVENANTS | 8 | |
| 6.01 | Existence | 8 |
| ARTICLE 7. ISSUE OF NOTES | 8 | |
| 7.01 | Original Issue of Notes | 8 |
| 7.02 | Further Issues of Notes | 8 |
| ARTICLE 8. IMMUNITY OF STOCKHOLDERS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 8 | |
| 8.01 | Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations | 8 |
| ARTICLE 9. MISCELLANEOUS | 9 | |
| 9.01 | Ratification of Indenture | 9 |
| 9.02 | Conflict | 9 |
| 9.03 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals; Rights, Protections, Immunities and Indemnities | 9 |
| 9.04 | New York Law to Govern; Waiver of Jury Trial | 9 |
| 9.05 | Separability | 10 |
| 9.06 | Counterparts | 10 |
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THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of August [●], 2025, is between The Bancorp, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the “Company”), and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
WHEREAS, Section 9.01(8) of a Senior Debt Indenture, dated August 13, 2020 (herein called the “Base Indenture”, and as amended, supplemented and modified by this Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of the Company’s senior notes, provides for the Company and the Trustee to enter into an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture to establish the forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.01 and Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 3.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company wishes to provide for the issuance of $[●] aggregate principal amount of a new series of Securities to be known as its [●]% Senior Notes due 2030 (herein called the “Notes”), the form and terms of such Notes and the terms, provisions and conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in this Supplemental Indenture; and
WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture and all requirements necessary to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and enforceable instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company and the execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS
1.01 Relation to Base Indenture. This Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Base Indenture.
1.02 Definition of Terms. For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture:
(a) capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings set forth in the Base Indenture;
(b) a term defined anywhere in this Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;
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(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;
(d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;
(e) unless otherwise specified or unless the context requires otherwise, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Sections refer to the corresponding Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture; and
(f) the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.02(f):
“Capital Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.
“DTC” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“Global Note” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
“Initial Notes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.01.
“Interest Payment Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(b).
“Interest Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(a).
“Principal Subsidiary Bank” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.
“Maturity Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.02.
“Voting Stock” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.02.
The terms “Company,” “Trustee,” “Base Indenture,” “Supplemental Indenture,” “Indenture,” and “Notes” shall have the respective meanings set forth in the recitals to this Supplemental Indenture and the paragraph preceding such recitals.
Conflicts with Base Indenture. In the event that any provision of this Supplemental Indenture expressly limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Base Indenture, such provision of this Supplemental Indenture shall control with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 2.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE NOTES; FORM OF NOTES
2.01 Designation and Principal Amount. The Notes may be issued from time to time upon Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Notes pursuant to Section 3.03 of the Base Indenture. There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated as the [●]% Senior Notes due 2030 having an initial aggregate principal amount of $[●]. The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, the Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other series of Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.
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2.02 Maturity. The date upon which the Notes shall become due and payable at final maturity, together with any accrued and unpaid interest, is [●], 2030 (the “Maturity Date”).
2.03 Form, Payment and Appointment of Agents. The Notes and the Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the forms attached as Exhibit A hereto and shall bear the legend set forth on Exhibit A in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.04 of the Base Indenture, with such changes therein as the officers of the Company executing the Notes (by manual or facsimile signature) may approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by their execution thereof. Except as provided in Section 3.05 of the Base Indenture, the Notes will be issued only in book-entry form as Global Securities. Principal of and interest on the Notes will be payable in global form registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered Holder of such Global Note. The principal of any certificated Notes will be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose which shall initially be the principal office of the Trustee at 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890, Attn: The Bancorp, Inc. Administrator; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Security Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Person entitled to payment; provided that the Paying Agent shall have received written notice of such account designation at least five Business Days prior to the date of such payment (subject to surrender of the relevant Note in the case of a payment of interest on the Maturity Date).
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee to act as Security Registrar and Paying Agent for the Notes.
The Notes will be issuable and may be transferred only in minimum denominations of $1,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000. The specified currency of the Notes shall be U.S. Dollars.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Indenture, (i) all payments on Global Notes may be made pursuant to the Applicable Procedures and (ii) any notice required to be given to Holders of the Notes under the Indenture shall be sufficiently given if given to DTC (or its designee), pursuant to the Applicable Procedures, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity Date of the Notes shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture or of the Notes) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any), need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or the Maturity Date, as the case may be.
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2.04 Global Note. The Notes shall be issued initially in the form of one or more fully registered Global Securities (each such Global Security, a “Global Note”) deposited with DTC or its designated custodian or such other Depositary as any officer of the Company may from time to time designate to the Trustee in writing. Unless and until a Global Note is exchanged for Notes in certificated form, such Global Note may be transferred, in whole but not in part, and any payments on the Notes shall be made, only to DTC or a nominee of DTC, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
2.05 Interest.
(a) Interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or the Maturity Date with respect to the Notes shall be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the immediately preceding Interest Payment Date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the original issue date of August [●], 2025, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the Notes) to, but excluding, such Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date or Maturity Date, as the case may be (each, an “Interest Period”).
(b) The Notes will bear interest at the rate of [●]% per annum from August [●], 2025 until the principal of the Notes has been paid in full or a sum sufficient to pay the principal of the Notes has been made available for payment. Interest on the Notes shall be payable semi-annually in arrears on [●] and [●] of each year (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing [●], 2026, to the Persons in whose names the relevant Notes are registered at the close of business on the [●] and [●] immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Regular Record Date”).
(c) The amount of interest payable for any Interest Period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
(d) Interest due on the Maturity Date (whether or not an Interest Payment Date) of any Notes will be paid to the Person to whom principal of such Notes is payable.
2.06 No Sinking Fund. The Notes are not be subject to repayment at the option of any Holder at any time prior to maturity and are not entitled to any sinking fund.
2.07 Payment of the Notes. Not later than 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any Notes, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay such principal, redemption payments, premium, if any, and interest so becoming due. All the payments must be in U.S. Dollars.
ARTICLE 3.
REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES
The provisions of this Article 3 apply solely with respect to the Notes and all references to Holders in this Article 3 shall be solely to Holders of the Notes.
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3.01 Optional Redemption. The Notes are not subject to redemption at the option of the Company at any time except as described in this Article 3 and Article XI of the Base Indenture (as amended by this Article 3).
On or after the 30th day prior to the Maturity Date of the Notes, the Notes will be redeemable at the option of the Company in whole or in part at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus, in each case, accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date.
If the Company elects to redeem the Notes pursuant to this Section 3.01, the Company will provide notice of redemption not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed in accordance with Section 11.04 of the Base Indenture.
ARTICLE 4.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER, OR LEASE
The provisions of this Article 4 apply solely with respect to the Notes.
4.01 Merger. In addition to the requirements set forth in Section 8.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company if, as a result of any such consolidation or merger or such conveyance, transfer or lease, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other encumbrance which would not be permitted by the Indenture, unless the Company or such successor Person, as the case may be, shall take such steps to secure the Notes equally and ratably with (or prior to) all indebtedness secured thereby.
4.02 Sale or Issuance of Capital Stock of Principal Subsidiary Bank. Except as otherwise provided herein or in Article VIII of the Base Indenture, the Company shall not, directly or indirectly: (a) sell, assign, pledge, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or permit to be issued, any shares of Capital Stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank or any securities convertible into or rights to subscribe to such Capital Stock, unless, after giving effect to (i) such sale, pledge, assignment, transfer, disposition or issuance, and (ii) the conversion of such securities into, or exercise of such rights with respect to, such Capital Stock, the Company will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock of each class of Capital Stock of such Principal Subsidiary Bank; or (b) pay any dividend in Capital Stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank or make any other distribution in Capital Stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank, unless the Principal Subsidiary Bank to which the transaction relates, after obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals, unconditionally guarantees payment of the principal and any premium and interest on the Notes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prohibit any of the following: (1) any dispositions made by the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank of the Company (A) acting in a fiduciary capacity for any Person other than the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank of the Company or (B) to the Company or any wholly-owned Subsidiary; (2) the merger or consolidation of a Principal Subsidiary Bank with and into another Principal Subsidiary Bank; (3) the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other dispositions of shares of Voting Stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank made by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company if: (A) the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition is made, in the minimum amount required by law, to any Person for the purpose of the qualification of such Person to serve as a director; or (B) the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition is made in compliance with an order of a court or regulatory authority of competent jurisdiction or as a condition imposed by any such court or regulatory authority to the acquisition by the Company or any Principal Subsidiary Bank of the Company, directly or indirectly, of any other Person; or (C) the sale, assignment, pledge, transfer or other disposition of Voting Stock or any other securities convertible into or rights to subscribe to Voting Stock of a Principal Subsidiary Bank, so long as: (i) any such transaction is made for fair value as determined by the Board of Directors or the board of directors of the Principal Subsidiary Bank of the Company disposing of such Voting Stock or other securities or rights, and (ii) after giving effect to such transaction and to any potential dilution, the Company and its wholly-owned Subsidiaries will own, directly or indirectly, at least 80% of the Voting Stock of such Principal Subsidiary Bank; (4) any Principal Subsidiary Bank from selling additional shares of Voting Stock to its shareholders at any price, so long as immediately after such sale, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, at least as great a percentage of the Voting Stock of such Principal Subsidiary Bank as the Company owned prior to such sale of additional shares; or (5) a pledge made or a lien created to secure loans or other extensions of credit by a Principal Subsidiary Bank subject to Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. As used herein, “Capital Stock” shall mean any shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) the equity of such Person, including any preferred stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity, “Voting Stock” shall mean stock which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, and “Principal Subsidiary Bank” shall mean any subsidiary of the Company that is a bank or trust company organized and doing business under any state or federal law, the consolidated assets of which constitute 50% or more of the consolidated assets of the Company.
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ARTICLE 5.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
5.01 Events of Default. Solely with respect to the Notes, Section 5.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby replaced in its entirety by the following:
“Section 5.01. Events of Default. “Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events with respect to the Notes (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
(1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Note when it becomes due and payable (as extended or deferred), and continuance of such default for a period of 90 days; or
(2) default in the payment of the principal of, any premium or sinking fund payment, if any, on any Note at its Maturity; or
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(3) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied within a specified time after receipt of such notice and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or
(4) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days (provided that, if any Person becomes the successor to the Company pursuant to Article VIII and such Person is organized and validly existing under the law of a jurisdiction outside the United States, each reference in this Clause (4) to an applicable Federal or State law of a particular kind shall be deemed to refer to such law or any applicable comparable law of such non-U.S. jurisdiction, for as long as such Person is the successor to the Company hereunder and is so organized and existing); or
(5) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action (provided that, if any Person becomes the successor to the Company pursuant to Article VIII and such Person is organized and validly existing under the law of a jurisdiction outside the United States, each reference in this Clause (5) to an applicable Federal or State law of a particular kind shall be deemed to refer to such law or any applicable comparable law of such non-U.S. jurisdiction, for as long as such Person is the successor to the Company hereunder and is so organized and existing); or
(6) in the event a receiver, conservator or similar official is appointed for the Company’s principal banking subsidiary (which, for the avoidance of doubt, as of the date hereof, is The Bancorp Bank); or
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(7) a default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company that has a principal amount outstanding that is more than $25.0 million (other than non-recourse indebtedness) under the terms of the instrument under which the indebtedness is issued or secured, which default has caused the indebtedness to become due and payable earlier than it would otherwise have become due and payable, and the acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled, or the indebtedness has not been discharged, or there has not been deposited in trust enough money to discharge the indebtedness, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 30 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” under this Indenture.”
5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. Solely with respect to the Notes, all references in the Base Indenture to “Section 5.01(4)” and/or “Section 5.01(5)” shall be deemed to also include a reference to “Section 5.01(6)”.
ARTICLE 6.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
6.01 Existence. Section 10.04 of the Base Indenture is hereby deleted in its entirety solely with respect to the Notes.
ARTICLE 7.
ISSUE OF NOTES
7.01 Original Issue of Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that initially may be authenticated and delivered under this Supplemental Indenture (the “Initial Notes”) shall be limited to $[●], subject to increase as set forth in Section 7.02 of this Supplemental Indenture
7.02 Further Issues of Notes. The Company may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the Holders of the Notes, increase the aggregate principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes in the future with the same terms and conditions as the Initial Notes, except for any differences in the issue date, the issue price and the initial Interest Payment Date, and with the same CUSIP number as the Initial Notes; provided that if any additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional Notes will be issued under a separate CUSIP number. The Initial Notes and any additional Notes would rank equally and ratably and would be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture.
ARTICLE 8.
IMMUNITY OF STOCKHOLDERS,
EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
8.01 Indenture and Notes Solely Corporate Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Supplemental Indenture and the issue of the Notes.
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ARTICLE 9.
MISCELLANEOUS
9.01 Ratification of Indenture. The Base Indenture, as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Base Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided; provided, however, that the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture apply solely with respect to the Notes.
9.02 Conflict. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Supplemental Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, such required provision shall control.
9.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals; Rights, Protections, Immunities and Indemnities. The recitals in this Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company only and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Notes or the proceeds thereof. All of the provisions contained in the Base Indenture in respect of the rights, privileges, immunities, powers and duties of the Trustee shall be applicable in respect of the Notes and of this Supplemental Indenture as fully and with like effect as if set forth herein in full.
9.04 New York Law to Govern; Waiver of Jury Trial. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH NOTE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF SAID STATE. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING AMONG THE PARTIES HERETO ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, THE NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
The Company irrevocably consents and agrees, for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Notes and the Trustee, that any legal action, suit or proceeding against it with respect to obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with the Indenture or the Notes may be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and, until amounts due and to become due in respect of the Notes have been paid, hereby irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any action, suit or proceeding for itself in respect of its properties, assets and revenues.
The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or in connection with the Indenture or the Notes brought in the courts of the State of New York or the courts of the United States located in the Borough of Manhattan, New York City, New York and hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
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9.05 Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, then, to the extent permitted by law, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes, but this Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
9.06 Counterparts. This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (e.g., “.pdf” or “.tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes. The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based recordkeeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee is not under any obligation to agree to accept electronic signatures in any form or in any format unless expressly agreed to by such Trustee pursuant to procedures approved by such Trustee, except such acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of using digital signatures and electronic methods to submit communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, as of the day and year first written above.
| THE BANCORP, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | Damian Kozlowski | |
| Title: | Chief Executive Officer and President | |
[The Bancorp, Inc. —Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]
| WILMINGTON TRUST, | ||
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
[The Bancorp, Inc. —Signature Page to Second Supplemental Indenture]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Note
THIS NOTE IS AN UNSECURED DEBT OBLIGATION OF THE BANCORP, INC. (THE “COMPANY”). THIS NOTE IS NOT A DEPOSIT OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT AND IS NOT INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY OR INSTRUMENTALITY.
THIS NOTE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS NOTE FOR ALL PURPOSES. THIS NOTE IS NOT EXCHANGEABLE FOR NOTES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED HEREIN AND IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS NOTE AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED HEREIN AND IN THE INDENTURE.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE BANCORP, INC., AS ISSUER, OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
A-1
THE BANCORP, INC.
[●]% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2030
No. [1]
CUSIP NO. [●] ISIN NO. [●] |
U.S.$ ____________ |
The Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or its registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________ United States Dollars (as may be increased or decreased as reflected on the Schedule of Increases and Decreases in Global Security attached hereto) on August [●], 2030 and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon on August [●], 2030, or if such day is not a Business Day, the following Business Day. The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from and including August [●], 2025, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date (as defined below) to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semiannually in arrears on [●] and [●] in each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), commencing [●], 2026 at the rate of [●]% per annum, computed for any full semiannual period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and computed for any partial semiannual period on the actual days elapsed during such period, until the principal hereof is due, and at the rate of [●]% per annum on any overdue principal amounts, and, to the extent permitted by law, on any overdue interest.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on [●] or [●], as the case may be, of each year (whether or not a Business Day) (each such date, a “Regular Record Date”). Interest on the Outstanding Notes payable at maturity will be payable to the persons to whom principal is payable. Except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Company, with notice thereof to be given by the Trustee to Holders of Notes not less than 10 days prior to the Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any automated quotation system or securities exchange on which the Notes may be quoted or listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such system or exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Payment of principal and interest shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company for such purpose, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts, by Dollar check drawn on, or transfer to, a Dollar account. Payments of interest on this Note may be made by Dollar check, drawn on a Dollar account, mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or, upon written application by the Holder to the Security Registrar setting forth wire instructions not later than the relevant Regular Record Date, by transfer to a Dollar account.
A-2
Except as specifically provided herein and in the Indenture, the Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof or an Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of their respective authorized signatories, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Page Follows]
A-3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed and delivered.
| THE BANCORP, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
(Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication)
This is one of the Securities of the series designated herein and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, | ||
| NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| Dated: | By: | |
| Authorized Signatory | ||
[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF THE NOTE]
This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of senior debt securities of the Company designated as its “[●]% Senior Notes due 2030” (the “Notes”). This Note is a “Security” and the Notes are “Securities” under the Indenture (as defined below). The Notes, taken together, are initially limited in aggregate principal amount to U.S.$[●] issued and are to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 13, 2020 (herein called the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as Trustee (the “Trustee”, which term includes any successor trustee under the Base Indenture), as amended and supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August [●], 2025 between the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture”; the Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all applicable indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of any authorized denominations as requested by the Holder surrendering the same upon surrender of the Note or Notes to be exchanged, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee. The Trustee upon such surrender by the Holder will issue the new Notes in the requested denominations.
On or after July [●], 2030, the Notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus in each case accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date.
The Notes are not be subject to repayment at the option of any Holder at any time prior to maturity and are not entitled to any sinking fund.
The Notes are unsecured and rank equally with all of the Company’s other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
The Notes are issuable only in registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The Company may, without consent of the Holders of the Notes, increase the aggregate principal amount of the Notes by issuing additional Notes in the future on the same terms and conditions as the Notes, except for any difference in the issue price and initial Interest Payment Date, and with the same CUSIP number as the Notes. The Notes and any additional Notes issued by the Company would rank equally and ratably and would be treated as a single series for all purposes under the Indenture.
In any case where the due date for the payment of the principal of or interest on any Note at any Place of Payment, as the case may be, is not a Business Day, then payment of principal or interest need not be made on or by such date at such place but may be made on or by the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect as if made on the date for such payment, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period after such date.
If an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the principal of all the Notes, together with accrued interest to the date of declaration, may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Notes at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all the Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note or such other Note.
As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Note shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default, the Holders of not less than 30% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by any Holder of this Note for the enforcement of any payment of principal of or interest on this Note or after the respective due dates expressed herein.
No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
The Notes will be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance pursuant to Sections 12.02 and 12.03 of the Base Indenture.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable on the Security Register upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at such other office or agency of the Company as may be designated by it for such purpose (which shall initially be an office or agency of the Trustee), or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees by the Security Registrar. No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to recover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Prior to due presentation of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered, as the owner thereof for all purposes, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No recourse for the payment of the principal of or interest on this Note and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or in any Note, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.
THE NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers unto
[PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE]
[PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF ASSIGNEE]
the within book-entry Security, and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing _______________________________________________ attorney to transfer such security on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
| Your Signature: | ||
| Your Name: | ||
| Date: |
| NOTICE: | The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within book-entry Security in every particular without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever. |
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of e Security Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Security Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES AND DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The initial principal amount of this Global Security is $[●]. The following increases and decreases in this Global Security have been made:
Date of Increase or Decrease | Amount of Global Security | Amount of Global Security | Principal following each | Signature of authorized signatory of Trustee | ||||
Exhibit 5.1
August 8, 2025
The Bancorp, Inc.
409 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19809
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to The Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the “Registration Statement”), relating to the proposed offering and sale of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s Senior Notes due 2030 (the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued under an Indenture dated as of August 13, 2020 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), in each case between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”).
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined the Registration Statement, the Base Indenture, the proposed form of Supplemental Indenture, and originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company and such other documents, records and other instruments as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of the opinion set forth herein.
We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
We have also assumed for purposes of our opinion that the Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Indenture will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, and that the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when the Securities are executed by duly authorized officers of the Company as provided in the Indenture, and the Securities are duly authenticated by the Trustee and are delivered by the Company against receipt of the purchase price therefor as described in the Registration Statement, the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following limitations and qualifications:
The Bancorp, Inc.
August 8, 2025
Page 2
The opinions expressed herein are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally and general principles of equity. The opinions expressed herein are limited to the laws of the State of New York and the Delaware General Corporation Law, and we express no opinion with respect to the laws of any other state or jurisdiction.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the SEC thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-1 of The Bancorp, Inc. of our report dated April 7, 2025 relating to the 2024 consolidated financial statements of The Bancorp, Inc., and our report dated the same date relative to the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2024, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A of The Bancorp, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2024, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.
/s/ Crowe LLP
Washington, D.C.
August 8, 2025
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We have issued our report dated February 29, 2024 (except for Note T, as to which the date is April 7, 2025) with respect to the consolidated financial statements of The Bancorp, Inc. included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, which is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. We consent to the incorporation by reference of the aforementioned report in this Registration Statement, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts.”
/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 8, 2025
Exhibit 25.1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
¨ Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
16-1486454
(I.R.S. employer identification no.)
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, DE 19890-0001
(Address of principal executive offices)
Kyle Barry
Senior Vice President
Wilmington Trust Company
285 Delaware Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14202
(716) 839-6909
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
The Bancorp, Inc.
|
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
| |
| Delaware | 23-3016517 |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
409 Silverside Road
Wilmington, DE 19809
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)
Debt Securities
(Title of the indenture securities)
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
Furnish the following information as to the trustee:
| () | Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject. |
| Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C. | |
| Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C. |
| () | Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
| The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. |
| ITEM 2. | AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR. |
If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each affiliation:
Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and information available to the trustee, the obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee.
ITEM 3 – 15. Not applicable.
| ITEM 16. | LIST OF EXHIBITS. |
Listed below are all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of Eligibility and Qualification.
| 1. | A copy of the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association. |
| 2. | The authority of Wilmington Trust, National Association to commence business was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 3. | The authorization to exercise corporate trust powers was granted under the Charter for Wilmington Trust, National Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 above. |
| 4. | A copy of the existing By-Laws of Trustee, as now in effect, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of this Form T-1. |
| 5. | Not applicable. |
| 6. | The consent of Wilmington Trust, National Association as required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached hereto as Exhibit 6 of this Form T-1. |
| 7. | Current Report of the Condition of Wilmington Trust, National Association, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached hereto as Exhibit 7 of this Form T-1. |
| 8. | Not applicable. |
| 9. | Not applicable. |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 8 day of August, 2025.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael H. Wass | |
| Name: Michael H. Wass | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
EXHIBIT 1
CHARTER OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
For the purpose of organizing an association to perform any lawful activities of national banks, the undersigned do enter into the following articles of association:
FIRST. The title of this association shall be Wilmington Trust, National Association.
SECOND. The main office of the association shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The general business of the association shall be conducted at its main office and its branches.
THIRD. The board of directors of this association shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five persons, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. The exact number is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any annual or special meeting thereof. Each director shall own common or preferred stock of the association or of a holding company owning the association, with an aggregate par, fair market or equity value $1,000. Determination of these values may be based as of either (i) the date of purchase or (ii) the date the person became a director, whichever value is greater. Any combination of common or preferred stock of the association or holding company may be used.
Any vacancy in the board of directors may be filled by action of a majority of the remaining directors between meetings of shareholders. The board of directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which:
| 1) | exceeds by more than two the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or |
| 2) | exceeds by more than four the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the bank from the 25-member limit. |
Directors shall be elected for terms of one year and until their successors are elected and qualified. Terms of directors, including directors selected to fill vacancies, shall expire at the next regular meeting of shareholders at which directors are elected, unless the directors resign or are removed from office. Despite the expiration of a director's term, the director shall continue to serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until there is a decrease in the number of directors and his or her position is eliminated.
Honorary or advisory members of the board of directors, without voting power or power of final decision in matters concerning the business of the association, may be appointed by resolution of a majority of the full board of directors, or by resolution of shareholders at any annual or special meeting. Honorary or advisory directors shall not be counted to determine the number of directors of the association or the presence of a quorum in connection with any board action, and shall not be required to own qualifying shares.
FOURTH. There shall be an annual meeting of the shareholders to elect directors and transact whatever other business may be brought before the meeting. It shall be held at the main office or any other convenient place the board of directors may designate, on the day of each year specified therefor in the bylaws, or, if that day falls on a legal holiday in the state in which the association is located, on the next following banking day. If no election is held on the day fixed, or in the event of a legal holiday on the following banking day, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the day fixed, to be designated by the board of directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the day, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares issued and outstanding. In all cases at least 10 days advance notice of the time, place and purpose of a shareholders’ meeting shall be given to the shareholders by first class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. The sole shareholder of the bank is permitted to waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting.
In all elections of directors, the number of votes each common shareholder may cast will be determined by multiplying the number of shares such shareholder owns by the number of directors to be elected. Those votes may be cumulated and cast for a single candidate or may be distributed among two or more candidates in the manner selected by the shareholder. If, after the first ballot, subsequent ballots are necessary to elect directors, a shareholder may not vote shares that he or she has already fully cumulated and voted in favor of a successful candidate. On all other questions, each common shareholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him or her.
Nominations for election to the board of directors may be made by the board of directors or by any stockholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for election of directors. Nominations other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management shall be made in writing and be delivered or mailed to the president of the association not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nominations shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| 1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee. |
| 2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee. |
| 3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee. |
| 4) | The name and residence address of the notifying shareholder. |
| 5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder. |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chairperson of the meeting, and the vote tellers may disregard all votes cast for each such nominee. No bylaw may unreasonably restrict the nomination of directors by shareholders.
A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the board of directors, its chairperson, or to the association, which resignation shall be effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
A director may be removed by shareholders at a meeting called to remove the director, when notice of the meeting stating that the purpose or one of the purposes is to remove the director is provided, if there is a failure to fulfill one of the affirmative requirements for qualification, or for cause; provided, however, that a director may not be removed if the number of votes sufficient to elect the director under cumulative voting is voted against the director's removal.
FIFTH. The authorized amount of capital stock of this association shall be ten thousand shares of common stock of the par value of one hundred dollars ($100) each; but said capital stock may be increased or decreased from time to time, according to the provisions of the laws of the United States.
No holder of shares of the capital stock of any class of the association shall have any preemptive or preferential right of subscription to any shares of any class of stock of the association, whether now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations convertible into stock of the association, issued, or sold, nor any right of subscription to any thereof other than such, if any, as the board of directors, in its discretion, may from time to time determine and at such price as the board of directors may from time to time fix. Preemptive rights also must be approved by a vote of holders of two-thirds of the bank’s outstanding voting shares. Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, (1) all matters requiring shareholder action, including amendments to the articles of association, must be approved by shareholders owning a majority voting interest in the outstanding voting stock, and (2) each shareholder shall be entitled to one vote per share.
Unless otherwise specified in these articles of association or required by law, all shares of voting stock shall be voted together as a class, on any matters requiring shareholder approval. If a proposed amendment would affect two or more classes or series in the same or a substantially similar way, all the classes or series so affected must vote together as a single voting group on the proposed amendment.
Shares of one class or series may be issued as a dividend for shares of the same class or series on a pro rata basis and without consideration. Shares of one class or series may be issued as share dividends for a different class or series of stock if approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the class or series to be issued, unless there are no outstanding shares of the class or series to be issued. Unless otherwise provided by the board of directors, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to a share dividend shall be the date authorized by the board of directors for the share dividend.
Unless otherwise provided in the bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting is the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 70 days before the meeting.
If a shareholder is entitled to fractional shares pursuant to a stock dividend, consolidation or merger, reverse stock split or otherwise, the association may: (a) issue fractional shares; (b) in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, issue script or warrants entitling the holder to receive a full share upon surrendering enough script or warrants to equal a full share; (c) if there is an established and active market in the association's stock, make reasonable arrangements to provide the shareholder with an opportunity to realize a fair price through sale of the fraction, or purchase of the additional fraction required for a full share; (d) remit the cash equivalent of the fraction to the shareholder; or (e) sell full shares representing all the fractions at public auction or to the highest bidder after having solicited and received sealed bids from at least three licensed stock brokers; and distribute the proceeds pro rata to shareholders who otherwise would be entitled to the fractional shares. The holder of a fractional share is entitled to exercise the rights for shareholder, including the right to vote, to receive dividends, and to participate in the assets of the association upon liquidation, in proportion to the fractional interest. The holder of script or warrants is not entitled to any of these rights unless the script or warrants explicitly provide for such rights. The script or warrants may be subject to such additional conditions as: (1) that the script or warrants will become void if not exchanged for full shares before a specified date; and (2) that the shares for which the script or warrants are exchangeable may be sold at the option of the association and the proceeds paid to scriptholders.
The association, at any time and from time to time, may authorize and issue debt obligations, whether or not subordinated, without the approval of the shareholders. Obligations classified as debt, whether or not subordinated, which may be issued by the association without the approval of shareholders, do not carry voting rights on any issue, including an increase or decrease in the aggregate number of the securities, or the exchange or reclassification of all or part of securities into securities of another class or series.
A-1
SIXTH. The board of directors shall appoint one of its members president of this association, and one of its members chairperson of the board and shall have the power to appoint one or more vice presidents, a secretary who shall keep minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and be responsible for authenticating the records of the association, and such other officers and employees as may be required to transact the business of this association.
A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the board of directors in accordance with the bylaws.
The board of directors shall have the power to:
| 1) | Define the duties of the officers, employees, and agents of the association. |
| 2) | Delegate the performance of its duties, but not the responsibility for its duties, to the officers, employees, and agents of the association. |
| 3) | Fix the compensation and enter into employment contracts with its officers and employees upon reasonable terms and conditions consistent with applicable law. |
| 4) | Dismiss officers and employees. |
| 5) | Require bonds from officers and employees and to fix the penalty thereof. |
| 6) | Ratify written policies authorized by the association's management or committees of the board. |
| 7) | Regulate the manner in which any increase or decrease of the capital of the association shall be made, provided that nothing herein shall restrict the power of shareholders to increase or decrease the capital of the association in accordance with law, and nothing shall raise or lower from two-thirds the percentage required for shareholder approval to increase or reduce the capital. |
| 8) | Manage and administer the business and affairs of the association. |
| 9) | Adopt initial bylaws, not inconsistent with law or the articles of association, for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the association. |
| 10) | Amend or repeal bylaws, except to the extent that the articles of association reserve this power in whole or in part to shareholders. |
| 11) | Make contracts. |
| 12) | Generally perform all acts that are legal for a board of directors to perform. |
SEVENTH. The board of directors shall have the power to change the location of the main office to any other place within the limits of Wilmington, Delaware, without the approval of the shareholders, or with a vote of shareholders owning two-thirds of the stock of such association for a relocation outside such limits and upon receipt of a certificate of approval from the Comptroller of the Currency, to any other location within or outside the limits of Wilmington Delaware, but not more than 30 miles beyond such limits. The board of directors shall have the power to establish or change the location of any branch or branches of the association to any other location permitted under applicable law, without approval of shareholders, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency.
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EIGHTH. The corporate existence of this association shall continue until termination according to the laws of the United States.
NINTH. The board of directors of this association, or any one or more shareholders owning, in the aggregate, not less than 50 percent of the stock of this association, may call a special meeting of shareholders at any time. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or the laws of the United States, a notice of the time, place, and purpose of every annual and special meeting of the shareholders shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting by first-class mail, unless the OCC determines that an emergency circumstance exists. If the association is a wholly-owned subsidiary, the sole shareholder may waive notice of the shareholders’ meeting. Unless otherwise provided by the bylaws or these articles, any action requiring approval of shareholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting.
TENTH. For purposes of this Article Tenth, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the bank in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under these articles of association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these articles of association and (b) approval by the board of directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by stockholders. To the extent permitted by law, the board of directors or, if applicable, the stockholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
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In the event that a majority of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the board of directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Article Tenth have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the board of directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these articles of association, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these articles of association with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in these articles of association, the bylaws, a resolution of stockholders, a resolution of the board of directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these articles of association shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Article Tenth or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Article Tenth shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its board of directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these articles of association; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage to pay or reimburse any institution-affiliated party for the cost of any judgment or civil money penalty assessed against such person in an administrative proceeding or civil action commenced by any federal banking agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution-affiliated parties.
ELEVENTH. These articles of association may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of this association, unless the vote of the holders of a greater amount of stock is required by law, and in that case by the vote of the holders of such greater amount. The association's board of directors may propose one or more amendments to the articles of association for submission to the shareholders.
EXHIBIT 4
BY-LAWS OF WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(Effective as of March 7, 2024)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be designated by the chair of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors for the purpose of the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, except such date shall not be a legal holiday in Delaware. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 10 days and no more than 60 days prior to the date thereof, addressed to each shareholder at his or her address appearing on the books of the association. If, for any cause, an election of directors is not made on that date, an election may be held on any subsequent day within 60 days of the date fixed, to be designated by the Board of Directors, or, if the directors fail to fix the date, by shareholders representing two-thirds of the shares. In these circumstances, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first class mail to shareholders.
Section 2. Special Meetings. The chair of the Board of Directors, the president, the chief executive officer, the secretary, or the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the shareholders. A special meeting shall be called to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at the meeting. Every such special meeting, unless otherwise provided by law, shall be called by mailing, postage prepaid, not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting, to each shareholder at the address appearing on the books of the association a notice stating the purpose of the meeting.
The Board of Directors may fix a record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice and to vote at any meeting, in reasonable proximity to the date of giving notice to the shareholders of such meeting. The record date for determining shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting is the date the first shareholder signs a demand for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held.
Section 3. Adjournment. If an annual or special shareholders' meeting is adjourned to a different date, time, or place, notice need not be given of the new date, time or place, if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment, unless any additional items of business are to be considered, or the association becomes aware of an intervening event materially affecting any matter to be voted on more than 10 days prior to the date to which the meeting is adjourned. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed, however, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given to persons who are shareholders as of the new record date. If, however, the meeting to elect the directors is adjourned before the election takes place, at least ten days’ notice of the new election must be given to the shareholders by first-class mail.
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Section 4. Nominations of Directors. Nominations for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the association entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the existing management of the association, shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or mailed to the president of the association, not less than 14 days nor more than 50 days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided, however, that if less than 21 days' notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the president of the association not later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying shareholder:
| (1) | The name and address of each proposed nominee; |
| (2) | The principal occupation of each proposed nominee; |
| (3) | The total number of shares of capital stock of the association that will be voted for each proposed nominee; |
| (4) | The name and residence of the notifying shareholder; and |
| (5) | The number of shares of capital stock of the association owned by the notifying shareholder |
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in his/her discretion, be disregarded by the chair of the meeting, and upon his/her instructions, all votes cast for each such nominee may be disregarded.
Section 5. Proxies. Shareholders may vote at any meeting of the shareholders by proxies duly authorized in writing, but no officer or employee of this association shall act as proxy. A director or an attorney of the association may act as proxy for shareholders voting if they are not also employed as an officer of the association. Proxies shall be valid only for one meeting, to be specified therein, and any adjournments of such meeting. Proxies shall be dated and filed with the records of the meeting. Proxies with facsimile signatures may be used and unexecuted proxies may be counted upon receipt of a written confirmation from the shareholder. Proxies meeting the above requirements submitted at any time during a meeting shall be accepted.
Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding capital stock, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders, unless otherwise provided by law, but less than a quorum may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. A majority of the votes cast shall decide every question or matter submitted to the shareholders at any meeting, unless otherwise provided by law or by the articles of association. If a meeting for the election of directors is not held on the fixed date, at least 10 days’ notice must be given by first-class mail to the shareholders.
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ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 1. Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to manage and administer the business and affairs of the association. Except as expressly limited by law, all corporate powers of the association shall be vested in and may be exercised by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Number. The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five nor more than twenty-five members, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit. The exact number within such minimum and maximum limits is to be fixed and determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board of Directors or by resolution of a majority of the shareholders at any meeting thereof. The Board of Directors may not increase the number of directors between meetings of shareholders to a number which: (a) exceeds by more than 2 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 15 or less; or (b) exceeds by more than 4 the number of directors last elected by shareholders where the number was 16 or more, but in no event shall the number of directors exceed 25, unless the OCC has exempted the association from the 25-member limit.
Section 3. Qualifications. Each director must be a citizen of the United States and must own in his or her own right either shares of the capital stock of the association or a company that controls the association that has not less than an aggregate par value of $1,000, an aggregate shareholders’ equity of $1,000, or an aggregate fair market value of $1,000. The value of the common or preferred stock held by a director is valued as of the date purchased or the date on which the individual became a director, whichever is greater.
Section 4. Organization Meeting. After each annual meeting of shareholders at which directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. Such first regular meeting shall be held at any place as may be designated by the chair, the president or the Board of Directors for such first regular meeting or, in default of such designation, where the immediately preceding meeting of shareholders was held.
Section 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held on such dates and at such places as may be designated from time to time by the chair. No notice of regular meetings shall be necessary.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the chair, the chief executive officer, the president or by a majority of the then- acting directors by vote at a meeting or in writing, or by a majority of the members of the executive committee, if one is constituted, by vote at a meeting or in writing. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the absence of such designation, such meeting shall be held at such place as may be designated in the call. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be given notice stating the date, time and place, by letter, electronic delivery or in person, of each special meeting not less than one day before the meeting. Such notice need not specify the purpose for which the meeting is called, unless required by the Articles of Association or the bylaws.
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Section 7. Quorum. A majority of the entire Board then in office shall constitute a quorum at any meeting, except when otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, but a lesser number may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, and the meeting may be held, as adjourned, without further notice. If the number of directors present at the meeting is reduced below the number that would constitute a quorum, no business may be transacted, except selecting directors to fill vacancies in conformance with Article II, Section 11. If a quorum is present, the board of directors may take action through the vote of a majority of the directors who are in attendance. No director may vote by proxy.
Section 8. Attendance by Electronic, Telephonic or Similar Means. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a regular or special meeting of such board or committee by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all directors or committee members participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. Procedures. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at every meeting of the Board of Directors may be determined by the person presiding at the meeting.
Section 10. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of the shareholders. Any director may be removed without cause at any meeting of shareholders, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of the association entitled to vote. Any director may be removed for cause at any meeting of the directors, notice of which shall have referred to the proposed action, by vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 11. Vacancies. When any vacancy occurs among the directors, a majority of the remaining members of the Board of Directors may appoint a director to fill such vacancy until the next election at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors, or at a special meeting called for that purpose at which a quorum is present, or if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors remaining in office, or by shareholders at a special meeting called for that purpose in conformance with Section 2 of Article I. A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date (by reason of a resignation effective at a later date) may be filled before the vacancy occurs but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.
Section 12. Consent of Directors without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action may be evidenced by one or more written consents signed by each director before or after such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records. A director’s consent to action taken without a meeting may be in electronic form and delivered by electronic means.
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Section 13. Ratification. The board of directors may ratify and make binding on the association any action or inaction by the association or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the shareholders could have originally authorized the matter and as permitted by law. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any shareholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the shareholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee, which shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business, properties and affairs of the association except as prohibited by law, the Articles of Association or these Bylaws. All acts done and powers conferred by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Trust Audit Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be a Trust Audit Committee composed of not less than 2 directors, appointed by the Board of Directors, which shall, at least once during each calendar year make suitable audits of the association’s fiduciary activities or cause suitable audits to be made by auditors responsible only to the Board, and at such time shall ascertain whether fiduciary powers have been administered according to law, Part 9 of the Regulations of the Comptroller of the Currency, and sound fiduciary principles. Such committee: (1) must not include any officers of the association or an affiliate who participate significantly in the administration of the association’s fiduciary activities; and (2) must consist of a majority of members who are not also members of any committee to which the Board of Directors has delegated power to manage and control the fiduciary activities of the bank.
Section 3. Examining Committee. Unless delegated pursuant to Section 5 of this Article III, there shall be an examining committee composed of not less than 2 directors, exclusive of any active officers, appointed by the board of directors annually or more often. The duty of that committee shall be to examine at least once during each calendar year and within 15 months of the last examination the affairs of the association or cause suitable examinations to be made by auditors responsible only to the board of directors and to report the result of such examination in writing to the board of directors at the next regular meeting thereafter. Such report shall state whether the association is in a sound condition, and whether adequate internal controls and procedures are being maintained and shall recommend to the board of directors such changes in the manner of conducting the affairs of the association as shall be deemed advisable.
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Section 4. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, appoint other committees of the Board of Directors which shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may properly determine. No such other committee of the Board of Directors shall be composed of fewer than three (3) directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more directors as alternative members of a committee. All acts done and powers conferred by the Board of Directors on committees of the Board of Directors shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under that authority of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Delegation of Responsibility and Authority. The responsibility, authority and constitution of any committee under this Article III may, if authorized by law, be given over to a duly constituted committee of the association’s parent corporation by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
Officers and Employees
Section 1 Officers. The Board of Directors shall annually, at the Annual Reorganization Meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of shareholders, appoint or elect a chair of the Board, a chief executive officer, a president, one (1) or more senior executive vice presidents, a corporate secretary, a treasurer, a chief auditor, and such other officers as it may determine, each to hold office until the next Annual Reorganization meeting. The officers below the level of senior executive vice president may be elected as follows: the head of the Human Resources Department of M&T Bank, or his or her designee, may appoint officers up to and including (without limitation as to title or number) one (1) or more executive vice presidents, senior vice presidents, vice presidents, assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries, assistant treasurers, and assistant auditors, and any other officer positions as they deem necessary and appropriate, except the chair of the board, chief executive officer, president, any “Executive Officer” of the association for the purposes of Regulation O (codified at 12 C.F.R. §215.2(e)(1)), and any “Senior Executive Officer” within the meaning of 12 C.F.R. §5.51(c)(4) may only be appointed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the chair of the Board to serve at its pleasure. Such person shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The chair of the Board shall supervise the carrying out of the policies adopted or approved by the Board of Directors; shall have general executive powers, as well as the specific powers conferred by these Bylaws; and shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. President. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of its members to be the president of the association. The president shall be a member of the Board of Directors. In the absence of the chair, the president shall preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The president shall have general executive powers and shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation, or practice to the office of president, or imposed by these Bylaws. The president shall also have and may exercise such further powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred or assigned by the Board of Directors.
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Section 4. Vice President. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more vice presidents. Each vice president shall have such powers and duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors. One vice president shall be designated by the Board of Directors, in the absence of the president, to perform all the duties of the president.
Section 5. Secretary. The Board of Directors shall appoint a secretary or other designated officer who shall be secretary of the Board of Directors and of the association and who shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings. The secretary shall attend to the giving of all notices required by these Bylaws; shall be custodian of the corporate seal, records, documents and papers of the association; shall provide for the keeping of proper records of all transactions of the association; shall have and may exercise any and all other powers and duties pertaining by law, regulation or practice, or imposed by these bylaws; and shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time, by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Other Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more assistant vice presidents, one or more trust officers, one or more officers, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more managers and assistant managers of branches and such other officers and attorneys in fact as from time to time may appear to the Board of Directors to be required or desirable to transact the business of the association. Such officers shall respectively exercise such powers and perform such duties as pertain to their several offices, or as may be conferred upon or assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chair of the Board, or the president. The Board of Directors may authorize an officer to appoint one or more officers or assistant officers.
Section 7. Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the association. A resignation is effective when the notice is given unless the notice specifies a later effective date.
ARTICLE V
Stock and Stock Certificates
Section 1. Transfers. Shares of stock shall be transferable on the books of the association, and a transfer book shall be kept in which all transfers of stock shall be recorded. Every person becoming a shareholder by such transfer shall in proportion to such shareholder's shares, succeed to all rights of the prior holder of such shares. The Board of Directors may impose conditions upon the transfer of the stock reasonably calculated to simplify the work of the association with respect to stock transfers, voting at shareholder meetings and related matters and to protect it against fraudulent transfers.
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Section 2. Stock Certificates. Certificates of stock shall bear the signature of the president (which may be engraved, printed or impressed) and shall be signed manually, by facsimile process, or electronic means by the secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or any other officer appointed by the Board of Directors for that purpose, to be known as an authorized officer, and the seal of the association shall be engraved thereon. Each certificate shall recite on its face that the stock represented thereby is transferable only upon the books of the association properly endorsed and otherwise comply with the requirements of 12 U.S.C. 52 and 12 C.F.R. §7.2016(b).
Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In case any certificate representing shares shall be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunder duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute shares in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 4. Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall be the close of business on the day before the first notice is mailed or otherwise sent to the shareholders, provided that in no event may a record date be more than 10 days before the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Corporate Seal
Section 1. Seal. The seal of the association shall be in such form as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors. The president, the treasurer, the secretary or any assistant treasurer or assistant secretary, or other officer thereunto designated by the Board of Directors shall have authority to affix the corporate seal to any document requiring such seal and to attest the same. The seal on any corporate obligation for the payment of money may be facsimile.
ARTICLE VIII
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the association shall be the calendar year.
Section 2. Execution of Instruments. All agreements, indentures, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association by any officer elected or appointed pursuant to Article IV of these Bylaws. Any such instruments may also be executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the association in such other manner and by such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time direct. The provisions of this Section 2 are supplementary to any other provision of these Bylaws.
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Section 3. Records. The Articles of Association, the Bylaws and the proceedings of all meetings of the shareholders, the Board of Directors, and standing committees of the Board of Directors shall be recorded in appropriate minute books provided for that purpose. The minutes of each meeting shall be signed by the secretary, treasurer or other officer appointed to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 4. Corporate Governance Procedures. To the extent not inconsistent with federal banking statutes and regulations, or safe and sound banking practices, the association may follow the Delaware General Corporation Law, Del. Code Ann. tit. 8 (1991, as amended 1994, and as amended thereafter) with respect to matters of corporate governance procedures.
Section 5. Indemnification. For purposes of this Section 5 of Article VIII, the term “institution-affiliated party” shall mean any institution-affiliated party of the association as such term is defined in 12 U.S.C. 1813(u).
Any institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may be indemnified or reimbursed by the association for reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed actions or proceedings and appeals therein, whether civil, criminal, governmental, administrative or investigative, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, as such law now or hereafter exists; provided, however, that when an administrative proceeding or action instituted by a federal banking agency results in a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association, then the association shall require the repayment of all legal fees and expenses advanced pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph and may not indemnify such institution-affiliated parties (or their heirs, executors or administrators) for expenses, including expenses for legal fees, penalties or other payments incurred. The association shall provide indemnification in connection with an action or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) only if such action or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.
Expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding under 12 U.S.C. 164 or 1818 may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) a determination by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding that the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) has a reasonable basis for prevailing on the merits, (b) a determination that the indemnified individual (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) will have the financial capacity to reimburse the association in the event he or she does not prevail, (c) a determination that the payment of expenses and fees by the association will not adversely affect the safety and soundness of the association, and (d) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event of a final order or settlement pursuant to which such person: (i) is assessed a civil money penalty, (ii) is removed from office or prohibited from participating in the conduct of the affairs of the association, or (iii) is required to cease and desist from or to take any affirmative action described in 12 U.S.C. 1818(b) with respect to the association. In all other instances, expenses incurred by an institution-affiliated party (or by his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with any action or proceeding as to which indemnification may be given under the Articles of Association may be paid by the association in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon (a) receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such institution-affiliated party (or by or on behalf of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) to repay such advancement in the event that such institution- affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification as authorized by these Bylaws and (b) approval by the Board of Directors acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to such action or proceeding or, if such a quorum is not obtainable, then approval by shareholders. To the extent permitted by law, the Board of Directors or, if applicable, the shareholders, shall not be required to find that the institution-affiliated party has met the applicable standard of conduct provided by law for indemnification in connection with such action or proceeding.
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In the event that a majority of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the remaining members of the Board may authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the remaining members of the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If independent legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the remaining members of the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
In the event that all of the members of the Board of Directors are named as respondents in an administrative proceeding or civil action and request indemnification, the Board shall authorize independent legal counsel to review the indemnification request and provide the Board with a written opinion of counsel as to whether the conditions delineated in the first four paragraphs of this Section 5 of Article VIII have been met. If legal counsel opines that said conditions have been met, the Board of Directors may rely on such opinion in authorizing the requested indemnification.
To the extent permitted under applicable law, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in the Articles of Association (a) shall be available with respect to events occurring prior to the adoption of these Bylaws, (b) shall continue to exist after any restrictive amendment of these Bylaws with respect to events occurring prior to such amendment, (c) may be interpreted on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time of the occurrence of the event or events giving rise to the action or proceeding, or on the basis of applicable law in effect at the time such rights are claimed, and (d) are in the nature of contract rights which may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction as if the association and the institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) for whom such rights are sought were parties to a separate written agreement.
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The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not, to the extent permitted under applicable law, be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such institution-affiliated party (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) may now or hereafter be otherwise entitled whether contained in the association’s Articles of Association, these Bylaws, a resolution of shareholders, a resolution of the Board of Directors, or an agreement providing such indemnification, the creation of such other rights being hereby expressly authorized. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights, pursuant to statute or otherwise, of any such institution-affiliated party (or of his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in any such action or proceeding to have assessed or allowed in his or her favor, against the association or otherwise, his or her costs and expenses incurred therein or in connection therewith or any part thereof.
If this Section 5 of Article VIII or any part hereof shall be held unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, and the remainder of this Section 5 of Article VIII shall remain fully enforceable.
The association may, upon affirmative vote of a majority of its Board of Directors, purchase insurance to indemnify its institution-affiliated parties to the extent that such indemnification is allowed in these Bylaws; provided, however, that no such insurance shall include coverage for a final order assessing civil money penalties against such persons by a bank regulatory agency. Such insurance may, but need not, be for the benefit of all institution- affiliated parties.
ARTICLE IX
Inspection and Amendments
Section 1. Inspection. A copy of the bylaws of the association, with all amendments, shall at all times be kept in a convenient place at the main office of the association, and shall be open for inspection to all shareholders during banking hours.
Section 2. Amendments. The Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular or special meeting thereof, to amend, alter or repeal the bylaws of the association, or to make and adopt new bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted by the shareholders of the association to the extent and as permitted in the Articles of Association or applicable law.
EXHIBIT 6
Section 321(b) Consent
Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, Wilmington Trust, National Association hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.
| WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION | ||
| Dated: August 8, 2025 | By: | /s/ Michael H. Wass |
| Name: Michael H. Wass | ||
| Title: Vice President | ||
EXHIBIT 7
R E P O R T O F C O N D I T I O N
WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
As of the close of business on March 31, 2025
| Thousands of Dollars | |||
| ASSETS | |||
| Cash and balances due from depository institutions: | 581,398 | ||
| Securities: | 1,100 | ||
| Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreement to resell: | 0 | ||
| Loans and leases held for sale: | 0 | ||
| Loans and leases net of unearned income, allowance: | 31,590 | ||
| Premises and fixed asset | 31,309 | ||
| Other real estate owned: | 0 | ||
| Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies: | 0 | ||
| Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures: | 0 | ||
| Intangible assets: | 0 | ||
| Other assets: | 64,330 | ||
| Total Assets: | 709,727 | ||
| Thousands of Dollars | |||
| LIABILITIES | |||
| Deposits | 5,688 | ||
| Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase | 0 | ||
| Other borrowed money: | 0 | ||
| Other Liabilities: | 88,648 | ||
| Total Liabilities | 94,336 |
| Thousands of Dollars | |||
| EQUITY CAPITAL | |||
| Common Stock | 1,000 | ||
| Surplus | 355,412 | ||
| Retained Earnings | 258,980 | ||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | (1 | ) | |
| Total Equity Capital | 615,391 | ||
| Total Liabilities and Equity Capital | 709,727 |